Phené Triumph in Corfu
Cricket World Magazine, Winter Special 1992
The Phené Philanderers Cricket Club of Chelsea, founded 25 years ago in one of Chelsea's best-known watering-holes, The Phené Arms, become only the second out of 23 touring British cricket clubs to beat All Corfu XI, a combined team from the four Corfiot cricket clubs, this last summer.
The Phené's victory, by 25 runs, was gained by getting the All Corfu team out for 184 in the 33-overs-each game, the Chelsea team having made 209-5 batting first.
As a result, they regained the Challenge Shield they have played the All Corfu team for regularly over the last 17 years on their 13th tour to the island.
On their last trip to Corfu in 1990, The Phené set a new record by beating the Corfu champion club, Phaeax, on the same day they put out a second team 1,500 miles away at Hambledon, Surrey, who also won.
During the same tour they achieved two other notable records: they became the first team to play cricket in Albania during a one-day trip to its port of Saranda and hinterland, while also making the longest one-day trip to a cricket game by boat - from Corfu Town to Saranda - and the second longest also, from the north east tip of Corfu, where they were staying near Kassiopi, to Corfu Town for the final against the All Corfu XI.
Immediately prior to leaving for Corfu on their recent tour they celebrated the club's 25th anniversary by beating a Rest of the World XI by two runs on the Brigade of Guards cricket ground in Chelsea.
Former club members returned to play for the Rest of the World XI from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the USA, India and France.
The ever-green Fotis Kontos, 76, still plays whenever his health permits while a well-known and now retired old Corfu cricketer has just re-married at the age of 100!
Cricket Society
The Cricket Society visited Corfu at the start of September but met with less success than their Chelsea compatriots defeating Gymnastikos but then losing all their remaining matches.
Austria CA
Austria CA are to visit Corfu next April for their pre-season preparation. Ouzo rather than Lilleshall.