Melton Centrals Cricket Club was formed in 1989/1990 as a way of keeping an existing indoor cricket team together, and to give them an opportunity to play outdoor cricket.
Our first Under 12’s team was:
- Captain: Chris Obst
- Vice Captain: Shane Newton
- Coach: Brian McNabb
Centrals won the U12’s in that first season, defeating Melton Cricket Club at the Melton South Primary School oval.
Since it was formed, Melton Centrals Cricket Club Inc. has grown to become the largest cricket club in Melton, comprising of five senior teams and five junior teams. Overall we have in excess of 160 listed players, senior and junior. Although our Club, is one of the youngest in the area, we have enjoyed success over the past seasons with premierships coming in most grades. The age group of players ranges from 8 years of age to the 50 years +. We pride ourselves on being a family oriented club.
Several of our past players have gone on to play at District level of cricket. With two of our past players, one male and one female, representing Victoria in the respective age groups, and open age. The female player has been named in a nominal under 17 Australian side. In season 2002/2003 the club fielded a “premier” grade turf team, for the first time. We have since added three Turf Premierships to our coffers.
The Club is an incorporated body, and has a strong constitution that is administered by an equally strong Committee. Our Committee members are all volunteers, and no player is paid any fees.
With the assistance of the Shire of Melton, our Club moved into a new social base at the Melton South Recreation Reserve (Northcott Street) in 2004. In 2009 we moved to our present location at Blackwood Drive, where the Club has access to two grounds. Whilst our junior teams play exclusively in Melton, Rockbank and Darley and Bacchus Marsh, our senior teams play in Melton as well as the Williamstown, Laverton, Altona, Altona North, Wyndham and Newport areas in our turf grade. Ours hard wicket teams, play in the Gisborne league, which incorporates areas of Gisborne, Woodend, Wallan, Sunbury and Macedon, just to name a few.
The Club is innovative and progressive, retaining high values.
We are a Melton Club thats conducts an In2Cricket program (formerly Milo Have a Go). We have members accredited with the Active After School Program, a national program targetting young children and fitness.
We are a member of the Melton Sporting Clubs Liquor Licensing Accord. Our Club has attained a Level Three accreditation in the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program, which is the highest of any Club in the region, and we were the first Club in the area to achieve that status. Our members have all been trained in the Looking After Our Mates program, run by the Australian Drug Foundation. All of our members who serve refreshments are qualified under the Responsible Serving of Alcohol program.