Corfu and Cricket
The history of Corfu and cricket goes back to 1823 when the island was
under British rule, which left them with a legacy of loving both cricket and ginger
beer.
Cricket is Still Enjoyed on Corfu
A History of Corfu
and Cricket
On 23rd April, 1823, on the feast of the English patron
saint, St George, an event took place on Corfu whose effects are still being
felt 200 years later. And felt not only on Corfu, but far away in the British
Embassy in Athens too. That event was the first ever cricket match to be seen
by the curious Corfiots.
Corfu was under British rule at the time and in order to
amuse themselves a match was arranged between the officers of the island-based
British Garrison and the visiting British Royal Navy. But the game didn't only
amuse the British, for whom cricket is a passion and an obsession, it amused
the local people enormously and they decided to take the game up too.
Over the next few years two local teams were formed, both to
play against each other and as a challenge to the British. The two teams went
by the simple names of Large and Small, according to the players' abilities.
The British Leave Corfu, and Cricket Stays
When the British left Corfu in 1864 there were still only two
enthusiastic clubs on Corfu, though by now the names had changed to Gongakis
and Camvissis. By 1893, though, interest in the game had waned, which is hardly
surprising when you only have two teams!
The two teams merged in 1893 because there simply weren't
enough players to keep two clubs going, and the sole remaining team took the
name of Gymnastikos. Their only opponents were occasional visiting British
ships, but Gymnastikos kept the faith alive and the club still exists today as
part of the Kerkyraikos Gymnastikos Syllogos multi-sports club.
In 1923 another club was started, taking the name of
Ergatikos, although in 1936 it changed its name to Byron Cricket Club in honour
of the British poet, Lord Byron, and that club is also still going strong
today. Others have classical names like Atlas and Achilles. You can find out
more at the CricketCorfu
website.
Some Cool Corfu Souvenirs
Paleokastritsa Luggage Tag
Corfu Cypresses Capri Leggings
Hellenic Cricket
Federation
There is now a Hellenic
Cricket Federation, which has 15 members, all on Corfu except for teams in
Athens and Thessaloníki, Greece's second city. There is a Corfu island team,
and a Greek national team, as well as an occasional team fielded by the British
Embassy in Athens. In addition, the teams on Corfu have very active youth
policies and also have under-18 and under-14 teams.
It is these youngsters you might now see playing on the
cricket pitch in front of the Liston. The main teams used to play there until
recently, when some of the space was taken for a car park, reducing the size of
the pitch. When the men played, with cars parked all around, there would
inevitably be damage to the cars sometimes, although the Town Hall used to pay
the bills!
The arrival of large numbers of British tourists on Corfu
every year has been a great boost for the island's cricket lovers. Cricket
teams from Britain come touring, and school teams as well, to play against the
younger sides. A new ground was built at the Kontókali Marina to make up for
the loss of the one in the town centre, though there are no reports yet of
yachts being damaged by flying cricket balls.
Where to Stay on Corfu
Other Corfu pages
Greece Travel Secrets’ pick of where to stay in southern Corfu including hotels in Moraïtika, Paramonas, Messonghi, Agios Georgios, and near Benitses.
Greece Travel Secrets picks where to stay in northern Corfu with budget and luxury hotels in Sidari, Daphnila Bay, Kontokali, Ipsos, Barbati and more.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in north-west and central Corfu including luxury mansions, inexpensive rooms, and resort hotels.
This is the Greece Travel Secrets selection of where to eat in northern Corfu, from classy restaurants and traditional tavernas to beachside fish tavernas.
Greece Travel Secrets has its list of favourite places where you can eat in north-west Corfu, including in Paleokastritsa, Pelekas, and Ayios Stefanos.
Donna Dailey of Greece Travel Secrets visits Albania by boat from Corfu Town, staying overnight and seeing archaeological sites with Sipa Tours.
The main two Corfu saints are Saint Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu who saved the island four times from disaster, and Saint Theodora Augusta.
From Nero to Nicolas Cage, the invasion of Corfu goes back to Roman times and through to Hollywood today!
The Corfu Trail runs from the southernmost point of Corfu at Cape Asprokavos and winds for 220km (137 miles) to the northernmost point near Andinioti Lagoon.
Southern Corfu has busy beach resorts like Benitses, historical buildings like the Achilleion Palace and Gardiki Castle, and wildlife at the Korision Lagoon.
This Southern Corfu drive starts and ends in Moraïtika, taking in hill villages, secluded beaches, lovely views, and a visit to Gardiki Castle.
This guide to southern Corfu’s beaches and villages includes busy resorts, quiet beach, hill villages and the southernmost tip of Corfu at Cape Asprókavos.
Northern Corfu is the most diverse part of the island, with Corfu's highest point, Mt Pantokrator, and beach resorts like Sidari and Palaiokastritsa.
If you want to tour northern Corfu in three days you can see busy resorts, quiet fishing villages, Mount Pantokrator, and the Andinioti Lagoon.
There are two sides to every Greek island, the tourist and the traditional, and this drive from Corfu Town through northern Corfu shows the two faces of Corfu.
Northern Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts and secluded beaches, with several hill and mountain villages well worth visiting.
North-West Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts, quiet beaches, hill villages, and places ideal for watching the sunset,
These fun facts about Corfu include how the island got its name, who wrote the Greek National Anthem, and the eccentric Englishman, the Earl of Guilford.
Corfu or Kerkyra is the main island in the Greek Ionian islands with Corfu Town being one of the most attractive of Greek island capitals.
Corfu writers and artists inspired by the island include both residents and visitors, like Gerald and Lawrence Durrell, Edward Lear, and Henry Miller.
Corfu’s wildlife includes rare and colourful birds, snakes, lizards, fireflies, and insects, with plenty of places to watch the wildlife like lakes and lagoons.
Corfu Town is the capital of Corfu and of the Ionian Islands and has museums, two forts, several museums, churches, and many other attractions.
Corfu Town’s Old Fortress is the town’s most striking landmark, standing east of the Old Town on top of a rocky promontory.
Corfu’s special cuisine includes dishes like sofrito and pastitsade and the chance to try ginger beer and kumquats.
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