The Turku Cricket Club dates back almost 15 years. The game back then wasn't taken as seriously as it is today due to the introduction of the Finnish National League 4 years ago. Skill very rarely had anything to do with getting a spot on the side back then. I can remember our out-fielders sporting Rayban sun glasses, a fag dangling from their mouth and liquid refreshments in the form of a bottle of Lapin Kulta between their feet. I can even recall a match where a bottle was placed and quite quickly dislodged from behind the wicket. The batsman in question was more upset about the loss off beer more than the loss of his wicket. Those were the days eh?

Tim Glogan, the founding member of the TCC still plays an active role in the club and is infact the teams official keeper. Without Tim's organisational skills and persistant calls to other foreigners around Finland, I seriously doubt that Finnish cricket would be a large as it is today... well I suppose the new league has something to do with it.. but there is a lot of history there and Tim played an important role.

We have a small selection of recruitment methods... back when the club was being formed it was a chance meeting in a nightclub around town with the usual question "Do you play cricket?" to all likely new players. It now seems that with the increase on TCC members a network has formed and all new recruits come from someone who knows someone that plays cricket. We would still like to get more members so if you know someone that knows someone then let us know ;o)

The TCC have now started with the Junior Cricket Development Programme which is headed up by Stephen Viola. With the invaluable assistance of the FCA, Stephen organised that Stuart Welch, (15 years Assistant Coach at Lords) come and run an introduction to the Level 1 coaching certificate course. Since then TCC has gone on to win the 2004 Finnish National Indoor Championship and started coaching in 2 schools with over 50 kids taking part in the programme. Needless to say, Stuart was an inspiration in more ways than intended. Thanks Stuart!! 

Over the next 12 months we are looking to increase the number of kids taking part in the programme to 200 and organise teams for under 15's, under 13's and under 10's. Already there seems to be a great under 10's team developing.

The TCC membership has increased and the players of old are now beginning to find it difficult to find a spot on the squad. A sad thing for us old fellas but a good thing for the club. Traditionally Turku enters all competitions as the underdog. A title that after years of hard work and effort, we at the club have come to be proud of. Having said that, Turku has appeared in most of the finals in the sixes tournament and even (in the first year of the league) fought for the League championship against Helsinki. We of course lost, but after 15 years we are getting kind of used to it.

As indoor champions of the 2004 Finnish National Indoor Cricket Tournament, TCC are now a team to be feared. So it is with all sincerety that I send this message to all Finnish League Clubs taking part in the 2004 outdoor season.. Beware of the TCC underdogs! or soon you will be crying the question... "Who let the dogs out?"