Lisburn Cricket Club

The club's first ground in 1836 was in a field off the Ballinderry Road. Subsequently a new ground was found on the Low Road, in a portion of the fields surrounding what is now Forthill School. Later, play was in a field at the junction of the Belfast and Belsize Roads, approximately where the gate lodge of Wallace Park now stands.

Although very little is known of Lisburn's formative years, we can assume that the Reverend Stannus (he became Dean in 1837) was a major figure in the club's foundation. We know that he was a very influential figure in Lisburn from the 1820's until his death in the 1870's. Certainly his two sons, Walter and T. H. were the leading figures in the cricket club throughout the early years. Not only did they play in most of the matches, they also held the offices of Treasurer and Secretary, and even found time to prepare the wickets.

Lisburn was enjoying an economic boom in the mid-1830's, and this centered around the linen industry, with names like the Barbours, the Richardsons and the Stewarts. These families were to figure prominently in Lisburn's economic history over the next hundred years or so, so it can be assumed that the younger male members of these families, ably directed by the Reverend Stannus, formed the back-bone of the club. Even in 1836, the cricket season began in early May, so around the time Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie were breathing their last in the epic siege of the Alamo, another group of individuals were putting cricket firmly on the map in the town of Lisburn.

It is almost certain that Lisburn would have played against both the Ulster and Belfast Cricket clubs. From 1839 when the rail link between Belfast and Lisburn was completed, travel would not have proved a problem. The train was to provide the most popular mode of transport for cricketers right up until the second World War. The bus began to play an important part in the Ulster transport scene only in the 1920's and we must remember that it was not until the 1955-60 period that motor cars became the major form of transport.

Lisburn's present ground was first used in the year 1854 and the club has continued to play at Wallace Park ever since. At first there were many problems to overcome, in re-arranging, draining and laying out the ground. These tasks were carried out largely thanks to the help of the Stannus boys. The ground was used as a townpark grazing by Mr John Finlay, who rented it prior to 1854. The tn~~p overleaf may give a clearer picture of the exact location of the ground and its surroundings in the year it was acquired.

By 1850 some 50 cricket clubs had been founded in Ireland. By the time N.I.C.C. came into existence in 1859 there were over 30 clubs in Northern Ireland alone. While the N.I.C.C. was out on its own in playing strength, thanks to its vast membership, Belfast, Armagh, Waringstown and Downpatrick all had elevens to match that of Lisburn.

The first recorded game played by Lisburn was against the Belfast club on 12 August 1858 at the Botanic Gardens. It was a match Lisburn won by 34 runs. Prominent names include the Stannus brothers and J. Hunter who was a member of the Dunmurry linen family. The score-card of that match appeared in the Belfast News Letter, and is reproduced here.

From Belfast Newsletter, Monday August 16th, 1858.