The East Doncaster Cricket Club was formed back in the late nineteenth century, with club members Bruce Davidson and Harold Plumb deciding that 1886 be recognised as the starting date. Around this time, the East Doncaster group of players called themselves the Miserables, and it is possible that this group started playing matches even earlier.

East Doncaster spent three seasons in the early 1890s playing other clubs in the eastern suburbs. Henry Mays was the club’s first captain and the earliest game recorded was against Chatsworth in May 1891. East Doncaster’s first home ground was at the north-west corner of the Doncaster and Blackburn Roads intersection, the current location of McDonald’s.

A lack of players as a result of the 1893 economic collapse meant that the club went into recess after November 1893. It was not until 1910/11 that the club re-formed as the Doncaster Ramblers. The Ramblers entered a side in B Grade of the Reporter District Cricket Association. After finishing runners-up to Croydon in 1911/12, the club was promoted to A Grade and changed its name to East Doncaster.

East Doncaster won its first premiership in 1915/16, thanks to players such as Len and Bert Bullen, Sam Maggs and Arthur Hardidge. Immediately after this season, the club went into another recess due to World War I.

Through the efforts of club secretary Jack Finger, the club re-formed in 1919/20 and, with the brilliant Claude Hunt leading the way with bat and ball, won Reporter B Grade premierships in 1919/20 and 1921/22. In the 1919/20 season, Hunt made 596 runs and took 85 wickets, while in the 1921/22 season he took 24 wickets over the two finals.

By 1924/25, players such as Edward Johnston, Jack Crossman Snr and Jim Mackinlay were prominent, and the club won another B Grade premiership by defeating Blackburn. By now, EDCC was playing at the intersection of Reynolds and Anderson Creek Roads, the site of the Doncaster Rovers soccer ground, and fielded a junior side, Under 25s, led by Arti Peter-Budge.

The club grew to three teams in 1927/28 with the influx of several former Doncaster players, whose own club had folded after the 1925/26 season. However, after a division emerged between the EDCC and Doncaster playing groups, the parties went their own way after 1929/30. Doncaster reformed as a club in its own right, leaving East Doncaster with enough players to field one side in C Grade of the Reporter competition.

East Doncaster recovered quickly and now had players such as Rupert Zerbe, Arti Peter-Budge, Ben Crouch and Roy Cousins. As a result, EDCC won the C Grade premiership in 1933/34, followed by the B Grade flag in 1934/35.

With the recruitment of the four Britt brothers, Harold, Tom, Dudley and Les Jnr from Blackburn, East Doncaster became a force in A Grade of the Box Hill Reporter District Cricket Association. In 1936/37, the club defeated St Andrews by an innings to become the BHRDCA champions.

By now, East Doncaster was recognised as one of the strongest clubs in the competition, but the club was unable to repeat its premiership success, despite not losing a home and away game from October 1937 to December 1938.

In 1939/40, East Doncaster joined the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Association. Although the club was one of the top sides in A Matting Grade, it lost two successive grand finals to Ferndale Park and Auburn despite the efforts of Harold Britt, who made 1,288 runs and took 109 wickets over those two seasons.

Another highlight was Dudley Britt making 170 against the East Kew Footballers in 1939/40, a record that lasted more than forty years. After the 1940/41 season, East Doncaster folded due to World War II.

Resuming in 1945/46, East Doncaster fielded one side in A Matting of ESCA, but was relegated to B Matting after one season. In round one of the 1946/47 season, Arti Peter-Budge took a club record 10/20 against City Brick.

The club lost another grand final that season and then decided to rejoin the BHRDCA in 1947/48. The club also cleared an area of land at the northern end of Anderson Creek Road and spent the next two decades based at this ground, known as Quarry or Deep Creek Reserve.

Led by Jack Carey, East Doncaster won the B Grade flag in 1947/48 and, with players such as Ivan Peter-Budge, George Johns, Harold Plumb, Doug White and the Cousins brothers, Roy and Len, the club was again able to field three sides.

By 1952/53, EDCC had again entered a period of strength and, led by Alan and Ivan Peter-Budge, the first XI defeated Mitcham in the A Grade semi-final and was unlucky to lose to East Burwood in the grand final.

This success was short-lived and, with Alan Peter-Budge transferring to the Doncaster Footballers and many other players leaving, East Doncaster found itself in difficult circumstances by the 1954/55 season, barely able to fill one team.

By 1957/58, the situation had improved. The return of Ivan Peter-Budge from Ivanhoe and the efforts of players such as Clive Smith, Laurance Petty, Eric Buck and David Jenkins meant East Doncaster played in the B Grade grand final, but lost to Templestowe.

