WILLIAM PAT HONE (1886-1976)

Pat Hone came from a distinguished cricketing family that included his father, uncles and a number of his father's cousins. Hone's father, William, and uncle, Leland, who played a test match for the MCC, were also Phoenix members. Hone toured the USA with Frank Browning's Irish team in 1909 and scored 7 centuries for Phoenix in 1913, a season when he scored a total of 2,400 runs. He wrote about this achievement at the time: ' is may or may not be a record, who cares?' It wasn't. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 for 'Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty' at Kruisstraat, near Ypres. He captained Phoenix in 1930 and played friendlies into the 1950s. He was club secretary from 1937 to 1946 and was elected first President. His book Cricket in Ireland was published in 1955.

ERIC LESLIE KIDD (1889-1984)

Leslie Kidd was captain of Cambridge University CC in 1912. In the colours match that year he made 46 and 45 and took 5/75 and 3/68 in a three wicket victory. He played regularly for Middlesex and was regarded as a future test player. That ambition was thwarted by the war and his subsequent move to Dublin to take up employment with Guinness. An aggressive batsman and leg spin bowler he played 74 times for Phoenix and 6 times for Ireland. He was not always available as during holidays he usually returned to play for Middlesex or other clubs in England. He was usually given the captaincy when he was playing for Phoenix in the 1920s. He scored 3,155 runs for the club at an average of 41 and took 256 wickets at 13.6. He lived a long life and died aged 95 in Dun Laoghaire.

THE POST-WAR PERIOD

The post war period saw the introduction of the Leinster League for the first time which saw Phoenix vying with the Bob Lambert inspired Leinster CC most years throughout the 1920s. Phoenix won in 1921,22,24 and 25 but not again until 1936. The club continued to attract players from DUCC, ex army and navy personnel from the Great War as well as successful businessmen such as Leslie Kidd and Jack Crawfurd from Guinness. Crawfurd was 63 not out and batting with Bob Lambert for Ireland in 1921 against the Military of Ireland in College Park when shots were fired through the Nassau Street railings. A female student was killed and the game abandoned.

There were many colourful characters such as Tom Jameson, of the whiskey family. A commanding 6 foot 4 inches he bowled accurate leg breaks and was an accomplished batsman. He was a career soldier, whose mother was Maria Hone. He learnt his cricket at Harrow, played when available for Hampshire and went on two non test MCC tours, to South Africa and the West Indies. He made a major contribution, ba ing and bowling his leg breaks, when Ireland had a famous victory over the West Indies in College Park in 1928. He played for Phoenix before 1914 and occasionally, when in Dublin, in the 20s and 30s.

Hubert de Burgh, DSO and French Legion of Honour, who as a naval commander had sunk a German battleship in 1917, played 36 times for the club. He was capped by Ireland in 1926 at the age of 47!

Wentworth 'Wenty' Allen was an ever present Phoenix bowler who was also playing in the tragic Ireland match v The Military in 1921. He played for DUCC before and after the war and for Phoenix a er he graduated. He captured 463 wickets at 12.46 for his two clubs in league and cup matches and in 1932 became the first player to be appointed captain for the season by the club.