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Ray McLaughlan has maintained lifelong friendships with the people he knew at the St Albans Cricket Club in the 1940s.

The 86-year-old Redcliffs resident will be one of the oldest living former senior club players attending the club's centennial celebrations from February 22 to 27.

The club was established on August 31, 1905, when cricketing authorities decided to adopt a controversial district scheme to create a more equitable competition.

It remained a men's club until 1977 when the decision was made to merge with the St Albans Women's Club.

McLaughlan joined the club as a 26-year-old after returning from the war in 1946 and played for senior and presidents grades until 1975.

He said the 100-year-old club had always been strong. It had been able to maintain its popularity through good management.

Although he did not live close to the club facilities, he decided to join because of its good reputation.

"I always sort of had a feeling towards St Albans. It always was a well-run club. It was through the through the club that I got to know a lot of people," he said.

"Since I was there the club has continued to do really well, it's really flourishing," he said.

Maddisen Bruhns, 10, joined the club in the 2003-2004 season and plays in the average girls grade.

She will be one of the players able to carry on the club's strong reputation of success in women's grades, with five teams placed first after the first half of the 2004-2005 season.

The youngster said cricket was like a hobby to her and the club had taught her a lot.

"They're really nice and caring and always look at what's best for you," she said.

Alan Jamieson, who has been club president for 25 years, said the biggest highlight for the club was that it actually survived for 100 years.

"It's quite a feat and I take my hat off to any sports club of any code that can do that,'' he said.

"That fact we have survived 100 years in a very strong position is a great thing," he said.

Jamieson said the club was the largest adult club in Canterbury and the largest women's club in New Zealand. It had established itself as one of the top 10 cricket clubs in the country through hard work and the dedication of its committee.

"The strength is in its administration and the facilities," he said.

"If you get these things together you attract a good quality of player and good players like to go to clubs where there are good players."

The centennial plans are rolling along well but the club was having a hard time tracking down past players for the celebrations.

He said the club had put together 7000 names and they had given themselves six months to find people.

"They're coming in at a rate of 10 a day. We're hopeful that we'll have good numbers there," he said.

He said he was looking forward to working towards the next 100 years for the club and the challenges of keeping membership up and finances okay.