Optimists Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
The Optimists Cricket Club, known simply as the Optimists or abbreviated to OCC, is a cricket
club based in Walferdange
, in central Luxembourg
. The Optimists are the dominant club in Luxembourg, and serve as an auxiliary governing body for cricket in the Grand Duchy, alongside the Luxembourg Cricket Federation
.
The Optimists are the oldest cricket club in Luxembourg, having been founded in 1973 by British
expatriate
s, whose ranks had been swollen by Luxembourg City's growth as a financial centre and by the UK's entry into the European Economic Community
. To this day, the Optimists remain dependent upon British players, although expats of other nationalities are also involved; few native Luxembourgers play the sport.
The Optimists organise and participate in the Luxembourgish domestic league, which involves other clubs and also other (subsidiary) teams fielded by the OCC. However, the main focus for the club is on the Belgian
league, in which the OCC compete and which they won on three occasions in the early 1990s (1991, 1994, 1995). The OCC 2nd XI plays in the Belgian third division.
The club plays at the Pierre Werner Cricket Ground
, in Walferdange. The ground is named after the late Pierre Werner, a former Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1959–74, 1979–84). Werner had fallen in love with cricket when living in London
in 1930, and went on to become the Honorary President of the OCC, which had been established when he was Prime Minister. Werner opened the OCC's new ground when it was opened in 1992.
The club's sponsors include Citco, Brasserie Nationale
, Citadel
, Dresdner Bank
, Schroders
, and the commune
of Walferdange.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
club based in Walferdange
Walferdange
Walferdange is a commune and small town in central Luxembourg. It is located north of Luxembourg City., the town of Walferdange, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 728. Other towns within the commune include Helmsange and Bereldange.The commune of Walferdange was formed...
, in central Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. The Optimists are the dominant club in Luxembourg, and serve as an auxiliary governing body for cricket in the Grand Duchy, alongside the Luxembourg Cricket Federation
Luxembourg Cricket Federation
Luxembourg Cricket Federation is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Luxembourg. Luxembourg Cricket Federation is Luxembourg's representative at the International Cricket Council and is an affiliate member and has been a member of that body since 1998. It is also a member of the...
.
The Optimists are the oldest cricket club in Luxembourg, having been founded in 1973 by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s, whose ranks had been swollen by Luxembourg City's growth as a financial centre and by the UK's entry into the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
. To this day, the Optimists remain dependent upon British players, although expats of other nationalities are also involved; few native Luxembourgers play the sport.
The Optimists organise and participate in the Luxembourgish domestic league, which involves other clubs and also other (subsidiary) teams fielded by the OCC. However, the main focus for the club is on the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
league, in which the OCC compete and which they won on three occasions in the early 1990s (1991, 1994, 1995). The OCC 2nd XI plays in the Belgian third division.
The club plays at the Pierre Werner Cricket Ground
Pierre Werner Cricket Ground
The Pierre Werner Cricket Ground, also known as the Walferdange Cricket Ground, is a cricket ground in Walferdange, in central Luxembourg. It is the premier cricket venue in Luxembourg, being the home ground of the country's top club, the Optimists Cricket Club, which plays in the Belgian Cricket...
, in Walferdange. The ground is named after the late Pierre Werner, a former Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1959–74, 1979–84). Werner had fallen in love with cricket when living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1930, and went on to become the Honorary President of the OCC, which had been established when he was Prime Minister. Werner opened the OCC's new ground when it was opened in 1992.
The club's sponsors include Citco, Brasserie Nationale
Brasserie Nationale
Brasserie Nationale is the largest brewery in Luxembourg, based in Bascharage. They also export to Belgium and France and China.They brew beer under the brand name Bofferding and Battin....
, Citadel
Citadel
A citadel is a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. The term derives from the same Latin root as the word "city", civis, meaning citizen....
, Dresdner Bank
Dresdner Bank
Dresdner Bank AG was one of Germany's largest banking corporations and was based in Frankfurt. It was acquired by competitor Commerzbank in December 2009.- 19th century :...
, Schroders
Schroders
Schroders plc is a British multinational asset management company with over 200 years of experience in the world's financial markets. The company employs 2,905 people worldwide who are operating from 32 offices in 25 different countries around Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East...
, and the commune
Communes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...
of Walferdange.