On Thursday 9th June 2011 Cregagh Cricket Club will embark upon its 4th European tour with the destination this time being Croatia. This year’s tour sees our largest tour party to date as 20 members make the trip.

Our first port of call will be the Island of Vis to face the Sir William Hoste Cricket Club. Surprisingly, cricket was first played in Croatia on the island of Vis in 1809 when Captain William Hoste, taking a break from sinking French ships in the Napoleonic wars, encouraged his men to play ‘cricket’.

On the Sunday we catch the ferry back to the mainland to plan Sir Oliver Cricket Club in Split, a club formed by two friends whilst serving in the Croatian army in the late 90’s who had stumbled across the game being played in Zagreb. Over the 4 day tour we intend to play three games, two on the island and our last game on the Sunday in Split before returning home on Monday afternoon.

Once again the Cregagh club would like to place on record our gratitude to the Northern Cricket Union for granting our request for a free fixture weekend.