CLUB, HISTORY AND RECORDS
FREMANTLE CRICKET CLUB
The first reference made to the
Fremantle Club in the Annals is the season 1886-1887 and records show that
they had a premiership success in that particular year. It is not certain
however, to which association they were affiliated, as although the W.A.C.A.
had been formed one year earlier in November, 1885, Fremantle did not join
that body until the 1887-88 season. Club officials in that particular season
included Mr. D. K. Congdon, President, Mr. W. A. Payne, Secretary and the
Club Captain was Mr. W. A. Bateman.
The records refer to some disputation between Fremantle and Perth based
clubs in the subsequent season relating to the latter mentioned teams
refusal to travel to and play cricket in Fremantle. Fremantle it seems were
equally and reciprocally adamant in their refusal to negotiate the 20
kilometer capital city trek either per river barge or horse drawn transport.
This long running dispute is understood as the prime reason for the
Fremantle Club's withdrawal from the W.A.C.A. for the 1889-90 season only to
affiliate once again and compete in the central competition in 1890-91
through to 1893-95 season.
The records show that probably due to the ever present distance and travel
problems, the Port Club on November 3rd, 1894 again severed ties with the
W.A.C.A. and in direct opposition to that body formed, or assisted to create
a body named The Cricketing Association of W.A. (Fremantle). Member clubs in
the new Association were Fremantle, North Fremantle, Ports and Beaconsfield,
and the fixtures dating from 24th November, 1894 to March 3rd, 1895 showed
that two day matches were played weekly, for end of season trophies of
badges and cricketing caps.
Administrative turmoil so prevalent it appears in the early days continued
in 1895-96 as Fremantle still maintaining its ties with the Port Association
rejoined the W.A.C.A. A newly constituted Association was created in
Fremantle in 1905-06 with participating clubs being Fremantle, Mercantile,
North Fremantle, South Fremantle, East Fremantle and Richmond. Richmond of
course was that elevated part of present day East Fremantle between Canning
Highway - North to the Swan River.
Five of these teams rejoined the W.A.C.A. for the following year 1906-07,
with only the Mercantile team deciding to remain in Fremantle. These
Fremantle teams it appears were part of the W.A.C.A. up until 1908-09 with
the North Fremantle team notching W.A.C.A. premiership wins in the years
1906-07, 1907-08 and two years later in 1909-10. The Fremantle Club however
were not W.A.C.A. participants in 1909-10, but they re-entered the
competition the following year when South Fremantle withdrew, and were the
premiers in season 1911-12. Fremantle and North Fremantle withdrew from the
W.A.C.A. Competition after the commencement of the 1st World War and
Fremantle did not compete in the W.A.C.A. Competition again until 1921-22.
Since that time Fremantle has had continual W.A.C.A. affiliation save for
the period 1942-43 to 1944-45 when as a war time expediency the Fremantle
and Claremont Clubs combined for 3 seasons and were "victory"
premiers in season 1944-45.
Our W.A.C.A. district boundaries of course since the 2nd World War, embrace
all those areas North, East and South Fremantle that contributed so much to
the early development of our great game, and we are proud of the union,
which has made us the Fremantle District Cricket Club.
Founded 1886