Penang Sports Club

Penang Sports Club (8 March 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Penang Sports Club Location Map

Penang Sports Club (8 March 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Penang Sports Club is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Penang. It was founded in 1900 as the Penang Cricket Club located on the playing field (now called Padang Kota Lama) and the Esplanade. The Penang Cricket Club had its clubhouse - built in 1910 - on the field itself, on the opposite side of the Esplanade Road (now Jalan Padang Kota Lama) diagonally from the Town Hall. The clubhouse, which is similar in appearance to the old clubhouse building of the Chinese Recreation Club, faces the cricket pavilion of the Penang Recreation Club. In the early 20th century, Penang Cricket Club admitted only Europeans while the Penang Recreation Club admitted Eurasians as well. The Chinese, many of whom are wealthy but are not permitted entry, decided to form the Chinese Recreation Club.

The club moved to Western Road in 1939, and was known as the Penang Golf Club. The cricket pavillion on the Esplanade field was destroyed during the Second World War. The club was only known as the Penang Sports Club in 1947.