BECTIVE-EAST CRICKET CLUB - Established 1959
Welcome to Bective-East - the cricket club that services the rural districts of Tamworth with the focus on the settlements of Gowrie, Loomberah, Winton, Dungowan, Duri and of course Bective.
The Club was formed in 1959 with the amalgamation of the Bective Cricket Club and the East Tamworth Cricket Club. A special meeting was held in the Offices of Thomas Davis Accountants 16 Fitzroy St, Tamworth prior to the scheduled Annual General Meeting of the TDCA in August 1959. The meeting presided over by East President Dick Edwards was unanimous in favour of amalgamation. it was proclaimed that the name of the newly formed club would be "Bective East" as moved by Bob Heppell of the Bective Club. Both clubs had a strong history in Tamworth cricket and united under the green and gold quartered cap.
East Tamworth Cricket Club won first grade in the 1953-54 whilst Bective participated as lower grade club prior to the amalgamation. Bective-East's first title under its combined name came in 1963-64 when the club won third grade. The Club won the Club Championship in the following summer and retained the trophy the following season.
The success in the Club Championship was principally due to a powerful second grade side that won three successive second grade premierships in 1965-66 and 1966-67 captained by Phil Perry (dec), and 1967-68 captained by Cyril Scholes. This was the catalyst for one of the Club's strongest period in the mid seventies to early eighties. The Club's inaugural success in first grade Captained by Clarrie Betts came in 1974-75 when it also won second grade under Bob Heppell and the Club Championship. The following season the first grade side again claimed the premiership. Further premierships in first grade came in 1978-79 as well as successive wins in 1982-83 and 1983-84. The Club owed much of its success to the leadership and batting prowess of Dave Baxter who set numerous Club batting records during that period.
During the early 2000's Bective-East welcomed the addition of medium pace seam bowler Andrew Clements from the University of NSW side in Sydney. He has since won numerous awards both with the Club and the TDCA and has proven to be the Club's most valuable acquisition overall. He set the bowling aggregate in the 2002-2003 season with 61 wickets in 1st Grade.
Season 2009-10 will be a big one for Bective-East Cricket Club with the celebration of 50 years in Tamworth cricket.
Current Life Members:
Bernie Barnsley, Don Barwick (dec), Dave Baxter, Clarrie Betts, George Cook (dec), Noel Cook, Chris Crowell, Doug Crowell, Gerard Dunn, Bob Haling, Bob Heppell (dec), Greg Kellett, Rex Lyons (dec), Mick Maher (dec), Bede Maher, Andrew Pieper, David Ison, Darren McKinnon
