Phoenix Cricket Club celebrated 40 years of Ladies Cricket at the club on Saturday 15 August 2015. Many past players from Phoenix and other clubs gathered for a wonderful event. Clontarf, Leinster, Merrion, Pembroke and YMCA were represented.
60-year olds joined with 10-year-olds in a 12-a-side taverners match where "Hannah's Bananas" competed against Zoe's "Warriors". The sides were rewarded with quirky duck scrubbing devices. Two vouchers for "women of the match" were awarded to Alison Black and Chloe Payne. The real winner was cricket with many past players threatening a comeback.
After the match tea was served by the men of Phoenix, some attired in striped jackets and straw hats. Absolutely wonderful and BIG thank you to the men of Phoenix for rising to the occasion so enthusiastically.
Cricket awards were given and there were a few short speeches from the captain of the 1975 Phoenix Ladies Team, Penny Freer, followed by a few words from Mary Pat Moore, a past Phoenix player and former Captain of Ireland. Current Captain Hannah McGuckin and Vanessa Kelada spoke as did Club President, Michael Brown who emphasised the overall contribution to the club made by the ladies.
There followed a prosecco toast to 40 years of Phoenix Ladies and 185 years of Phoenix Cricket Club. Lamb cooked on a spit was then enjoyed by all. Dancing went on into the small hours.
Throughout the day photos were projected on a screen in the bar. A commemorative programme was printed giving the history, memories, anecdotes and photos of the last 40 years. The wonderful smiling faces on the Phoenix Ladies Cricket Facebook Page reflect the fantastic reunion of past women players. The friendships formed through cricket are life-long.
Here's to the next 40 years of women's cricket at Phoenix.
Thank you to Integrated Risk Solutions for sponsoring the commemorative programme, to AP Sports for the vouchers, to The Enchanted Florist for the cricket floral composition and to MyHome.ie for sponsoring the event overall.
More photos of the event can be seen on Phoenix ladies cricket facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-Ladies-Cricket/1657174237831496