Prestwick Cricket Club ready to mark 70 years not out at Henry Thow Oval
All roads lead to the Oval this Saturday for a birthday bash to remember.
They've been bowling maiden overs for 70 years…now proud Prestwick Cricket Club are planning a birthday bash to celebrate.
A host of eager worthies will pitch up on Saturday to mark another chapter in the club's long history which culminated in becoming Scottish champions eight years ago.
Blasts from the past will team up with present day players and members ahead of the Henry Thow Oval clash against derby rivals Ayr.
A spokesman said: 'Everyone with a connection to Prestwick Cricket Club is welcome to attend. A lot of planning has gone into the event and hopefully the weather will be on our side.'
Alongside an afternoon of cricket, there will be food, drink and entertainment with karaoke at night in the club bar.
Cricket was first played in Prestwick around 1929 but it wasn't until March 1955 that the first general meeting of a newly formed cricket club was held.
The determined efforts of founder members Henry Thow, John Turnbull, Stanley Beaton, Bill Chisholm, Bill Crew and Colin Campbell laid the foundations for the start of a great journey.
Prestwick Cricket Club's first officials were: honorary president: Sir Thomas Moore MP; hon vice chairman: Provost Gilbert Steele; hon vice presidents: Dean of Guild Kerr, Clr McNair, A Hay, J C Collins, Baillie G Nickson, James Thow, Dr Higgins; president: Colin Campbell; vice president: Robert M Gardiner; secretary and treasurer: William Crew; club captain: John Turnbull; vice captain: Henry Thow; committee: Brodie, Wilcox and T Maxwell.
The first game took place on April 30, 1955 and resulted in an easy win for the newcomers - Prestwick scoring 80/9 and then bowling out visitors Jordanhill for only 29 with Bill Crew taking four wickets for 11.
Former Rangers penalty king Johnny Hubbard skippered the team to their first major honour in 1972 when they won the Glasgow and District League.
Hubby, who has a memorial bench in his honour at the ground, later proclaimed that despite all his footballing honours, the Prestwick title triumph rated as one of his best sporting achievements.
The win was the launchpad for Prestwick to establish itself as one of Scotland's premier clubs and a string of league titles followed.
They entered the Scottish Countries Championship which they won in 1990 and 1991 with Scotland star David Haggo as captain.
They were Scottish League First Division champions in 1999 and 2002 before their biggest triumph in 2017 when they were the first west side to become Scottish Grand Finalist winners, Shahzad Rafiq's side beating Heriot's in a low scoring final.
A thriving junior section has always been a cornerstone and as the club hurtles towards a century not out that ethos remains as strong as ever.
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