Eastern Hill Cricket Club are set to move to the Gisborne District Cricket Association (GDCA) for the 2024/25 season.
Major changes to the Seymour District Cricket Association (SDCA), including the departure of three clubs over the past five years and changes to the Senior and Junior competitions offered, led Eastern Hill to reconsider the Club’s affiliation and to make the decision to apply to join the Gisborne league.
At its Annual General Meeting (AGM), the GDCA Executive and Club Delegates voted to accept Eastern Hill’s application to join the competition for the upcoming season.
Eastern Hill’s President Michael Brown said he was overwhelmed by the support the Club received for their application.
“We are thrilled to be joining the GDCA this season and thank the GDCA executive and delegates for their support,” he said.
“The GDCA have been fantastic to work with and we are excited to be able to provide our Senior and Junior players with new cricketing opportunities in a competition that is growing and thriving.”
The decision to depart the SDCA has not been taken lightly by Eastern Hill’s Committee given its long, proud, and successful history within the Seymour competition.
“It’s been a big decision for our club to leave the SDCA, but after careful consideration and thorough consultation, we believe this move aligns with the best interests of our members and players,” Brown said.
Captain Seamus Feery echoed the President’s sentiment.
“Our playing squad is really excited by this new challenge,” he said.
“We’ve seen Kilmore and Broadford cricket clubs transition from the SDCA to the GDCA with great success and we want to do the same.”
President of the GDCA Simon Ovenden was pleased to see such a positive response from club delegates at the AGM.
“Eastern Hill Cricket Club made an excellent presentation, and from the dealings the Board has had with their representatives, it was clear to us that they would be an excellent fit with the GDCA,” he said.
“Kilmore and Broadford have made a positive impact on the GDCA, and we are sure Eastern Hill Cricket Club will do also.”
