Grafton United Cricket Club

50 up for NICK ALBRECHT! 🏏

Happy birthday and ka pai to our life member, who recently celebrated the milestone with some cricketing brothers — all suitably attired in their GUCC ties!

We’re grateful for Nick’s ongoing contribution to cricket across Auckland, including as Chair of the Victoria Park Sports & Cultural Trust and a member of both the Auckland Cricket Board and Eden Park Trust Board.
🦁

👏 Congratulations to BRIDGET SMITH, awarded the Jack Williams Trophy club person of the year at our AGM!

Bridget’s contribution goes beyond that of U12 coordinator - helping make Friday evening junior cricket a blast, rounding up a pride of young lions to run drinks at the Premier Reserves final, and helping celebrate the season with our biggest junior prize giving ever with very special guests - Suzie Bates, Maddy Green and Dom Harvey. All that alongside junior committee and club board roles.

One of our many volunteers we are so lucky to have that makes our club a great place to play! 🦁

🏆 SINETH GUNAWARDANE was a multi-award winner at the GUCC senior prize giving including the Phil Woodward Cup for overall player of the year. In 25-26, the batter became our 27th Premier player to pass 3,000 runs.

gunawardane also picked up the Sel Shirley Trophy for two-day player, Stewart Wilson Cup for one-day player (Stew is pictured with Sineth), Premier Cup for Premier players’ player, and Premier batter of the year.

Another outstanding season for the lynchpin of our batting line up. Congrats, Sina! 🦁

📸 Photos: Bevan Donovan. More on our Facebook.
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🏆 THUSHAN DODAMPEGAMAGE is the 2025-26 winner of the De Lautour cup for significant overall contribution to the premier squad. was presented the award at senior prizegiving by Chris de Lautour.
Thush’s coaching longevity is unmatched in recent Grafton history. He has been a key part of our premier coaching set up for the last seven seasons, starting in 2019. He coaches and cares about his ‘Jerrys’ (players) with true passion, and loves to see them develop and achieve.  
In 25/26, he helped oversee promotion for Reserves back to the Limited Overs Majors, another title for this highly qualified coach. 
Prior to resuming with the premier squad, Thush already had a long association with Grafton as a player and coach. He even coached many of our current premier players as juniors.
A fitting winner of this award, following last season’s inaugural winner - Chris McQuaid. From all of the club, congratulations and thank you, Thushan. 🦁
📸 Photos: Bevan Donovan. More on our Facebook.  🏆

Congratulations to all our award winners and champions recognised at our senior prize giving for 25/26. Photos: Bevan Donovan. 🏆

Celebrate the best Grafton United performances of 25/26 with senior club prize giving.
Dress – Formal. Food will be provided, and the bar will be open.
All members welcome. Enjoy a beverage or two and the company of your team mates to celebrate the season.

Our junior and youth lions and lionesses were stoked to celebrate their season and have White Ferns Suzie Bates and Maddy Green at our prize giving.

Congrats to all the winners - we’re glad you had fun with your cricket. Thank you to our parents and helpers for another amazing season!

This week we celebrate all our junior and youth players at our JUNIOR PRIZE GIVING - Thursday 19 March at Victoria Park.

Check our newsletter or contact your team manager for details.

Approximate timings:

4:15 pm: Cubs start

5:00 pm: BBQ, Drinks, Bake Sale and Raffles open

5:10 pm: Cubs Prize-giving starts

5:00 pm: Grade 3 and 4 games start

5:30 pm: Prize Giving for U10, U11, U12, U13 for mixed and Girls-only teams

5:45 pm: Grade 2 games start

6:30 pm: Prize Giving for Grade 2, 3 and 4 (straight after games finish)

Special Guest Appearances and Giveaways on the night