The club was formed in 1949 with membership almost exclusively confined to civil servants or their relatives. The founder members mainly came from the Inter-Ministry League (who played evening matches of 20 to 25 overs duration at Stormont).
For the first couple of seasons, only friendlies were played. Those involved at the onset included: the inaugural President, Nathaniel Cank BEM, the Estate’s Superintendent at Stormont (who had played against the great SF Barnes in the Staffordshire League; the first captain, Jack Sheppard (ex Woodvale); Norrie Beattie (ex Cliftonville) – perhaps the finest batsman in the club’s history prior to the merger; Sam Baxter (ex CPA); David Boyd (an interprovincial rugby full-back for Ulster); John Delaney; Hugh Gorman; Norman Kells; Ken Lynas; John Martin; George Morrow; Dougie Nesbitt; John Patton; Bob Ryles; and Ken Shimeld. There are no survivors from that list.
Initially committee meetings took place in the Law Courts Pub at Oxford Street in the city centre, before moving to the Conference Room in the Law Courts building itself.
By 1954 playing membership had increased sufficiently to run three elevens in league competitions. In 1955 under Norrie Beattie’s captaincy, the 1stXI reached the Junior Qualifying Cup Final, which they lost to Ards at Woodvale. The usual batting order of the team was: John Blair, Peter Lunney, David Boyd, Norrie Beattie, Bryan Baxter, John Martin, Bob Dornan, Ronnie McIlmail, Hugh Gorman, Alfie Collis, and Jack Fallas.
Then in 1963 with Austin Branagh at the helm, the 1stXI won the Junior Cup defeating Lisburn IIs in the final at Ewarts. The following 14 players featured in the cup run: Austin Branagh, Bob Allen, David Boyd, David Gordon, Raymond Gregg, Bill Jackson, Victor Johnston, Brian King, Raymond Laverty, Stanley Long, Peter Lunney, Harry McCammon, John Martin, and Jack Parkinson.
Perhaps the one single game in the club’s history which went down in folklore, still being talked about decades later also occurred around that time…when playing a 1stXI match at Belmont against local rivals CIYMS, the hosts were reduced to 11 for 9, before declaring to avoid total humiliation! Bill Jackson took 6 for 2, with Brian King taking the other three wickets. (Civil Service won the match by six wickets.)
Also in the 1960s, whilst playing for the 2ndXI in separate matches one season, Eddie Harper scored a century and took all 10 wickets in an innings – a remarkable all-round achievement.
Another notable match in the club’s history took place to celebrate the opening of the rebuilt club house in 1980 between a President’s XI and a strengthened Civil Service XI including Ireland Internationals: Ivan Anderson (Waringstown), Simon Corlett (NICC), Ian Johnston (Woodvale), and Dermott Monteith (Lisburn), plus Bob Taylor the Derbyshire and England wicket-keeper, who endeared himself to everyone.
Over the years the club periodically embarked on several “overseas” tours, including trips to Blackpool, the Isle of Man, Llandudno, Paisley and Sheffield; however the most noteworthy were undoubtedly trips to Gibraltar and Barbados in the 1980s. In the first match of the two-week tour to Barbados in 1983 at Holder’s Hill, the opposition included the all-time great West Indian opening batsman, Desmond Haynes. This was followed up with several further fixtures on the island, with the highlight being a match at the Kensington Oval test ground in Bridgetown (which hosted the 2007 World Cup Final).
Three staunch clubmen are worthy of special mentions: Des Wakely, the most amiable of men, who was an outstanding Honorary Secretary for many years; Dudley Barry, the most self-effacing person, who served the club faithfully in many roles, and although limited in playing ability, he never gave less than 100% and always encouraged the younger players; and thirdly John Neill, a good cricketer and Honorary Treasurer for many years before the merger, and retainer of that office ever since Civil Service and North joined forces.
Also worthy of recognition for cricketing and/or their administrative commitments to the club down the years, include: Tom Allen, Tim Branagh, George Burton (who fittingly took the first wicket for the 1stXI in a competitive match following the formation of the new club), Jim Butler, Maurice Clegg, Richard Crowe, Robert Craig, Martin Dougan, Charlie Fox, Mervyn Grant, Andy Hamilton, Tom Harper, Alister Jackson, Robin Jeffers, John Johnston, John Kennedy, George Lall, Mark Lunn(ey), Nigel Rountree, Ward McConkey, Kevin McConville, Syd McDowell, Wilson Martin, Ronnie Mitchell, Richard Molyneaux, Robert Morrow, Walter Pollock, Ronnie Spence, Trevor Steen, Billy Vance, George Waring, Ernie Wilkie and John Wilson; whilst former players Stanley Long and Peter Lunney both went on to become full international umpires.
1st XI / Club Captains (1951 – 2004)
1951 Jack Sheppard
1952 Jack Sheppard
1953 Jack Sheppard
1954 Norrie Beattie
1955 Norrie Beattie
1956 Ronnie McIlmail
1957 David Boyd
1958 David Boyd
1959 Stanley Long
1960 Stanley Long
1961 John Martin
1962 John Martin
1963 Austin Branagh
1964 Austin Branagh
1965 David Boyd
1966 David Boyd
1967 Ward McConkey
1968 Ronnie Spence
1969 Ronnie Spence
1970 Ronnie Spence
1971 Harry McCammon
1972 Harry McCammon
1973 Harry McCammon
1974 Tom Allen
1975 Tom Allen
1976 Harry McCammon
1977 Ken Nelson
1978 Ronnie Spence
1979 Robin Jeffers
1980 Robin Jeffers
1981 Robin Jeffers
1982 Austin Branagh
1983 Arthur Cheater
1984 Ronnie Spence
1985 Tim Branagh / Ronnie Spence
1986 Ronnie Spence
1987 Tom Harper
1988 Tom Harper
1989 Tom Harper
1990 Tim Branagh
1991 Andy Hamilton
1992 Andy Hamilton
1993 George Burton
1994 George Burton
1995 George Burton
1996 Ian Robinson
1997 Tim Branagh
1998 Tim Branagh
1999 Mark Lunn
2000 Andy Clement
2001 Maurice Clegg
2002 Maurice Clegg
2003 Robert Morrow
2004 Robert Morrow