
Founded in 1892, Antwerp Cricket Club is the oldest cricket club in Flanders and the premier centre for the development of the game in Belgium.
The club competes in the first division of the national league, plays around 40 matches per year and also plays host to many international touring sides throughout the season.
As the custodians of the Antwerp Cricket Centre, the largest and most advanced centre for the sport in Belgium, the Club also plays host to international fixtures and tournaments on a regular basis.
History
- 1880 Cricket is played for the first time in Antwerp at the Wilrycksche Plein (the site of the present-day Bouwcentrum)
- 1892 The Antwerp Cricket Club is established on 11 May at a meeting held in Café Shakespeare on the Groenplaats in Antwerp.
- 1895 The Club acquires a new ground in Zurenborg.
- 1896 The club amalgamates, forming the Antwerp Football, Cricket and Law Tennis Club
- 1897 The club’s ground is converted to a velodrome, forcing cricket to find alternative headquarters
- 1914 The outbreak of war on the continent puts a temporary halt on cricket in Antwerp
- 1924 Cricket resumes in Antwerp on the Beerschot ground in Wilrijk
- 1930 Antwerp Amateur Cricket Club is founded entirely by Belgian players commissioned in England during the war.
- 1950-1972 Cricket is played on a fairly summary basis, often consisting of scratch matches against makeshift sides or sporting clubs from further afield such as Standard Athletics in Paris.
- 1976 Antwerp CC plays its first match at the British army barracks at Emblem.
- 1983 The club acquires a permanent address in the Plantenhoekstraat on the border between Rumst and Reet.
- 1990 Antwerp CC becomes a founding member of the Belgian Cricket Federation.
- 2010 Antwerp CC plays its last season at the Rumst Ground before being forced to vacate it. The club is now homeless and forced to play its matches away. A difficult period for the club.
- 2012 Nevertheless, the club bounces back to win the BCF Division 2 and gain promotion.
- 2013 Antwerp CC narrowly misses out on the 1st Division title but the future seems bright for the club.
- 2014 Antwerp CC begins development of the new Antwerp Cricket Ground at Middelheim Park.
- 2019 Antwerp CC wins promotion to division 1.
