CUCC Seasonal Awards
At the end of each season the committee members get together to review all the statistics from the season. From these CUCC gives awards to players based on the performances for the season.
Below are those awards and the background behind them.
THE JACK ELLIS TROPHY
CUCC CRICKETER OF THE YEAR
Jack Ellis was a foundation member of the Cabramatta Cricket Club (as it was then known) in the 1923. The Club was formed as one of the original Clubs in the Southern Districts Cricket Association (now the Fairfield-Liverpool Cricket Assoc) & is the only one surviving from the inaugural competition.
Jack was a wicketkeeper for our “A” Grade side during the Club’s “Golden Years” of the 30s & 40s, in which time we won 10 “A” Grade Premierships, including 4 in a row, a feat unequalled by any other Club in the Association. One season we even had two “A” Grade teams, winning in the SDCA & in the Cumberland Association.
Jack held various positions at Club & Association level, including SDCA Treasurer for almost 20 years, managed (what was then) the very prestigious Telegraph Shield side for many years; his other passion was bowls & he played over 350 Pennants matches for Cabramatta Bowling Club, of which he was also a foundation member.
Jack’s son, Jack Junior, maintained the continuity with the Cabramatta United Cricket Club. He was a solid opening bat during the 50s up to the mid-60s, whose playing highlight was an unbeaten century in an unbroken partnership of over 200 for the first wicket, giving Cabra a 10 wicket win.
Jack Jnr also held positions of office with the Club & was a staunch Clubman during the early 60s when Don Dawson, one-time Club Secretary, took most of our “A” Grade players to form the Cabra-Vale Diggers CC – an action that caused us to not have an “A” Grade in 1964-65.
It is fair to say that, along with the McNamara family, the Ellis family played a major role in the history of this Club, which next season will have 86 years of existence.
The Cricketer of the Year Trophy is a tribute to two magnificent servants of the Club. The winner of the “Jack Ellis Trophy” should take pride in not only winning this prestigious award, but also in being part of the great Cabramatta United Cricket Club that Jack Ellis & Jack Ellis Jnr were proud to have been a part of.
THE JACK & ADDIE SMITH PERPETUAL TROPHY
CUCC CLUBMAN OF THE YEAR
This trophy was donated to the Club by Jack & Addie Smith, two fine people who gave a lot to the Club. Jack was the father-in-law of Club Life Member, Robert Clarke, who around 30 years ago suggested to Merv McNamara that an “Easter Tour” to Jack’s place at Gundagai would be a great end-of-season trip.
Thus began a tradition that endured up to the early 90s. Each Easter carloads, sometimes busloads, of people would trek down the
Jack Smith WAS cricket in Gundagai for a very long time & was held in such esteem that when he died in 1989 his funeral procession was over six kilometres long & had a police escort.
The Club was proud to accept the “Jack & Addie Smith Perpetual Trophy” for Clubman of the Year as it was highly indicative of type of “Clubmen” they were.
The awarding of this trophy was suspended after the 2005-06 season.
THE McNAMARA AWARD
PRESIDENT’S CHOICE FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A
SEMI-FINAL OR FINAL
Since this Club’s inception there has been a McNamara involved with it! Herb & Michael were foundation members who were soon joined by their younger brother, Alban. Alban, who was still playing well into his sixties, had two sons, Mervyn & Terrence, both fine cricketers, play for the Club. They, in turn had a son each, Michael & Anthony respectively, play for the Club, & they have proved themselves to be excellent cricketers!
The naming of this trophy allows for the McNamara name to be honoured and remembered. It is the single most important family in the Cabramatta United Cricket Club’s great history.
THE STEVE McCLEARY CUP
BEST BOWLING PERFORMANCE
Steve McCleary joined the Cabramatta United Cricket Club as a sixteen-year-old. For thirty-one years he was a fundamental part of the Club – as either an Office Bearer (either President or Secretary for almost 20 years) or as a player (first player to take over 300 wickets – mostly in “A” Grade – since 1983-84 {that is as far back as our records take us}).
It is fitting that Steve McCleary’s name be remembered by the Club, & even more fitting that the trophy be for the Best Bowling Performance of the Year.
THE MERVYN
HIGHEST SCORE
This trophy has been struck to honour the memory of Mervyn McNamara (1939-2006).
It is a privilege for the Club to be able to recognise Merv’s contribution to the Club in this small way.
