EACC History

~ In 1854 the school leased a playing field at Raeburn Place. Edinburgh Academical Cricket Club played its first match the following year.

~ During the latter half of the nineteenth century, the game of cricket spread rapidly throughout Scotland – in the 1860s cricket was undoubtedly the most popular team sport in the country – and the Academical Club’s fixture list reflected this growth.

~ Amongst the Club’s most prominent players during the Victorian era were Leslie Balfour-Melville, Hay Brown, Robert Johnston, R. MacNair, Thomas Marshall, J. Speid, and H.J. Stevenson – all of whom won international caps for Scotland.

~ Harry Stevenson was the mainstay of the Club during much of this period. A skilful batsmen, he was also an extraordinarily effective lob bowler. In 1886 he took five wickets in successive balls against Craigmount. Amazingly, he performed exactly the same feat against Gala in 1894.

~ No cricket matches were played between 1914 and 1919 but the years between the two World Wars saw the Club establish itself as one of the leading sides in the east of Scotland. Great players during this period included Rab Bruce-Lockhart, Gilbert Hole, A.I.S. Macpherson, James Stevenson, Ben Tod and Donald Weir each of whom played several times for Scotland.

~ No cricket at all could be played at Raeburn Place between 1940 and 1948 because the playing fields were being used for growing vegetables.

~ After the war, Edinburgh Academicals consolidated their position as one of the leading clubs in the east. The most celebrated player during the fifties and sixties was undoubtedly Jimmy Allan who won 60 caps for Scotland between 1953 and 1972. He also played first class cricket for Kent and Warwickshire.

~ The Club won the East of Scotland Cricket League for the first and only time in 1957.

~ There was further success for the Club in the 1970s. The Masterton Trophy was won in 1970 and 1974 but the proudest moment in the Club’s history must have been winning the Scottish Cup in 1974.

~ Henry Fairweather won 3 caps for Scotland as an opening batsman in 1971 while hard-hitting all-rounder, Dave Louden, was capped seven times for Scotland in 1981 and 1982.

~ More recent internationalists have been Nehemiah Perry, the Club professional in the early 90s who went on to win test and one-day international caps for the West Indies; and Nick Dyer, an off-spinner who won 30 caps for Scotland between 1997 and 1999.

~ The Club’s record in the East of Scotland League allowed it to become one of the founder members of the Scottish National Cricket League. Sadly, however, the Club was relegated from the National League after a disappointing season in 1999.

~ In 2001 the Club won the East League and was promoted once again to the National League.

~ 2005 : Edinburgh Academicals 1st XI currently play in the Scottish National Cricket League - South Division and the 2nd XI in the East of Scotland League - 5th Division. New players or all standards and abilities most welcome. Please contact EACC by e-mailing Shaun McWilliam, the club captain, at .