|
HISTORY OF LUTON INDIANS CRICKET CLUB |
Hon. Chairman
: D.Panchal
Hon. Secretary : V.Patel
Hon. Treasurer : M.Siyodia
The Club was founded in 1963 by a group of ex-East African Asians. It was the
first Overseas Club participating at village Club level in and around Luton.
Following a reorganisation in 1972, a policy was adopted to encourage and
support students and youngsters in their teens to be the backbone of the Club's
playing teams. And it was the results of this strategy that the Club enjoyed a
record membership of 103 players during the peak period between 1980 and 1990.
This included 55 junior members (under 15).
Our youth training programme has paid dividends in way of recognition of our
youngsters in higher standard of the game. Kiran S Patel has played for Luton
Town and Bedfordshire; Monty Panesar is on Northamptonshire staff and has also
represented England under 19's and was selected for Australian Academy. A number
of young players have also represented Bedfordshire Colt's teams.
The Club had participated in weekend leagues such as Mandhatta, West Herts and
Millman and a local Luton and District Midweek league since 1975. There were
three teams representing the Club in the Midweek league; with the Colt team
joining the L & D League from 1992 season.
In 24 years of Luton & District League's history, Luton Indians had
participated for 17 years and to date have won 21 major trophies which in itself
is a League record.
It was a dream come true for many dedicated players such as Dipak Parsooth, the
Club Captain; star batsman Arun Patel, Subash Jani, Anil Patel and Mahendra
Patel; star bowler Satish Patel, Hitu Naik, Kanu Patel and Dinesh Patel and an
excellent wicket-keeper batsmen Lalit Patel to win a ' Treble ' in the midweek
league in 1989 season (i.e. Luton News Cup, Pre Star Cup and Ralph Oliver
Shield). To win the West Herts league as well in their first season was like an
icing on a cake.
The Club's proudest moment was in 1978 when a team of sixteen members went on a
one month Cricket playing tour of Kenya, country of origin for many of them. All
the funds were raised locally, organising musical shows, stage plays and other
fund-raising activities.
In 1994, a similar one month cricket playing tour to India was organised when
Luton Indians played against teams in Gujarat and Mumbai.
The Club has reciprocated similar hospitality to overseas touring sides such as
Pangani Sports Club from Kenya in 1989. During 1992/93, Dilipsinhji Cricket Club
of Baroda, India and Khar Gymkhana of Mumbai, India, which included Indian Test
player Vinod Kambli.
The Club had strived for a home ground for many years to enable the Club to join
more competitive Leagues. After extensive negotiations with the Parks Division
of Luton Leisure & Amenities, the Club was granted an exclusive use of
Lancaster Avenue as their home ground. This enabled the Club to join Beds &
Bucks Millman League. With the support and assistance of the management of Luton
Recreation services the Club invested in improving the facilities in the
pavilion, installed practice nets at Lancaster Avenue and with the help of ECB,
an artificial wicket was also installed. During winter, the Club used to
organise indoor net practice at Hatfield Polytechnic and more recently, at
Ashcroft High School. Two separate sessions were arranged beginning from January
to April; Saturday morning for coaching junior members and Sunday afternoon for
senior members. The Club's traditional role has always been to uphold strict
adherence to discipline, sportsmanship and comradeship. Following is the brief
summary of the Club's achievements:
|
1975 |
Winner
of best sporting team trophy - Mandhatta Weekend League |
|
1976 |
Winner
of Mandhatta Six-a-side competition |
|
|
Winner
of 3rd. Division L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Winner
- Vauxhall Plate. L&D Midweek League |
|
1977 |
Winner
- Mandhatta Six-a-Side |
|
|
Winner
- Murphy Trophy |
|
|
Winner
- 1st. Division L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Runners-up
- Mandhatta League |
|
1978 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
1979 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Winner
- Pre Star Cup L&D Midweek League. |
|
1981 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
1982 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
1983 |
Winner
- Pre Star Cup L&D Midweek League. |
|
|
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
1984 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
1985 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
1986 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
1987 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
1989 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Winner
- Pre Star Cup L&D Midweek League. |
|
|
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
|
Winner
- West Herts Weekend League |
|
1990 |
Winner
- West Herts Weekend League |
|
|
Winner
- Pre Star Cup L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Run-up
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
1991 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
|
Winner
- Pre Star Cup. L&D Midweek League |
|
1992 |
Winner
- Premier Division L&D Midweek League |
|
1993 |
Winner
- West Herts Weekend League |
|
|
Winner
- Premier Division. L&D Midweek League |
|
1994 |
Winner
- Luton Inter-Community Shield |
|
|
3rd
- Millman Trophy |
|
|
3rd
Team Winner – 3rd Div L&D Midweek League |
|
1995 |
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
|
R/Up
- West Herts League |
|
1996 |
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
|
Winner
- Luton 7-A-Side Competition Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 |
|
|
R/Up
- West Herts League |
|
1997 |
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
|
Winner
- Under 15’s League |
|
1998 |
Winner
- Ralph Oliver Shield |
|
|
Winner
– Millman Trophy |
|
|
Winner
– Forum Cup – L & D League |
|
|
Winner
– Colts Under 13's League |
|
1999 |
Winner
– Colts League Triple Winners Under 11's, Under 13's, Under 15's |