When you think of sports in Mallorca, tennis likely comes to mind first, thanks to the island’s most famous son. Football might also be on your radar due to RCD Mallorca’s recent triumphs in La Liga. But what about cricket?
Established in 1988 and officially registered in 1992, Mallorca Cricket Club (MCC) has long been a part of the island’s sporting landscape. Over the years, the club has hosted matches against teams from mainland Spain and the UK, including the renowned Marylebone Cricket Club. Between 2005 and 2015, MCC boasted more than 425 active members who played three times a week and welcomed teams from across Spain and Europe.
However, in 2015, the club faced a setback when its Magaluf ground was sold by the local Council to property developers, rendering MCC homeless. Despite the lack of an official venue, and training in coaches’ back yards, the club won the Balearic Cup in 2018, 2019, and 2021. MCC, a member of Cricket España, has a regular senior Men’s team that includes former international and county players, as well as a junior section for children aged 6 – 14 (Mallorca Meerkats). The Meerkats recently won the Spanish Under-15 Championship held in Granada.
Now, in 2023, MCC has been offered an unbelievable opportunity in the form of funding to purchase land to develop their own ground and clubhouse. Given the rich history of cricket on the island and the effort key members have been putting in to get this far, this is a landmark moment for the club.
MCC Club President Ben Vickers says: “It’s no secret the club fell on hard times in 2015, and a small number of us have battled to keep the club alive in the years that followed. Having originally launched a GoFundMe campaign in 2022, we were fortunate enough to be approached by a wealthy businessman who has a history of investing in sporting causes. After a number of meetings, we have committed to developing a plan to establish a permanent home on the island. I am not only hugely grateful to this individual but very excited about the future of cricket in Mallorca. With our vision, we aim to become Spain’s number one cricket destination and look forward to welcoming touring teams from all over the world.”
Currently, MCC has 20 senior players, 18 junior members, and 100 non-playing members. Vickers goes on to say, “There is a massive appetite for junior cricket on the island, and the Meerkats have come a long way since they started in October 2020. The issue has always been having a venue and the facilities to grow the membership and host regular games. We look forward to creating annual tournaments and welcoming junior cricket teams from the rest of Spain and the UK. The future of cricket in Mallorca is secure!’”
The club has historically been a hub for cricket enthusiasts on the island of Mallorca and beyond. Their members are from all over the world, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, South Africa and the UK, with two things that bring them together: living in Mallorca and a passion for cricket.
Children are crucial to developing and maintaining cricket on the island, and MMC is working closely with Cricket España to develop pathways that will ensure cricket will prosper in the long term. With over 10 international schools on the island and a drive to reach out to local schools, there is incredible potential to establish cricket as a fully federated sport.
Finally, MMC will create initiatives and work with local organisations to help those in need. Their facilities will play a central role in this, with an ability to host events and support local businesses with extra revenue streams that come with a new and fast-growing sport.
