Murrayfield-DAFS Cricket Club was formed at the end of
the 2000 season from the merger of two Edinburgh based clubs, Murrayfield CC and DAFS
CC. Below is a brief history of the two parent
clubs.
Murrayfield CC
Worth waiting for but here is the illustrious history of
London Road/Murrayfield CC - thanks to Andy Piggott
Foundation
The club was founded in 1909 as London Road Church CC (The
Church is situated on the corner of London Road/Easter Road in the
East End of Edinburgh). It all began in the Reverend John
Anderson's bible class where a number of the members were
enthusiastic followers of the game and decided that a team should
be formed. The historic decision was agreed on 25th May 1909, but
the first game was not played until a year later, the opponents
being another Church team, Central Wesleyians.
The club continued to be part of London Road Church until 1952
when differences of opinion over the playing of cricket on Sundays
compelled them to sever their ecclesiastical ties and become simply
London Road CC.
Following a somewhat nomadic existence over various Edinburgh
parks, the club settled into Roseburn Park, in the shadow of
Murrayfield rugby stadium, in the 1950's. The club changed its name
once more in 1992 to Murrayfield CC, assuming a degree of local
identity.
London Road CC joined the East of Scotland League in the early
1950's, around about the same time as the breakaway from the
church. They have played in every Division, reaching Division 2 in
1989 and Division 1 in 1996. There has been success in the
Edinburgh Public Parks Trophy competition (winners 16 times) and
the club reached the semi-final of the Masterton Trophy in
1967.
1960's
The club was probably at it's strongest during the 1960's, when
London Road legends such as Stan Duncan, Robin Ballantyne, Eddie
Robson, Jim Duncan, David Fraser and Bill Wilson were at their
peak. Indeed, the 1967 team is often regarded as the finest ever as
London Road CC swept all before it, winning the Grade 'A' League,
the Parks Trophy and reaching the semi-final of the Masterton
Trophy.
1970's
The 1970s were relatively lean years by comparison as the club
went through a period of transition following the heady days of the
1960s. It was during this time, however, that the foundations for
later success were being built, with Watsonian schoolboys Mark
Everett, Tim Bunker, Steve Lockhart and Phil Yelland joining the
fray. Significantly, one has remained. Scott Anderson ('A Touch of
Class'), Davie Fisher and Paul Leighton also started their long and
distinguished association with the club around about this time.
1980's and recent history
Things were looking up in the 1980's and a 2nd XI was formed in
1983 and a 3rd XI in 1989, the year of the club's 80th Anniversary.
A decision was taken in 1992 to change the name of the club once
again to Murrayfield CC, and in 2001 it was decided to merge with
DAFS CC, a club who had themselves been struggling to survive in
the East League.
The 1st and 2nd XI now play at the well appointed Civil Service
Sports Ground in the Muirhouse area of Edinburgh, whilst the 3rd XI
maintain the links with Murrayfield, playing their home games at
Roseburn Park, in the shadows of the stadium. The new club appears
to be heading in the right direction once again, and we are hopeful
of continued success.
Players
The club has produced some fine players over the years, many
moving on to play for senior Edinburgh clubs and even Scotland
(David Fraser from the 1960s and, more recently, Fraser Watts who
moved onto Carlton CC and international recognition). We like to
think that we trained Fraser well to carry the drinks !!!!
Probably one of the most revered cricketers over the years for
the club was Stan Duncan, whose long association with the London
Road CC stretched from 1932 to 1973. Stan was widely regarded as
one of the finest players in East League and Edinburgh Parks
cricket and became affectionately known as 'Mr London Road'.
London Road CC can also claim to have had a player who has
played in European football. Murray McDermott spent most of his
footballing career with Raith Rovers but spent some time latterly
with Hearts and on 7th September 1988 substituted for Henry Smith
in a UEFA Cup tie against St Patricks in Dublin.
Great Moments
Great cricketing moments for the club, apart from the
unparalleled success of the 1960's, must include the dismissal of
Bangour Hospital for 7 (only 5 scoring shots!!) in 1955 and Robin
Ballantyne achieving the rare feat of all 10 Leith Accies wickets
for 35 runs in 1966.
Andy Piggott
DAFS CC
The clue to DAFS Cricket Club origins lies in the name, formed by
staff working for the then Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
in the Scottish Office in around 1920?? The club maintained a
steady presence in the top of Grades with a natural home in Grade B
of the East of Scotland League with three brief journeys into the
dizzy heights of Grade A in 19??, 19?? and 1997.
The 1997 adventure followed promotion as Grade B champions and
it was in that promoted season that the club secured one its most
glorious victories- a defeat of Heriots 2 on their own patch after
the home side had amassed 233 for 3. Heriots had concluded
that as the visitors could not seemingly bowl or field then they
couldn't bat and so declared after only 40 overs! They were grossly
mistaken and with contibutions from Lane 75, Hubbard 49, Sunter 31,
and Anderson 24 it was left to Joshi (with the most defiant 0 not
out one could imagine) and el capitano Shiels to steady a late
collapse to see DAFS home - much to the non-amusement of
Heriots and delight of DAFS. A defeat which cost Heriots dear and
ultimately the Grade A title that year- we wept tears (of mirth)
for them.
The stay in Grade A was brief though not without some honour as
although DAFS managed only second bottom with a weakened team this
was in fact the highest ever position in the Club's history. This
sadly was the high-water mark for the Club and the team began to
struggle to put out a full XI as players who had been the bedrock
of the side for many years aged beyond being able to move in the
field or were faced other commitments. Some players, no doubt
seeing the writing on the wall, were desparate enough to start
families. The club was forced to stoop to drastic measures, sinking
as low as having to employ the talents of mercenaries from the
southern-hemisphere (only kiddin' fellas).
The final year of DAFS saw the emergence of a truly great 8 a-side
team, sadly having to compete in a 11-a-side game. Merger
with Murrayfield was the only realistic way forward other than
mass, cult-style suicide which had incidently been the team's
batting strategy for several years.
So R.I.P. DAFS CC, a team of stout heart with latterly a
consistently strong bowling attack and consistently inconsistent
batting bar a star or two. But we always had a larff (when not
falling out with the opposition). Did someone say Cupar?