Cricket The centre is home to the well supported Western Youth Centre Cricket Club, which was established in 1961 and fields teams in both senior and junior grades. The Oval also has adjoining, well maintained cricket practice nets that are available for public use every day. Cricket in Cowandilla is fitting as the small suburb has significant cricket heritage. It is where
cricket under lights was birthed in 1930 by returned serviceman and tram dispatcher Alf Stone at his Turner Street Cowandilla home (only a few hundred metres from the Western Youth Centre Cricket Club) during the depression. Up to 50 youths were attending his property every night to play under light globes. This led to an 11 team competition playing
electric light cricket in the area in the 1930s
Bruce Dooland was also born in Cowandilla in 1923. Dooland remained in the area, learning cricket in his Cowandilla backyard before playing for
West Torrens,
South Australia and
Australia (and later
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, where he was regarded the best bowler in
England and the first to reach 100 wickets in the season). His skill was also recognised by his choice for Players against Gentlemen in 1953 and 1954 and in 1950-51 he visited
India with the Commonwealth team. He made his highest score, 108 against an Indian XI, at
New Delhi. Dooland was described as "the
leg spinning magician", who took over 1000 first class wickets and taught
Richie Benaud how to bowl the
flipper. The flipper would subsequently underpin the success of
Shane Warne.
Angling The Western Districts
Angling Club (established in 1938) resides at the Western Youth Centre.
Soccer The Adelaide Red Blue Eagles Football Club, play in the
South Australian Amateur Soccer League and call the Western Youth Centre home. == Areas of interest ==