In 1925, a cement manufacturing company called Earle’s Cement, which was based in Hull, purchased a recreation field that was to become Pelican Park. It was originally 15 acres in size and included a cricket pitch, tennis courts and football pitches. It also included an area for allotments, and it was purchased for the use of all the company’s employees and their families. 

 

This was followed two years later by the opening of a pavilion. The pavilion contained four changing rooms, two sets of toilets with showers, storage rooms, a kitchen area and a community room. 

 

For 157 years, the firm of G & T Earle was in existence within the boundary of the City of Hull and for the most of that time it was a significant employer, providing work for several hundred people. By the end of the 19th Century, it had become one of the premier cement manufacturers in the country. 

Although it amalgamated in 1912 with other cement companies to form British Portland Cement Manufacturers Limited, it retained its identity through the marketing of its Pelican brand cement up until 1966 when it subsequently became the Blue Circle Group which is now part of the Lafarge Cement Company 

 

In 1921, Earle’s Cement founded their welfare department and Ronald C Burton was appointed as the Welfare Supervisor. Born in Cherry Burton, he was a keen cricket enthusiast and was he oversaw the department until his retirement in 1959. 

 

The welfare department was a novel idea in the industry and one of the early achievements was the promotion of closer contact between work and office staff. This was primarily on the sports field in cricket, football, tennis and bowls etc. and it was reinforced by social functions, dances and amateur dramatics. Earle’s Cement also held a family fun day each year. 

 

In 1930, a new organisation by the name of the Hull Works Sports Association was formed and this involved teams from various companies from around the city of Hull competing against each other at cricket, tennis and bowls. The first president of the association was George Earle of Earle’s Cement. 

 

Pelican CC continue to go from strength to strength. In 2021, following a successful trial, Pelican CC entered a second team into the league structure for the first time, and now runs two teams, one on a Saturday and one on a Sunday. 

 

In 2023, Pelican CC were crowned the inaugural winners of the Wilberfoss Cup, defeating Woodhouse Grange CC in the final at Saxton CC..