Poloc Cricket Club is based at Pollok Country Park in south Glasgow, Scotland, recently acclaimed as 'Britain's best park.

The club has approximately 270 members who participate in cricket, tennis and winter golf. The club's 'Shawholm' ground is one of the most picturesque in the country and encompasses the cricket oval, three all-weather and three clay tennis courts, and the world's only six-hole golf course - acknowledged by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The clubhouse also hosts pool, darts and poker tournaments in the winter months.

Poloc Cricket Club's two senior cricket teams play under the names 'Poloc' and 'Shawholm'. Poloc play in the Scottish National Cricket League Premier Division, whilst Shawholm play in the Western District Cricket Union Second Division. A third senior XI competes in the Strathclyde League.

History

Founded in 1878, Poloc Cricket Club spent its first season on the site of the old Pollokshaws Race Course and in 1880 moved to its current location at Shawholm.

A pavilion was acquired by the club from the now-defunct Pollokshields Athletic Club, also located on Pollok Estates, and the building was moved to Shawholm on rollers. In the same year, the main avenue from Pollokshaws Road to Pollok House was opened, running past the north side of the ground in what is now Pollok Park. This avenue still provides the approach to Shawholm, with the River Cart to the left.

Full tenancy of the current six-acre site was granted to the club in 1888 by Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, 10th Baronet who continued to be involved in Poloc's affairs until his death in 1956.

The club's winter golf section was formed in 1889, with bowls, putting and archery being added in the years following. In 1908 the Pollokshaws Working Lads Club decided to form a football team from amongst their ranks. Sir John Stirling Maxwell also allotted that club an area of land on the estate, rent-free. To show their appreciation, the footballers took the name of Pollok Juniors FC (later Pollok FC) and Sir John became their first Honorary President. The ground allocated became known as Haggs Park and was adjacent to Poloc Cricket Club; in fact, the different spellings of the two names 'Pollok' and 'Poloc' were adopted at this time, deliberately, to avoid confusion.

Membership at Poloc reached a peak of 600 in the late 1940s. The Club's badge was most recently redesigned in the 1960s and incorporates aspects of the Club's life at its present location. The bridge signifies the entrance way to Shawholm from Pollokshaws Road, the water represents the River Cart and the grazing deer is symbolic of the wildlife still roaming free on the Pollok Estates.

Historic moments

The earliest match hosted by the club that is, arguably, of historic interest was the game between a West of Scotland select team and the Australian Imperial Forces as part of the latter's tour of England in 1919. Shawholm also played host to Scotland versus the MCC in June 1965 in a three-day match played between the 23rd and 25th. Subsequent Scotland international matches staged at the ground included versus Ireland in 1978 and Sri Lanka in 1979.

Scotland's first televised cricket match also took place at Shawholm on 7 May 1955 when West of Scotland Cricket Club were Poloc's visitors. Poloc made 110 for 9 in reply to West's 120 for 6. The viewing was described as 'dull'.

The ground was invited to host three internationals as part of the 2006 ECC European Championships. The matches (The Netherlands versus Italy, Jersey versus Germany and The Netherlands versus Denmark) saw white ball/black sightscreen cricket at Shawholm for the first time.

Junior cricket

Poloc runs junior cricket teams at six age-group levels: under 11, 13, 13B, 15, 15B and 18 and compete in West District Junior Cricket Union- (WDJCU) as well as Cricket Scotland-organised competitions. Under 10 players also compete in Kwik Cricket competitions.

The club has been awarded the Cricket Scotland TOPClub bronze award for its ongoing junior section activities. In 2007, the club's junior sides won the WDJCU Under 11, 13 and 15 leagues in 2007, and were beaten finalists in the Under 18 Frank Smith Trophy.

The club's junior captains are pictured with Garry Hampson, Poloc's professional and 1st XI captain.

The Community Coaching Initiative

Poloc Cricket Club has been providing cricket coaching in its local community under the auspices of the 'Community Coaching Initiative' since 2002. Working with Glasgow and East Renfrewshire Council, coaching is provided to local Primary and Secondary Schools. The Initiative also organises an annual inter-Primary Schools Festival day at Shawholm. In addition, the club, under the umbrella of the Initiative and in partnership with the WJCU, regularly hosts Kwik Cricket festivals.

In addition to the work in local schools, the club's Community Coaching Initiative also works with other community groups in providing sports coaching in and around the club's locality.

The Initiative was granted charitable status in early 2007 and is registered with the OSCR under number SC037774. The registered body itself is CCI Glasgow Limited, a private company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland under number SC315322.

Golf

Poloc Cricket Club also plays host to the UK's only R&A-recognised six-hole golf course. Founded in 1889, the Golf Section takes over the autumn and winter months. The course - 'Wee Poloc' - is a unique challenge, with medals and other club competitions every fortnight throughout the season.

Tennis

Poloc Cricket Club has six tennis courts: three all-weather tennis courts and three clay courts, both adjacent to the clubhouse building.