Club beginnings

The history of the New Edinburgh Cricket Club (or the "Burghs" as we are affectionately known) is rich and varied. The club was founded in 1928, in Ottawa, Canada. Since its inception, NECC has used the cricket pavilion at the Governor General's official residence at Rideau Hall as its home. NECC initially consisted of members who resided in the New Edinburgh district of Ottawa, an area within walking distance of the cricket grounds at Rideau Hall.

1960s-80s

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Burghs were enriched by a new generation of cricketers hailing from the island of Barbados. NECC has always been successful at attracting high calibre players, and the presence of brothers John and Herbie Vaughn and the Trotman family (late Neville, Orville, and Emerson) contributed greatly to the success of the club during these years.  Also during this time, Captain Jim Siew, a legendary off-spinner and long-time Burghs member, held the post of President of the Canadian Cricket Association for a number of years and represented the interests of Canadian cricket at the MCC.

Other club notables from this era include the late Errol Humphries, the late Marson Alleyne Mayers, as well as Don Morgan, Janis Cato , Milton Sealy, Lloyd Stanford, Oakley Brereton, Darryl Jordan, Kenneth Lawrence, Sylvan Williams, Rawle Williams, Rickey Ramjitsingh, and Arthur Moore. The work of dedicated people like Denis Mayers and Marcia Jordan helped knit the club together and build a strong sense of family.

NECC groomed several players who went on to represent Canada at international competitions. John Vaughan represented Canada with distinction at the ICC 1979 World Cup in England. David Pitt, the fast bowler, also turned out for Canada in various competitions. 

1990s

In the early 90s, the club was a dominant force in Ottawa cricket. The Burghs won the premier Challenge Trophy championship in 1992 and 1996.  The Thomas brothers (Sanjay, Ajit and Dominic) along with Shameer Kanji,Terry Nandlal, Prem Nallisivam, Carl Mason, Harpreet Nanda, Tony Allen and Ravi Saba formed the nucleus of the club, and were instrumental during this successful era. The club showed imagination in 1992 and 1996 by recruiting the services of an Indian first-class cricketer, Arjan Kripal Singh, who played a leading role in securing the championship in those two years.

Dominic Thomas furthered the Burghs’ presence in national-level cricket, representing Canada at U19 tournaments in England (1989) and Winnipeg (1991).  
 

2000s

Over the past decade, NECC has been successful in recruiting a batch of fresh talent along with a return of several members of the old guard. The result has been a storied return to form, with the Burghs winning the Citizen Trophy championship in 2004, 2005, and 2009, and reaching the finals of the Challenge Trophy in 2007 and 2008 and winning the championship in 2011.

During the winter of 2008, Burghs was delighted to celebrate the selection of Sheryl Tittlemier for the Canadian women's national team for their first ever overseas tour to Trinidad and Tobago.

This on-field success was tempered by the loss of Rawle Williams to cancer in 2005. The passing of this valued Burghs member was the genesis, in 2005, of the first annual NECC Memorial Game to honour Rawle's contributions to the club and support the Canadian Cancer Society. The Memorial Game has become an annual affair since then, and subsequent editions have been held in honour of all Burghs members who have passed on.  The NECC Memorial Game has been a strong supporter of charities including the Ottawa School Breakfast Program, Canadian Cancer Society and Well for Well-Being over the last decade.

NECC, the second oldest cricket club in the Ottawa Valley region, today represents one of the most vibrant sides on the Ottawa cricket landscape. The club has an uncontested multicultural composition with members hailing from such countries as Canada, Australia, Barbados, Trinidad, England, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and India.

The achievements of former players are still a treasured part of NECC's rich history as a new set of members carry the club's proud traditions into the 21st century. The current Burghs are continuing a legacy of dedication, sportsmanship, and camaraderie that the club has always valued.