Despite the subsequent recruitment of players such as Ray Crump and Keith Rochow, EDCC struggled to make an impression and did not play finals from 1957/58 through to 1964/65. A highlight of this period was David Jenkins taking 9/6 against East Burwood in 1962/63.

In 1964/65, through the efforts of Eric Buck and Tom Geraghty, East Doncaster fielded a junior side for the first time. Two nine-year-olds, Keith Flavel and Steve Eddy, played their first game for EDCC this season.

The other important progress was the securement of Zerbes Reserve, which had previously been used by both Doncaster Districts and the Doncaster Footballers. East Doncaster played its first games there this season. Until the mid-1970s, the oval at Zerbes was surrounded by an athletics track.

In 1965/66, East Doncaster’s first XI was relegated to C1 Grade, but this coincided with the recruitment of Brian Lyons, Rod Franklin, Ted Tully, Dennis Hall and a raft of other players. The first XI went through the season unbeaten, only to lose in the semi-final against St Peter’s.

After a wait of nineteen seasons, the club won a premiership in 1966/67, with the second XI winning C2 Grade by defeating Box Hill City.

By 1970/71, EDCC had enough players to field three teams and the first XI, led by Noel Meates, won the B1 Grade premiership in an amazing win against the Templestowe Footballers.

Premiership success extended to the Under 16s, who defeated Box Hill Church of Christ by an innings. The other highlight of the season was Steve Eddy taking 105 wickets across senior and junior cricket.

By 1975/76, the club fielded four sides. Bruce Davidson’s third XI won the D1 Grade premiership against Blackburn YCW. This was East Doncaster’s final senior game in the BHRDCA, as a turf wicket was being installed at Zerbes Reserve.

With the introduction of turf, East Doncaster rejoined ESCA. The club was bold in its first season and entered five sides, going against the advice of the ESCA committee. While the top three teams were competitive, the fourth and fifth XIs were graded too high and struggled.

Following this season, East Doncaster fielded four teams in 1977/78, with the fourth XI playing in the lowest grade. With Noel Meates retiring as captain, the club recruited its first captain-coach, former district player Barry Morrison from Vermont.

By 1979/80, EDCC was becoming a force in ESCA. The first XI made the finals for the first time, on the back of Keith Flavel’s 64 wickets, while the third XI finished runners-up to Mt Waverley.

East Doncaster won its first ESCA premierships in 1981/82, with the first XI and fourth XI defeating Richmond City and Box Hill Districts respectively.

This success enabled the recruitment of more players, with the club forming a fifth XI in 1982/83 and a sixth XI in 1984/85. The club won another premiership in 1983/84 when the second XI claimed a flag. In the last round of that season, Scott Peverelle made 207 not out for the fourth XI.

The 1984/85 season remains one of the most successful in East Doncaster history. Presided over by Steve Eddy, with a strong committee and a club brimming with talent at all levels, EDCC won four senior flags and one junior flag.

The first XI won C Turf, the third XI C Matting, the fourth XI D Matting, the fifth XI E Matting, and the Under 14s won their premiership. Both the second and sixth XIs also made finals.

In 1985/86, the first XI, captain-coached by Roger Shipp, secured a second consecutive flag with a thrilling win over Tooronga. The fourth XI made it six senior flags in two years with a win in C Matting, while the Under 16s defeated Donvale in another thrilling victory.

By 1986/87, East Doncaster had its first XI in A Turf, its third XI in A Matting and fourth XI in B Matting. By 1988/89, both the third and fourth XIs had been relegated, but the third XI, led by Phil Mead, responded with the B Matting premiership that same year.

Fortunes began to change in 1991/92, with three teams making semi-finals, followed by the second XI winning the 1992/93 D Turf premiership.

Playing for the fourth XI, Graeme Turnbull made 229 not out, which remains the club record. EDCC also formed a Ladies XI in 1992/93, which proved to be a resounding success, making the grand final in its first season.

In 1993/94, Peter Thompson returned to the club after stints with Fitzroy-Doncaster and Vermont and made 777 runs in his first year back. The first XI made the semi-final, the third XI won a thrilling grand final over Mulgrave, and the Ladies XI celebrated its only premiership with a great win over Ferntree Gully.

The first XI won the A Turf premiership in 1994/95, defeating Marcellin at Bulleen. Peter Thompson became the highest run-scorer in a turf season for ESCA, with 1,034 runs, including four centuries, 99, and scores of 82 and 72 not out in the grand final.

The third and fourth XIs also played on turf, using grounds at Yarra Bend and La Trobe University. Both sides adjusted well and made finals, with the third XI defeating Malvern in the grand final.

Prior to the 1996/97 season, Fitzroy-Doncaster ceased its junior program. East Doncaster benefited, with several junior players joining the club and increasing the number of junior sides from four to six, with a gradual increase to at least eight junior sides from 2000/01 onwards.

