Greenock Cricket Club
Glenpark, Brisbane Street, Greenock, PA16 8NY
Founded 1862
This year's Mini-Gig on the Green takes place this coming Sunday featuring 3 groups and a host of attractions for all the family.
The 1st XI suffered another league reverse on Saturday when their 213 for 8 was not enough to keep West of Scotland at bay in the Glenpark sunshine. The team got off to a poor start, slumping to 14 for 3, before Will Jenkins (43) and Nikhil Kadyan (36) righted the ship and the lower order continued the recovery through Ewan Stewart (32*), Sam Sanghera (23) and Muhibullah Ahmadzai (14*). Two early wickets promised much in West's reply but the visiting batsmen got on top and did not relinquish their hold on the game, easing to a 6 wicket victory.
Sunday's match at New Anniesland was another matter as Glasgow Accies were easily defeated by 7 wickets to get the team off the mark in the league. Accies were bowled out for 197 with Will Jenkins taking 4 for 44, including the hat-trick, and Faheemgul Dinarkhel 2 for 21. In reply, the 1st XI batsmen did not hang around and the runs were knocked off in just 28.4 overs. Callum Henry with an unbeaten 108 off just 84 balls was the hero and he got good backing from Aryan Sanghera (26) and Sehmat Pandher (21).
Peter Hempsey provides a full report on Saturday's game and brief details on Sunday's match in his weekly update.
The Glenpark XI maintained their unbeaten run, easily defeating Ardrossan by 8 wickets. Once again all the bowlers got involved with Samim Haidary with 3 for 20 taking the honours as Ardrossan were restricted to 109. Glenpark shrugged off the early loss of Yakoob Hayat and Rakesh Kumar (39) and Usman Mansoor (29*) with a partnership of 83 set the team on the road to another win, the target being reached for the loss of just 2 wickets. Next week's encounter against Mearns Challengers promises to be a big game for the Glenparkers.
To make up for last week's inactivity, the 1st XI have a busy weekend coming up and fortunately there is no chance of the weather intervening. Saturday sees the team meet old rivals West of Scotland in what is sure to be a tough encounter. West have got off to a flying start this season, easily winning both league games, and have obviously got their eyes on a quick return to the top division. Aryan Sanghera's team will clearly have to be at their very best to pull off a victory. The match will be streamed live at this link and will start at 12 noon.
Sunday sees last Saturday's postponed game against Glasgow Accies take place at New Anniesland, again with a 12 noon start. Accies have won their only league game played to date so this promises to be another tricky encounter for the team. For those not making the journey to Glasgow on Sunday, the match can be viewed live at this link.
The Glenpark XI travel south on Saturday to play Ardrossan in Western Championship Three. Two wins out of two have seen Eddie Ahmad's team be joint top of the table and with their opponents having lost both of their fixtures, hopes will be high for another victory. The match will start at 12 noon but there will be no live stream of the match.
On Thursday evening, the 1st XI made a tame exit from the Rowan Cup, losing by 49 runs to Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire team made 123 for 9 in their 20 overs with Muhibullah Ahmadzai with 3 for 11 being the best bowling. In reply, the 1st XI collapsed to 25 for 5 and 43 for 8 before finally being dismissed for 74 as none of the batsmen got to grips with the Kilmarnock bowling.
The Glenpark XI made it two wins out of two in Western Championship Three as they overcame Milngavie 2nd XI by 7 wickets at a sun-kissed Glenpark on Saturday. Milngavie batted first but apart from a brief flurry from their third-wicket pair, were unable to cope with Glenpark's bowling. Samim Haidary with 4 for 11 and the ageless Dave Sharma with 4 for 25 were the men that did the damage. In reply, Glenpark stuttered to 22 for 3, but skipper Eddie Ahmad joined Rakesh Kumar to see their team safely home to victory. Kumar finished unbeaten on 25 and Ahmad on 22.
We are delighted to announce the return of Dave Sharma in his role as the Glenpark XI reporter and the first of his occasional musings can be found here. Welcome back, Dave and well bowled, old man!
