Selkirk Cricket Club

A challenging but exciting year lies ahead for Selkirk Cricket Club, members were told at Friday night’s Annual General Meeting, held in the Philiphaugh clubrooms.

The Selkirk club celebrates its 175th anniversary this year – it is Scotland’s 10th oldest continually existing cricket club – and president John Smail believes there is every reason for renewed optimism about future prospects.

“The club wouldn’t be able to look ahead with such confidence,” he added, “were it not for the hard work put in by a core of dedicated club volunteers, and also the backing it receives year after year from its loyal band of sponsors and supporters.”

He paid tribute to three members stepping aside from their roles at the club after years of service – former Chairman & Secretary Neil Gentleman, ex-President & Treasurer Roger Arnold, and former Square and Wicket Convener Ronnie Dumma.

Neil and Ronnie having already received presentations to mark their retiral, at Friday’s meeting Roger Arnold was presented with an engraved bottle of single malt whisky in recognition of all his work.

In his financial report, Mr Arnold revealed the club had recorded a small deficit for the second successive year. He urged members to make use of the club’s excellent newly-refurbished facilities. “It is vital we increase bar revenue, so hosting more social functions is an absolute must,” he said.

In his cricket report, Neil Gentleman said the highlight of the season was the victory over Peebles County in the Border T20 Cup final, while the team also performed strongly in their East League Division 3 campaign, finishing fourth in the table.

At the AGM Daniel Heard was re-elected as Selkirk’s Captain, with Greg Fenton and Rory Banks re-appointed as joint Vice-captains.

Membership secretary Andrew Dickson’s report highlighted a significant increase in membership payments compared to 2024’s total. It was agreed subscriptions should remain unchanged – playing members £40, ordinary members £20 (concessions/unwaged £10), and family membership £30.

Office-bearers were elected as follows – President & Secretary, John Smail; Treasurer, Alison Scott; Fixtures Secretary, Rory Banks.

Membership Secretary, Andrew Dickson; Bar Convener, Ann Fernie; Property Convener, Andrew Dickson; Field Convener, Michael Jaffray.

Captain 1st XI, Daniel Heard; Vice-captains, Greg Fenton & Rory Banks; Team Manager, Kenny Paterson; Junior Coaches, Cara Paterson & Liam Skeldon; Child Protection Officer, Colin Anderson.

Committee – Office-bearers plus Gary Haldane, Joyce Wright, Trish Banks, Adrian Kentleton, Pamela Douglas.

Message from our Cricket Development Officer Reece McNay

“I am absolutely delighted to finally announce that The Borders will have its own MCC Foundation Hub for 2026 at Earlston High School commencing at the end of this month. When I first started and spoke to you all back in May, a big item on the agenda was to bring back a development side for the region and this is a massive step in that direction.

The most significant change ahead of this year’s hubs is a UK-wide realignment of age groups, with Boys Hubs now bracketed at U13 and U15 and Girls Hubs at U17. Which means The Borders will have two hubs which includes an U13 and U15 boys group and an U17 girls group.

Eligibility Criteria:
  Boys aged 11-15
  Girls aged 11-17
  Not attending fee-paying schools
  Not in Scotland Squads
  Players who are currently or have been part of regional squads can register

How to Register:
  For more details, and to register, use this link: MCCF Borders Hub Sign Up

Registration:
  Please note: Due to the demand for places exceeding the available places, registration does not guarantee a place in a hub. For hubs whose interest exceeds their capacity, players will be invited to a trial prior to the hubs commencing in January 2026.

Dates, Timings and Venue:
  U17 Girls Hub: Fridays, 6pm – 7.30pm, 30th January, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th February, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th March
  U13/15 Boys Hub: Fridays, 7.30pm – 9pm, 30th January, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th February, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th March.
  These will all take place at Earlston High School, East End, Earlston, TD4 6JP

Edinburgh Hub Trials:
  I know for some clubs their juniors may have trials for the Edinburgh MCC Foundation Hub, and they should still do so. If they are to get a place can choose which hub they attend whether it be Edinburgh or Borders.”

Selkirk Cricket Club Prepares to Celebrate Historic Milestone

As Scotland’s 10th oldest continuously existing cricket club, it comes as no surprise to learn plans are well advanced to commemorate Selkirk’s 175th anniversary in 2026 – a major milestone for the Philiphaugh-based club.

These include a sports dinner to be held on Friday, September 4, at which the guest speakers include well-known TV sports presenter Jill Douglas, former world professional sprint champion George MacNeill, ex-Scotland cricket captain George Salmond, as well as political columnist of “The Times” Alex Massie, who on occasion still turns out for Selkirk’s team.

Thanks to the good offices of the aforementioned Mr Massie, on Sunday, August 9, a special fixture has been arranged against the Authors Cricket Club. Founded in 1899, its past players include none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who by coincidence captained the MCC in a match against Selkirk at Philiphaugh in 1904.

The club also plans to resurrect Selkirk’s popular six-a-side Factory Cup competition for the 2026 season, while it will once again be staging its local primary schools festival at Philiphaugh.

