Wagga City Cricket Club History

The Wagga City Cricket Club or “The Cats” as they are known began in the 2004/05 season after their previous sponsors, Wagga Leagues Club, folded and went into liquidation, ending the association with the Leagues Cricket Club Inc. who had previously won two first grade W.W.D.C.A. premierships once and for all and giving no option but to search for new major sponsors and a new name for the Club.

That first season the club fielded teams in all junior (13s, 14s, 15s, 16s) and senior (5^th, 4^th, 3^rd, 2^nd, 1^st) divisions. The difficulties that endured toward the end of the life of the Leagues Club coincided with difficulties in the administration of the cricket club, and whilst the state of the club financially had soon been guaranteed with new major sponsor “The Red Lion Hotel”, and minor sponsors “Viewco Glass” and “Harrisons Joinery”, attracting top flight senior players proved difficult.

Around that time an unwritten policy was put in place to capitalise on the strong family culture that had been built up over recent years and the focus was then placed on developing the club’s junior talent and concentrating on organic growth. Around that time there were 3 Geaghans, 3 Angels, 4 Lloyds, 5 Churchills, and many other names that have since become synonymous with the club.

 In that first season of 2004/2005 there were two first grade players over the age of 21, and the rest were all 21 or younger, down to several gifted 16s reps. Unfortunately on field success eluded us in that year in most senior grades, and more recent years have been little more fruitful, however the junior club has always flown the flag and represented “The Cats” with great pride and distinction.

There have since been grand final winners, finalists, and representative players in abundance from the junior ranks, unfortunately however it has been a hallmark of the club since its inception into the competition that such prolific junior talent has always proven difficult to hold on to.