HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF MAN CRICKET ASSOCIATION (formerly ISLE OF MAN CRICKET CLUB)

The Isle of Man Cricket Club was formed in April 1930 with the object of fostering the interests of cricket on the Island and assisting the existing clubs such as Ramsey, Fencibles and Castletown. One of the founder members of the IOMCC was the late T.W.Cain M.C., T.D., who was to hold the post of Honorary Secretary from1930 to 1946 and then Chairman from 1946 to 1971. The T.W. Cain Cup donated by Mr Cain is still the premier weekday trophy. In addition there is from 2005 a T.W.Cain Trophy for the best player Under-15. This was purchased from a bequest left to the IOMCA by the late Mrs Pearl Cain.

From 26th to 28th August 1946 the Isle of Man Cricket Club organised and ran a Cricket Festival on the Island in order to promote cricket. On 26th August the Isle of Man Cricket Club XI played against a joint Lancashire and Cheshire County XI and on the following days A.J. Birtwell's XI played a Cheshire County XI. These games were played at Belle Vue Park ( later King George V Park ) and now the location of the National Sports Centre.The Festival was repeated in 1947 with a Yorkshire League XI playing a Lancashire League XI followed by an IOMCC XI against a joint Lancashire and Yorkshire League XI. Similar festivals were held in the 1980's with Lancashire 2nd XI a regular visitor as well as Internatinal XI's featuring such stars as Brian Close, Faroukh Engineer and Clive Lloyd as well as England stars like Neil Fairbrother, Graeme Fowler, Mike Atherton, David Gower, Paul Allott and Allan Lamb.

Over the years the Isle of Man Cricket Club hosted many teams from the UK and Itreland while later on in the 1970's annual tours by the IOMCC would take place to the UK. Each year the MCC sends a touring side to the Island to play against King William's College and a fixture against the Island senior side is always included.

In 1990 the Isle of Man Cricket Club ventured abroad fior the first time when a side sponsored by the Bank of Canada and led by Graham Wilson of Cronkbourne travelled to Victoria in British Columbia to play in the Visas International Sixes Competition. Against the odds the Isle of Man team brought home the trophy when Martin Webb's astonishing innings of 73 not out in a team total of 105 brought victory against Australian side Qantas with Martin hitting a six off the penultimate ball to secure victory. Isle of Man sides competed again in 1992 and 1994 but were unable to repeat the success. However, after a 15 year gap the Isle Of Man again tasted success in an International Sixes when St John's Cricket Club won the 2005 Menorca International Sixes watched by patron Air Marshall Ian MacFadyen, recently retired Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man.

The Island participated in the Four Islands Tournament with Guernsey, Isle of  Wight& Jersey in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Their most successful of which was in 2000 when they beat Jersey comprehensively & finished as runners up to Guernsey in a very competitive final.

In July 2004 the Isle of Man Cricket Association took a giant step when they were elected as the 90th member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and in 2005 competed in a European Championship for the first timewhen the senior side competed in the ECC Notts Sports European Affiliates Championships Div 2 in Belgium, finishing a creditable 8th with a very young side. The Isle of Man's first win in an International match came when the side skippered by Rob Webber of Ramsey CC beat Finland by 3 wickets at the Antwerp Indians Ground on 17th August 2005.

The Isle of Man Under-15 side competed in the ECC Affiliates Division 2 in Rome in August 2005 and to the delight of all concerned brought home the trophy after defeating Belgium by 11 runs in the final. Max Stokoe of Cronkbourne was voted Player of the Tournament. Further successes in ECC tournaments have been recorded by the Under 17s in the 2010 Division 2 tournament hosted in the Island and the Senior side in 2012 when they won the Division 2 competition in Corfu, Greece.

Scorecard from IOM v Finland 17th August 2005