Come and join in! Leith Franklin AcademicalsCricket Club is believed to be one of the oldest outdoor sporting clubs in Leith and has been playing on the same cricket square for almost 150 years.The original cricket club was called the Hermitage which was formed some time before 1850 but in 1852 some workers in Fullartons printing works in Stead's Place formed a club called Stead's Place Cricket Cl
ub. This was sometimes referred to as Fullarton's Cricket Club, but at the end of the 1852 season the members decided to open the membership to all interested in the game and they called the club after one of the most famous printers of the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin. Thus, Franklin Cricket Club was born. Not only was Franklin a printer, but something of a scientist and later became one of the authors of the Constitution of the United States during the War of Independence. In 1752 he happened to invent the lightning conductor and the centenary of that event may have led the members of the cricket club to adopt his name. Not too much is known about the club prior to 1863 except that it was run by Thomas Murray, the manager of the printing works who later became Secretary and then President of the cricket club.The early fixture list was not extensive but teams representing Captain and Vice Captain, Married and Singles and Other Members against the Volunteers added to the list. Franklin were very successful during the early years of play and they are recorded as having remained unbeaten at home for the first ten years. Without declaration rules Franklin are said to have fielded all afternoon during the 1867 season whilst Dalkeith scored 322 for nine wickets.This was the highest score by opponents until 1922 when Clydesdale scored 346 for nine wickets at the links of which Dan Mackay scored 257 not out, one of the highest individual innings recorded in Scotland. The bulk of the membership of the club during the 1870's was drawn from the printing works and the Murray and Welsh families seemed to have provided three or four players each around this period. The Sinclair family also provided several players as did the Mitchells and Clunies at a later period. The record however must have been held by the Cunningham family as nine members apparently played for the cluh over a period of several years. I wonder if Dougie Murray is related ? The rise of the Leith Caledonian Cricket Club during the late 1800's attracted members from the Franklin and the Club was at its lowest point when members of the Nelson Beaufort Club joined en masse and began to strengthen the playing membership so much so that in 1899 Caledonian were beaten for the first time. Prior to 1904, when golf ceased on the Links, playing cricket could be a somewhat hazardous sport trying to avoid the golf balls and it is recorded that on one occasion a crowd of some 2,000 chased the Volunteers away when they attempted to march across the cricket square. The Club did not function during the First World War and the square was relaid after war ended. For several years the Club went through a period of rebuilding but by the end of the 1920's it had once again regained its prominent position in Scottish cricket. The club did not close down during the Second World War and many good cricketers played for the Club when they were posted to the Edinburgh area for duty. Among these was A L Wisden the grand nephew of John Wisden, the Sussex and England cricketer who later became famous for his statistical records about the game. Several centuries have been scored by Franklin players in first eleven matches including two by Franklin's only capped player Willie Hermiston who played against Ireland and New Zealand in 1949. During the early years on the Iinks, players changed in a bell tent which was erected for that purpose but the first clubhouse was built in 1893 and was enlarged in 1929. Sadly the annual Edinburgh versus Leith cricket match is no Ionger played but many will remember the interest which was shown in this match and the many enthusiastic spectators who used to encircle the boundary line.The club celebrated its centenary in 1952 and although changes have taken place over the past 50 years with amalgamations, the building of a new clubhouse and the occasional professional player it is still in good heart. Since Leith Franklin merged with Leith Accies. in 1988 the merged Leith Franklin Accies. has had many ups and downs. The club enjoyed moderate success in the first few seasons with many of the teams challenging in their respective leagues but after 4 seasons of the merger the inevitable dwindling of numbers took it's toll with the first eleven being relegated in 1993 to Division 3. In more recent years Leith CC has enjoyed varied success with the odd trophy here or there with the first eleven winning East Division 2 in 1996 and being runner up and gaining promotion again in 1998. Their loftiest achievement was the 2nd place in Division 1 in 1999, which seen them getting an invitation to join the national league only for them to fail on one or two of the posh boys only entry criteria. The second eleven too have had success gaining promotion from Division 7 and 6 respectively in the last two seasons. Unfortunately this season they're finding it a bit harder going in Division 5 but will no doubt improve with experience. The third eleven still get an occasional outing but dwindling numbers makes this more of a struggle. One of the enjoyable things about cricket at Leith is the many characters present. They vary from the argumentative and sometimes nippy Alan McEwan to the overly intelligent Ben Wood. Ben is probably one of Leith's best known characters as he often amazes visitors to the club with his ability to make large calculations in his head and he'll even tell you what day you were born on if you tell him your date of birth. Then there's the ever loud ever grumpy Steve Middleton who has probably upset the odd opponent over the years as well as no doubt made them snigger. He was once suspended for 3 games for writing his name in the outfield using the line marking machine and who can forget Mr. Cricket. I talk of course of the Leith and Edinburgh cricket legend Gus McLean who would play 7 days a week 365 days a year if he could. A gentleman off the pitch but a complete devil on it, for 3 season he was Leith's best bowler taking over 50 wickets in each season, culminating in him captaining the first eleven to their league win in 1996. Of the older characters there are Rab Fraser and Cornelius Waugh, both these chaps have large waistlines and yes they really are as full of hot air as you think. They talk the best game of cricket ever and have the most unbelievable tea time tales. Our current captains are Kenny Mulcahy, Douglas Parr and George Thornton in the 1sts,2nds,3rds respectively. Other stalwarts worthy of mention include Graeme Fraser, Alastair Dee and the rejuvenated Scott Clarke. Scott was the victim of one of the most painful but hilarious accidents seen during a Leith match. Whilst playing for the first eleven against Largo, a dolly catch was sent down his throat at mid on. Scott confidently got underneath but unfortunately left his hands too far apart allowing the ball to go between them and straight into his top row of teeth. Unfortunately for Leith the ball didn't stick and unfortunately for Scott neither did his teeth. Disappointingly over the past few years Leith are more famous not for amusing antics but for the opposite with the odd opponents here and there being upset but hopefully we can improve our inter-club relations over the coming seasons to make cricket as enjoyable as it should be.This year the club celebrates 150 years of Cricket on the Links with various events planned to celebrate, culminating in a celebratory dinner at Easter Road Stadium in September. In summing up, it has been a vibrant club throughout the years providing facilities for pleasure to the community for 150 years and hopefully will continue to do so for another 150 years.