Selkirk Cricket Club was instituted on May 6, 1851, the sport having been introduced to the town by two Yorkshire engineers, identified in records only as Humber and Newbury. The pair had travelled north to instal looms in the local tweed mills, and found the local menfolk eager to take up the game.

The Souters’ first official fixture in the 1851 season was a home match against Kelso. The game started at 11am, and at the end of the day’s play a dinner was held in the County Hotel. Each side had two innings, and Kelso won the contest by two runs.

For the first 21 years of Selkirk Cricket Club’s existence, games were played on the Public Haugh (now Victoria Park), with the first pitch being located on the area of ground later to become the site of Bridgehaugh Dyeworks.

Soon the club moved its playing base to ground at Riverside Mill, before the opening of the new Selkirk branch railway line in 1856 saw the club’s square being taken over to accommodate the town’s new railway station.

At the end of the 1871 season, Selkirk Town Council informed the club of its intention to build new factories on its outfield, necessitating yet another ground transfer in time for the 1872 season.

It was Selkirk Cricket Club’s president, Sir John Murray of Philiphaugh, who saved the day by offering to feu the club a field at Philiphaugh, which Selkirk has occupied to the present day. The new Philiphaugh ground was officially opened on June 8, 1872, with a match against Scotland’s leading club, the Grange of Edinburgh.

Over the past 175 years, a total of 11 Selkirk players have won full international honours for Scotland They are:

T. Lang (1880), J. Buchanan (1890), A. Blacklock (1903), W. Greive (1910),
J. Greive (1911-1935), W. Greive (1912-1914), S. Hiddleston (1930-1934),
D. Soga (1936), A. Henderson (1953), D. Stewart (1969-79), I. Philip (1986-1999).

D. Stewart (1977), B. Hunter (1989) and S. Wilson (1992-1994) were Selkirk’s three Scotland ‘B’ caps.

Widely acknowledged as one Scotland’s most scenic grounds, over the years Philiphaugh has played host to many of Scotland’s international fixtures.

Famous cricketers to have played on Selkirk’s sacred sward include Australia’s star all-rounder Keith Miller, West Indies’ legendary figure Sir Learie Constantine, as well as former Pakistan captain Imran Kahn and, more recently, West Indies’ popular paceman Joel ‘Big Bird’ Garner.

Selkirk’s current crop of cricketers did the club proud last season when, under the captaincy of Daniel Heard, the Souters lifted the Border T20 Cup for the first time.

Selkirk’s 2026 campaign will kick off with a pre-season friendly against Haddington at Philiphaugh in April, heralding what is sure to be a momentous year for the club.

A special presentation took place at the end of last Friday night’s awards ceremony, when a limited edition print of an original watercolour of Philiphaugh, gifted to the Club in 1990 by local artist T J Bertram, was presented to Ronnie Dumma.

After many years caring for the Philiphaugh square and wicket, Ronnie informed the club he would be stepping down from this role at the end of the 2025 season.

Prior to the presentation, president John Smail paid tribute to Ronnie’s incredible commitment to maintaining and improving the square over many years.

“Without fail, almost every opposing team that comes here to play Selkirk marvels at the beauty of the club’s Philiphaugh ground and its surrounding scenery” he said.

“The second thing they comment on is the true nature of the Philiphaugh wicket, which consistently provides an even bounce, and always produces fair conditions for both batters and bowlers.

Selkirk’s excellent playing surface doesn’t happen by accident. It takes many hours and days of skilful nurturing, soil management, turf care and pitch preparation.

For many years the upkeep and care of Philiphaugh’s square has been in the capable hands of former Selkirk player, captain and chairman Ronnie Dumma, and the club is indebted to him for his incredible commitment.”

Before presenting the framed print to Ronnie, Selkirk vice-captain Rory Banks thanked Ronnie, on behalf of all the players, for consistently preparing such outstanding wickets. “We’re so fortunate to play home matches on such a true playing surface” said Rory “so many thanks Ronnie for making this possible.”

Report and photo by John Smail.

Last Friday night, the Club paid tribute to the hard work put in by its Junior Section players and coaches over the 2025 season at the annual Junior Awards ceremony.

The event was well supported by the young players and their families. Proceedings were in the capable hands of Junior Cricket Convener Neil Gentleman, who paid tribute to coaches Cara Paterson, Ashley Robertson and Blaine Gillie, each of whom received a bottle of champagne.

The Monday girls softball group award winners were: Most improved player, Jorja Lowrie; most promising player, Kyla Pettie; festival star award, Eilidh Kimber.

The Friday boys softball group awards went to: Most improved player, Angus Lyall; most promising player, Robert Torrance; festival star award, Douglas Anderson.

The hard ball group awards went to: Most promising player, Jamie Wilkinson; most improved player, Archie Pritchard.

Sets of Selkirk CC kit were presented to Cara Paterson and Ashley Robertson, as a thank you for establishing and running the girls group. T-shirts and shorts were given to Allie Lightfoot, Jorja Lowrie, Kyla Pettie and Eilidh Kimber, who all move up to the hard ball group next year.

Report and photo by John Smail.