History of cricket in the united states - part 4
Cricket flourished in New York City and environs during the 1890's and the early decades of the 20th Century, and was nurtured by many clubs under the direction of the Metropolitan District Cricket League, New York Cricket Association and the New York and New Jersey Cricket Association. It was an attractive scene that was presented on the Parade Grounds back of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, where, on Saturday afternoons and holidays, half a dozen clubs, including Brooklyn, Kings County, Manhattan and Bedford, pitched their tents throughout the length and center of the field, with baseball nines skirting the fences on both sides.
Livingston, Staten Island, was and still is a stronghold of the game. Walker Park, now administered by the City of New York, was named in memory of the son of R. St. George Walker, then president of the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club, who died in combat during World War I. It was the scene of many international matches. The Brooklyn, Staten Island and Paterson clubs were still carrying on, 50 years later, and together with two in Philadelphia-General Electric and Fairmount-constitute the New York and Metropolitan Cricket Association.
Organized with the help of tennis players back in 1873, the Staten Island club is the oldest of all the cricket clubs within the metropolitan area of New York City. Always it could present elevens of Championship caliber, and the trophies captured over the years are many.
Among the organizers of the original Metropolitan District Cricket League, of which the Rev. W.S. Rainsford was the first president, were C. A. McCully, Jerome Flannery, Harry Manley, Joseph G. Davis, W. J. Wood, James D. Boyd, John Howard Lacey and Clifford G. Turner.
Julian L. Poyer, who in the annals of the Brooklyn Cricket Club is credited with 26 centuries for his team, of which he was captain from 1905 to 1907, was born in Trinidad during 1882 and acquired skill and experience in first class and cup matches among Caribbean cricketers. He joined Brooklyn in 1902 and served also as vice president. He was president for seven years until 1949. During his long career here it was rare when he did not stand at the top of the batting averages in his club or when playing in matches for league or association championships.
