Gelvandale Cricket Club contributed much to the development of cricket in the Eastern Province in general and the Northern Areas in particular.
And since it’s inaugural general meeting in 1977, the Club has grown in stature and is regarded today as one of the leading clubs from previously disadvantaged area in the country.
The Club has the distinction of producing a numurous amount of Protea players and provincial stars, as well as annexing all three competitions – LEAGUE, SHIELD & KNOCK OUT – under the auspices of the Eastern Province Cricket Association in 1989/90 season. This has helped in no uncertain terms to build a tradition of which present day members can be proud.
The formation of the Club took place in 1977 at a meeting in the Gelvandale Hish School, and was the venue for the club meetings for many a year thereafter. The Club was formed after the so-called “9-man” Committee declared cricket in SA a unified sport – one of the most bitterly controversial decisions ever taken by administrators of sport in SA – to accommodate those cricketers who willingly wanted to play SACB cricket and NOT “normal sport in an abnormal society”.
Those who attended the inaugural meeting and are regarded as foundation members were:
Mervin Blaauw, Vernon Malgas, Alan Blaauw, Graham Blaauw, Rupert
Billet, David O’Reilly, Tyrone Hitzeroth, Cyril Fortuin, Vernon de
Doncker, Selwyn Felix, Brian Udermans, Wendell Domingo & Johnny van
Wyk
The Club’s first officials to be elected were:
Chairman: Mervin Blaauw
Secretary: Tyrone Hitzeroth
Treasurer: Vernon Malgas
Delegates to EPCA: M. Blaauw & T.Hitzeroth
The first captain and vice captain of the club was Mervin Blaauw. Two teams were registered with the EPCA. It was mainly due to these gentlemen that a sound foundation was laid for the growth of the club to where it is today.
During the 70’s and 80’s the club’s Premier team played its home matches on the turf wickets at the Adcock Stadium, while the lower league and junior teams played theirs on matting at the Gelvandale Playing Fields. In 2001 the club made use of the PPC Oval after the GEMSA Field was upgraded and renamed after the sponsors.