George Heriot’s School Former Pupils Cricket Club was founded at a meeting held in the well-known Edinburgh school on 5 December 1889. Its first home was the almost as new, but not very lovely or spacious, Logie Green (also known as Puddocky thanks to a local population of frogs), the school sports ground in the Warriston district of Edinburgh.

The move to the present ground at Goldenacre, less than half a mile away, was completed in 1902. The ground’s fine red-brick pavilion, which still dominates the main square as well as commanding a magnificent view of Edinburgh, also dates back to that time. The very first delivery at Goldenacre, by William White of Heriots, produced a simple caught-and-bowled chance, promptly grassed – not the last easy catch to be dropped at the ground.

The Club has always had at least two regular elevens, and often three or four, as well as an important and continuing link with Heriot’s School and its teams through junior sides. That said, some of its earliest members were not Herioters, including its first Scottish cap, prolific batsman John Mushet, who played once, against Australia, in 1912. The Club groundsman was also usually a competent player, who would play for the team as the "professional". This tradition continued until the 1970s, with leading names including David 'Pa' Nicoll, Arthur Creber and George Waites. By 1914, when play was stopped by the outbreak of war across Europe, the fixture list included most of Scotland’s leading clubs outside the already existent Western Union.

After the First World War, Heriots FP emerged as one of the leading clubs in the east of Scotland. The playing facilities at Goldenacre expanded to their present dimensions with two, sometimes three, squares. Wicketkeeper Lindsay Mitchell would later become an influential figure as master in charge of cricket at the school, especially in the period after 1950 when a flood of playing talent emerged to inaugurate the Club’s most successful period on the field, between 1966 and 1985.

There was no East League until 1953. Once formed, however, Heriots FP immediately became one of its leading sides, regularly challenging for the title of champions, although with no ultimate success for many years. The bowling attack was spearheaded by international fast bowlers Jim Souness and George Miller when available. Ken Scotland, more famous as one of the many Herioter Scotland rugby full-backs, was also capped at cricket in 1955. The Club had strength in depth too, with the Second XI winning its league (the Grade A) four times between 1954 and 1960. On the social side, a crucial development was the licensing of a bar in the Club pavilion, the main mover being long-time member and later Club president Jim Adair.

Towards the end of the 1950s there emerged from the school Heriot’s two most famous cricketers: off-spinning all-rounder George Goddard and opening batsman/wicketkeeper Hamish More (pictured, left, in his teenage years). With their maturing influence ever more apparent, Heriots FP finally won the East League for the first time in 1966, and went on to take the title again in 1969 and 1970. Goddard and More became the first Herioters to hold down regular places in the Scotland side: More scored his first international century in 1969, while Goddard was eventually appointed Scotland captain in 1974.

Heriots FP went 'open' in 1974, allowing a limited number of non-Herioters to become members. This move heralded a spectacular period of consistent success in an increasingly competitive East League. The championship was won eight times between 1974 and 1983, including seven successive titles from 1977 on. In addition the Club took the Scottish Cup in 1978, defeating ancient rivals Watsonians at Hamilton Crescent.

Key recruits included internationalist opening bowlers in Peter Rhind, Eric Thompson and Jack Ker, alongside batsman Andrew Ker (who was first capped from the Club). George Goddard and Hamish More continued amongst the leading players in Scotland throughout, and two other home-grown Herioters, spinners Richard Rodger and Euan McIntyre, were also capped in this remarkable period. Heriot’s strength in depth was also apparent in the Second XI’s four Grade A titles between 1971 and 1982. The run-up to the Club’s celebration of its centenary season in 1989 was not so successful in terms of league titles and trophies, although the Second XI won the Grade A league again in 1988 (including a "10-for" performance by Dave McDougal)

The Goddard-More era ended in the early 1990s, the two having left far behind all previous Club wicket-taking and run-scoring records. Nonetheless, the Club entered the Scottish National League in 1996 as champions of the East League once again, having taken the title in successive seasons in 1994 and 1995.

The team has never been out of the premier division but has yet to win the National League. The Club did however triumph in the Scottish Cup in 2000, beating Grange. In the latter period of the club’s history, caps have been gained by Mike Allingham, Asim Butt, John Blain, Sean Weeraratna, Dewald Nel, Steven Knox and, continuing the More family theme, young Robert More (son of George More) was capped in 2002.

In the recent era the club has embraced the youth cricket ethos promoted by Cricket Scotland and currently runs six youth teams ranging from U10s Kwik Cricket up to the U17 age group. This is organised and run by Andy McKinlay, enthusiastically supported by Club coach Steven Knox, and assisted by a core of Club players who are currently at least Level 1, if not Level 2, on the coaching scale. The club has achieved bronze accreditation via the TOPClub scheme and is working towards the attainment of silver.

Those who know Goldenacre will be aware that the square was moved some years ago, with the famous slope being removed, leaving a level outfield. The square has taken some time to 'bed in'. However, head groundsman Simon Theurer, assisted by consultant Steve Wright, the former chief groundsman at Leicestershire County Cricket Club, have toiled over the last year and the deck is becoming harder and faster. The Club, in conjunction with the school, is looking to update many aspects of the ground and to construct a new all-weather net and practice facility.

The club is committed to positive development and we are all looking forward to a successful 2008 season.