Founded in 1891, Somerset West Cricket Club has deep roots in the community and is one of the oldest cricket clubs in South Africa. With over 500 active members the club has played a central part in the growth and prosperity of Somerset West and has a long and interesting history intertwined with the town.

Our President, Andy Boyd, writes…

“Somerset West is one of the founder members of the then Western Province Cricket Union, which became the Western Province Cricket Association with unification in 1992.

The club was founded in 1891, and played their cricket at the De Beers soccer grounds in Paardevlei.

The club moved its grounds to Radloff Park at the end of the 1960’s thanks to the work done by three members: Mr Arthur Kamp who was or became president of the club thereafter, Mr Bill Bellingan (affectionately known as Uncle Bill), who became vice president  and Mr Alan Olsen, who became honorary life president. All three were made life members and were instrumental in the financing and zoning of the land for the club.

The club started at Radloff park with a corrugated-tin tea shack on the A-field under the oak tree to the right of the A-field, in front of the existing nets. The clubhouse followed thereafter. The original nets were two concrete nets outside the embankment, more or less opposite the existing tarmac area. The new net facilities were built in the early 1980’s and then extended again some years later to what it is currently.

The original clubhouse was a small kitchen and bar, about half the size of the existing kitchen and bar area, two mens changing rooms and a ladies toilet. What is now the main hall area where one sits to watch TV and where we sit when having meetings, used to be grass.

So the club really has come a long way in 100 or so years and holds some wonderful memories for me. I have every faith the club will go from strength to strength in the next 100 years and remain an integral part of the Somerset West community.”