History
ATLANTIS CRICKET CLUB - New York: A Brief History
The following are brief accounts of the clubs history as one of the premier cricket organizations in the New York metropolitan area.
In 1964 a group of young and ambitious cricket enthusiasts started a club called Carib Sports Club. The group included L. Duncan, E. Henry, O. Williams, V. Scholar, K. Warner, C. Taitt, P. Martin, E. Simmons, L. Matheson, D. Barnard, Dr. S. Joseph, R. Gonzalez and H. Carlyle Miller. Two years later, in 1966, they agreed upon the name Atlantis, and thus Atlantis Cricket Club - NY was established.
Throughout its existence the organization’s leadership has exemplified stability, a sense of purpose, exemplary conduct on and off the field, and a great deal of camaraderie amongst its members. Lawrence B. Duncan, a gentle giant of a man from humble beginnings in St. Vincent was the club’s first president. While Oscar “Sharkie” Williams, a former national player from Antigua & Barbuda and a man with a pleasant personality and unruffled mannerisms was Atlantis’ first captain and the backbone of the team in the 60s.
The early 70’s saw the club’s talent further enhanced by an influx of several former national players from the Caribbean, who showcased their talents, resulting in the club becoming a dominant force in U.S. cricket for quite some time. The former Guyana national pace bowler H. Carlyle Miller led the club during one of the most exciting periods of its history, while participating in the Long Island Cricket League. During that time Atlantis was undefeated as League champions for eight years, with the clubs representation on the Long Island league squad totaling six or more players on several occasions.
In addition to those players mentioned above, Atlantis Cricket Club - NY has been fortunate to have had dynamic and exciting players such as Vincent Mayers, Sylvester "Ben" Albert, Keithly Dexter Warner, Lennox Bouyea, Alvin Lloyd, Winston "Ingo" English, Lance King, Lloyd Corneilus and Leslie "Tulu" Lewis among countless others.
The tradition of attracting several first-class players continued in the likes of Clayton Lambert, former Guyana and West Indies Test all-rounder, Stephen Bamfield, William "Bill" White and Keith Cameron - former Guyana national players, Desmond Thompson, Bryan V.A. "Trini" Joseph, Herbert Newton, Basil Butcher, Jr., Keith Aaron, Glendon Archer, Keith Isaacs, Steve Welcome, Steve Massiah and Anguilla’s Alex and Terry Adams, brothers, former St. Vincent and West Indies pacer Cameron Cuffy and Trinidad & Tobago national players Rodney Sooklal and William Perkins, among others.
Atlantis has always been blessed in having dedicated individuals serve the club in varying capacities on and off of the field. H. Carlyle Miller served as President of Atlantis during the 80s and early 90s and is the club’s Honorary President. Mr. Miller was succeeded by Dr. Glendon F. Archer as President in the late 90s. During this time Atlantis competed in the New York Metropolitan League.
Immediate Past President John L. Aaron served as Secretary in 1998 and 1999, before assuming the presidency in 2000 leading Atlantis into the new millennium and serving as the clubs president for 10 years until 2010. During Johns presidency, Atlantis won the 2001 Cricket Hall of Fame’s Classic Six-A-Side Tournament in Hartford, Connecticut, as well as the Inaugural Caribbean Festival of Sixes Tournament, in Florida, repeating the latter feat in Barbados, in 2002.
Atlantis, currently playing in the Eastern American Cricket Association’s league enjoyed successful seasons , winning the EACAs 45-Overs Tournament as well as the leagues MetLife Big-4 Finals in 2000 and Divisional championship in 2004.
In 2004, Atlantis toured the United Kingdom, winning three of its four matches in Bristol, England, defeating Frocester, Bristol West Indian and Phoenix cricket clubs, while a fourth game was rained out.
Atlantis has made several tours of cities across America as well as to Canada, Bermuda, England and Guyana. In 2001, the club twinned with Demerara Cricket Club of Guyana following a very successful tour of that nation.
Several high profile individuals such as the former Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Lester Bird have played for Atlantis, as well as former West Indies Captain and later Manager, Clive Hubert Lloyd - now Chairman of the International Cricket Councils (ICC) Cricketing Committee, and an honorary member of Atlantis.
In addition to Clive Lloyd, Atlantis boasts several former West Indies test players asmong its Honorary Membership, including Andy Roberts, Alvin Kallicharran, Lance Gibbs, Roger Harper, Curtly Ambrose, Lawrence Rowe, Joe Solomon, Basil Butcher, Snr., Joel “Big Bird” Garner and Clayton Lambert.
Atlantis Cricket Club - New York, is truly a microcosm of international and Caribbean members, having had among its membership, players from Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, England, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Pakistan, St. Vincent, and Trinidad & Tobago.