0°C | Tuesday October 21, 2025 
11 September 2025
By James Mullan
The North Shore Cricket Club, one of the most successful clubs in the Northern Suburbs Cricket Association, is embarking on a recruitment drive as it navigates a shifting landscape in amateur sport. Once a dominant club with a reputation for success, the club is looking hoping build up its player base with a thriving culture.
The club plays in the Northern Suburbs Cricket Association competition, a division below grade cricket, alongside clubs like Cammeray and Northbridge. Historically, they have drawn their playing pool from the suburbs surrounding North Sydney through to Mosman in the east, but the club welcomes players from all over Sydney. Their top grade plays on a turf wicket, with the other grades playing on synthetic.
President Mark Lumley, who helped to found the club in 2004, has recently returned to the club, hoping to bring a reinvigorated energy.
Originally from Melbourne, Lumley grew up playing cricket at age 10 with his father’s team. “We were really successful and one of the top two clubs in the competition. I learned everything about cricket administration and management from my father.” He recalls the camaraderie amongst players young and old, hosting post-match celebrations in their garage.
In 1995, Lumley moved to Sydney for work, living in Neutral Bay and playing for a cricket club in Collaroy. Eventually, he saw a need and had a desire to start a similar club in his local area, leading to the creation of the North Shore Cricket Club.
The club was immediately a success, winning 22 premierships in its first 11 years. “That wasn’t by fluke. That was through a lot of hard work and a lot of planning.” Lumley recalls, “Being at an inter association representative match and one of the guys playing for our association, he said, everyone hates North Shore. I said, really? He goes, yeah mate. I said, good. And he said, what do you mean good? And I said, well, it means we are successful.”
A big part of the club’s success was their strong culture, high standards and welcoming approach, according to Lumley.
After almost a decade away from the club, Lumley is back and is looking to recruit new players. He hopes to not only boost participation numbers, but more importantly, improve club culture, with the unofficial slogan being “cricket ability optional, sense of humour compulsory”.
Lumley is from an advertising background, but traditional recruitment methods, which once proved highly effective, are no longer yielding the same results. He remembers, “We used to stand at train stations and hand out flyers or go to Westfield shops up at Chatswood. We used to have a community thing. We used to do really well there. We’d pick up five or six players each time.”
Now, such efforts are largely fruitless. Even phone calls to a list of interested players went unanswered, highlighting the challenges of modern communication. “Nobody answered the phone, with scams, spam, the whole thing. It could be a call centre from anywhere. So there’s a whole, all of these hurdles now in front of us that we need to come at it.”
Despite the challenges, Lumley remains optimistic about the club’s future. He emphasises the importance of culture and camaraderie. The club is re-emphasising a set of standards that promotes responsible behaviour and a welcoming environment, explicitly condemning homophobia, racism and sexual harassment. Also covered in the code of conduct are rules around uniforms and alcohol. For Lumley, it’s not about being a wet blanket but nurturing a positive, fun and inclusive environment.
The North Shore Cricket Club is actively working to rebuild its player numbers and revive its inclusive and successful culture. As Lumley puts it, “There has to be a feel good story.” The club is determined to create an environment where good people can come together, enjoy the game, and contribute to a thriving community, regardless of background. “I don’t care where you’re from. If you want to play cricket, come over.”Registrations are now open. For more information head to https://www.northshorecc.org.au/