In 1999, ESCA merged with the Eastern Churches competition to form the Eastern Cricket Association. By then, EDCC had expanded to seven senior sides and had no issue with player numbers, with 157 players representing the club.

Despite many statistical highlights, only the third XI reached the finals and, with Nick Goodwin making 132, comfortably defeated Deepdene to win the flag. Another highlight was four centuries being made on 22 January 2000 by Mark Chipperfield, Adam Ewinger, Brendan Bailey and Justin Walzl.

The dawn of a new century saw the first XI relegated to A Turf after five years in the highest grade. Peter Ciardulli returned to the club as captain-coach for one season and the team made finals, losing to La Trobe University in the semi-final.

The club formed a Veterans team in the Veterans competition that had been started by the BHRDCA in 1996/97.

During the 2001/02 season, EDCC gained approval from Whitefriars College to install a turf wicket on its main oval. The club met the installation cost and, in 2002/03, finally had a permanent second turf ground.

The fifth XI made the grand final and defeated the Heathmont Baptists. EDCC also fielded two Veterans teams for the first time. In February 2003, the club celebrated its Team of the Century dinner, held at Manningham Council.

In 2003/04, both the third and fourth XIs made grand finals, with the fourth XI defeating Richmond City after Aaron Deveson made a brilliant 155.

The 2006/07 season commenced with EDCC fielding six senior sides, two veteran sides and ten junior sides. The club enjoyed its best season for many years, with five senior sides and three junior sides making finals. The second XI and Under 14 BHRDCA sides won flags, while the first XI finished runners-up.

The club had high expectations for 2007/08, with the first XI promoted to the senior turf grade and the newly formed Under 18 side keeping a number of junior players at the club. The Under 18s went on to win the premiership, while the Under 14 Friday night side finished runners-up.

Season 2008/09 started with the club recruiting Graeme Vimpani as a new addition to the coaching team, and training for the higher teams took on renewed intensity and focus.

By Christmas, all six teams were in the race for finals. In a remarkable final series, the first, third and fifth XIs all won their respective premierships.

The fifth XI chased down a record 390 in its semi-final, then defeated Clifton Hill by three runs in the grand final. The third XI defended low scores in both finals, with Jake Kilsby making key contributions with both bat and ball.

The greatest triumph was saved for the first XI. After defeating Mulgrave by two runs in a stirring semi-final win, the side faced Hawthorn in the Dunstan Shield grand final. Chasing 221, East Doncaster was 6/145 with fifteen overs remaining before Steve Corcoran and captain Mark Thompson combined for a thrilling 61-run partnership.

Kam Nayager then cover-drove the winning runs as players and supporters ran onto the ground.

East Doncaster had won the 2008/09 Dunstan Shield.

The following seasons saw continued development across senior, junior and veterans cricket. The club entered Twenty20 cricket, continued to push junior players into senior cricket and celebrated further achievements across multiple grades.

In 2010/11, the Veterans won their first premiership in eleven years, defeating Vermont by 75 runs at Zerbes Reserve. The junior program also enjoyed success, with the Under 12C Friday night team winning a premiership.

The club celebrated its 125th anniversary during the 2011/12 season, culminating in a February 2012 celebration that many who attended regarded as the best function in club history.

In 2012/13, former Australian player Adam Dale was appointed coach, and the club reintroduced a Junior Development Squad. The Under 14 ECA C Grade side won the premiership, while the Veterans Over 40 side went into hiatus and an Over 50 Legends side was formed.

The 2013/14 season brought more senior success, with the first XI winning the A Turf premiership and the third XI defeating Hawthorn in the D Turf grand final. The junior program also enjoyed an excellent season, with the Under 16C side going through the season unbeaten to win the flag.

In 2014, Graeme Turnbull became the first player to pass the 10,000-run milestone. In 2015/16, the second XI won a thrilling B Turf premiership over St Kevin’s, while Mark Chipperfield became the first player to reach the 400-game milestone.

The 2016/17 season was the year of the Veterans, with an Over 40s side re-formed and the Over 50s winning the B Grade flag with a gutsy win over Mont Albert.

The 2018/19 season became another historic year for East Doncaster. The club focused on the first XI, which went on to defeat North Balwyn in a see-sawing grand final. Cam Crowley made 93 and 44 in the finals, while Matthew Vaiano smashed a match-winning 79 in the grand final.

East Doncaster had won its second Dunstan Shield.

In 2019/20, the third XI was quickly re-formed as a one-day Sunday side and entered a team in the Mercantile association, where it made the grand final. The first XI was boosted by the arrival of Joe Kendall, who made 651 runs and won the Dunstan Medal as the ECA’s best player. In the third XI grand final, Craig Vaughan played his 423rd game, setting a new club record.