The 1st XI got their league season underway on Saturday in disappointing fashion, losing to Kilmarnock, who are proving to be something of a bogey team for the locals, by 5 wickets. It all got off to a good start with Callum Henry (38) and Aryan Sanghera (27) putting on 76 for the first wicket with a little help from Mr Extras. But once they were separated, wickets fell at regular intervals and only 30 from Sam Sanghera enabled a total of 161 to be reached. Kilmarnock made a slow start and seemed to be struggling at 83 for 5 but their sixth wicket pair of Islam and Qamar could not be separated and took their team to victory. Peter Hempsey's first report of the season provides more details on what turned out to be a disappointing day for the eleven.
The Glenpark XI on the other hand enjoyed a successful visit to Gatehouse of Fleet when they defeated Galloway in a low-scoring game by just 8 runs. They were indebted to skipper Eddie Ahmad for enabling them to reach 104 in their innings, his 51 off 81 balls was almost half his side's total. Galloway struggled in reply but at 90 for 6 looked set for victory. However their tail did not wag and only 6 more runs were added. Arun Nair with 3 for 5 and Hamidullah Safi with 3 for 8 were the main wicket-takers but all 8 bowlers used by Ahmad played their part in the win.
The Hillend XI gained a facile victory on Sunday over the XL Club, bowling out their opponents for just 72, even although 13 batted, and then overtaking that total for the loss of just one wicket. Harder games surely lie ahead for them.
The April monthly draw for the Glenpark Supporters Prize Draw (GSPD) was carried out on Saturday 26th April 2025. The four lucky winners were Charlie Murdoch, Kevin Flack, Maureen Harrison and Maria Bryceland. In addition, Allan Irvine was the winner of the Spring Jackpot draw.
Congratulations to everyone on their wins.
The next draw will take place on Saturday 31st May 2025 for the usual monthly prizes.
We are always looking for new members to join the draw, the receipts from which are used to improve the facilities of the Club for all members. If you wish to join, please contact Brian Papworth using the details to be found at the Contacts link at the top of this page.
After another week of sunshine, the weekend weather curse has struck again with both the weekend's friendlies succumbing to the wet condtions. The forecast for next weekend does sound more promising so let's hope the forecasters are right.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Graham Prodger, who died early this morning at the age of 88 after a brief illness.
Graham was a true one-off, a force of nature, who threw himself into everything that he did. Arriving in Inverclyde in 1968, he announced himself to Greenock supporters with a swash-buckling and match-winning century in his first game for the 2nd XI. A left-handed bat, he took the attack to the opposition bowling at every opportunity, trying to hit the first ball he faced for a boundary. He wasn't always successful but refused to change his tactics. He could be the most exhilarating batsman to watch. He was also an outstanding fielder, one game at Hamilton Crescent fielding at leg slip lives long in the memory.
Graham became President of the Club in 1987-88 and worked tirelessly to improve the fortunes of the Club in these two years. On retiring from his employers, Shell, he and his family moved down to Cornwall, firstly to Mousehole and latterly to Penzance, but he kept a keen eye on all things to do with Glenpark, returning occasionally just to make sure nobody forgot him. As if they would! Our sincere and deep condolences go to his widow, Gill and sons, Martin and Stewart and all his friends. He will be such a sad loss and will never be forgotten by all who met him.
We will remember Graham with great affection and are glad that we were able to recognise the scale of the contribution that he made to the Club by appointing him to the position of Honorary Vice-President at the AGM last December.
The March monthly draw for the Glenpark Supporters Prize Draw (GSPD) was carried out on Saturday 29th March 2025. The four lucky winners were Stewart Robinson, Jane Young, Linda Robertson and Angela Prabhu.
The captains and vice-captains for the teams this year have now been finalised.
Skippering the 1st XI for the first time will be Aryan Sanghera and his vice-captain will be Cammy Calder.
Eddie Ahmad continues as the Glenpark XI captain and his vice-captain this season will be Hamidullah Safi.
