THE CLIFTON CUP AND DAVIDSON SHIELD
Every year the
Narara-Wyoming and Lisarow-Ourimbah Cricket Clubs contest the Clifton Cup
and Davidson Shield. The awards were a joint initiative of then LOCC Secretary,
Paul Deaves, and NWCC President, Craig Walsh, and aimed at recognising
the remarkable contribution of three local families. Along with the
Gavenlocks, the Cliftons and Davidsons are among the most influential families
in the history of cricket on the Central Coast.
One of the founders of
this great cricketing dynasty was the legendary A.O. ‘Paddy’ Clifton
who joined the then Narara Cricket Club in 1901, married into the
Gavenlock family, and captained the Narara team from about 1906 until 1921
including the club’s amazing victory in the 1911/12 Newcastle competition. With
the change in residential boundaries Paddy moved to the Ourimbah (later
Lisarow-Ourimbah) Club where he played until he was in his sixties.
All four of Paddy
Clifton’s sons (Arthur, Vern, Clem and Roley) played local first grade
cricket with both Arthur and Vern later playing first grade in Sydney, while
four of his grandchildren (Peter Davidson, Wal Clifton, Mick Birt and Alan
Davidson), as well as two other Gavenlock descendants, Barry and John
Olsen, played Sydney first grade or higher with Alan Davidson going on to
become one of Australia’s greatest-ever Test all-rounders and a
long-serving NSW cricket administrator.
‘Paddy’ Clifton
Such was the family’s
cricketing talent that, at their peak in the early 1960s, a team made up
entirely of the sons and grandsons of Paddy Clifton, led by Alan Davidson,
played and defeated a district representative team in a match at Grahame Park.
(see History of Lisarow Cricket Club)
In total more than 70
members of the Gavenlock/Clifton/Davidson family have played local grade
cricket with the family names being perpetuated in three sporting fields:
Gavenlock Oval, Paddy Clifton Oval and Alan Davidson Park. In addition, the
most sought-after trophy in the CCCA competition, the Jack Gavenlock Shield, is
awarded for the First Grade premiership each year. Apart from their overall
contribution to Central Coast cricket, the three families have played a major
role in the development of the Narara-Wyoming and Lisarow-Ourimbah cricket
clubs both of which date back more than 100 years.
Alan Davidson
It was in honour of
these families that the Clifton Cup and Davidson Shield were created in 1999
for competition between the two clubs with the Cup being awarded to the most
successful club and the Shield for the best individual performance.
A number of members of
the Gavenlock/Clifton/Davidson family attend these annual matches and
also go to the after-match functions to present the Cup and Shield. All current
and past club members from both clubs are encouraged to attend the annual match
and share this celebration of local cricket history with their colleagues from
the both Lisarow-Ourimbah and Narara-Wyoming Clubs.