With the Club entering teams in the Sunday and Midweek Leagues this season, there is the need for the Hillend XI to have an appointed skipper and this role will be taken by PJ Bryceland with Rakesh Kumar as his deputy.
Everyone at the Club wish the captains and vice-captains all the best for the coming season.
Members will be sad to learn of the passing of Bobby Proverbs, at the age of 78, on 12th February. Bobby, who was the son of Laurence Proverbs, a leading member of the 1st XI in the 1950s and early 1960s, first played for the 1st XI in 1966, having played with success in the 2nd XI from a young age. He retired from the game in 1970. having played 48 games for the 1st XI in which he scored 371 runs, mainly as an opening bat.
After his retiral, he maintained a keen interest in the game and the Club and maintained his membership up to his passing. He will be sadly missed and our condolences go to his widow, Margaret, and his family and friends.
The club will this season be competing in the CS Challenge Cup rather than the Scottish Cup and the draw for the first round of that competition has resulted in a home tie against Dundee HSFP, the match to be played on Sunday 8th June.
At last night's AGM in the clubhouse, Jack Clark, who could reasonably be regarded as the greatest bowler in the club's history, was unanimously elected as Honorary President of the Club. Tom Black, Wilson Evans, Roger Hardie, Brian Lang and Graham Prodger were similarly elected as Honorary Vice-Presidents in recognition of their service to the Club, both on and off the field.
Andy Gunn, one of the oldest surviving players of the Club, sadly passed away this morning at the age of 89. Andy made his debut for the 1st XI in August 1953 and went on to bat 128 times for the eleven, mainly as a solid opening bat, scoring over 1400 runs in the process. His job limited his opportunities to play for a time and the latter period of his playing career was spent as a stalwart of the 2nd XI. Our sincere condolences go to all his family and friends.
Following on from the passing of Steve Kelly, members will be further greatly saddened to learn that Bill Jamieson, like Steve a long-standing member of the Club, has passed away. Bill played for many years for both the cricket and hockey sections and also served as Treasurer of the Club for a period of time. Like Steve, Bill will be sadly missed and our sincere condolences go to Margaret, Karen and David and all his family and friends. Bill's funeral will take place at Greenock Crematorium on Thursday 5th December at 2pm. Those attending should feel free to wear a dash of colour, if they so desire.
The Club is delighted to announce that its new online shop, in collaboration with VX3, is now open.
Please click on the headline or on the link below to read the full article regarding this exciting development.
Members will be greatly saddened to learn that Steve Kelly, a long-standing member of the Club, has passed away. Steve's initial connection with the Club was through the Clutha hockey section, but he continued to support the Club after his playing days were over and he was a popular figure around the clubhouse for many years. He was particularly proud of his granddaughter Emily as she developed her playing career with the Glenpark XI. Steve will be greatly missed by all who knew him and our sincere condolences go to Emma and Emily, Hilary, Graeme and all his family and friends.
In 2020, when no cricket was played due to the Covid-19 outbreak, a number of articles relating to the history of the Club were published on the website. These can be read via this link.
1st XI | |||
7 May | Kelburne | Won | Card |
15 May | Kilmarnock | Lost | Card |
17 May | West of Scotland | Lost | Card |
18 May | Glasgow Accies | Won | Card |
21 May | Renfrew | Won | Card |
Glenpark XI | |||
3 May | Galloway | Won | Card |
6 May | Whitehaugh | Lost | Card |
10 May | Milngavie 2nd XI | Won | Card |
17 May | Ardrossan | Won | Card |
20 May | Meikleriggs | Lost | Card |
Hillend XI | |||
4 May | XL Club | Won | Card |
Glenpark | |
Wednesday 21 May | |
1st XI v Renfrew | McCulloch Cup |
Saturday 24 May | |
Glenpark XI v Mearns Challengers | League |
Away | |
Tuesday 20 May | |
Glenpark XI v Meikleriggs | Western Cup |
Saturday 24 May | |
1st XI v Irvine | League |