Westerleigh Tutors

About Westerleigh

Westerleigh is a neighborhood in Staten Island, New York. Westerleigh is probably best known for being home to the oldest contiguous Cricket Club in the U.S. The Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club was established on March 22, 1872.

The Staten Island club also made history, by hosting the first tennis match ever played in the U.S. Mary Outerbridge is credited with introducing tennis to America in 1874. Lawn tennis was commercialized in England, by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield of the British Army. When Major Wingfield was posted in Bermuda Garrison, one of his men brought tennis equipment and the rules of the game to their post. Mary Outerbridge played the game when she was visiting to her family’s house in Bermuda. When she returned home, she brought her new found love of tennis with her. She set up the first game of tennis at the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club, and played America’s first tennis match with her sister Laura Outerbridge. By 1880, the game had become popular, and the Cricket Club held “the tournament for the championship of America.” Several other tennis tournaments were held that year, and the game was also introduced in Arizona.

By 1906, tennis had become so popular that the club changed its name to the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club. In 1925, the property was sold to the Staten Island Academy who sold it to the city of New York in 1930. The city changed the name of the club a final time in 1931, to simply, the Staten Island Cricket Club. The city also renamed the estate Walter Park, in memory of Randolph St. George Walter Jr., who was the son of a prominent club member and officer. Randolph St. George Walter Jr. was a casualty of WWI, and so the park was named in his honor.

Today, the club still meets in the clubhouse that was rebuild in 1934; and uses the cricket field that is right in the center of Walter Park. In addition to the cricket field, Walter Park has six tennis courts, a little league baseball field, two basketball courts, and a playground. The club’s motto is Lude Ludum Insignia Secundaria, which is latin for “Winning the game is a secondary concern. Playing the game is a primary reward.” The Staten Island Cricket Club could tutor other sports organizations in how to love the game, and have a great sportsmanlike attitude. Over the years, the club has hosted many famous cricketers including Gilbert Jessop, Donald Bradman, Everton Weekes, and Gary Sobers. Rumor has it that the club also once hosted W.G. Grace, Colin Blythe, and K.S. Ranjitsinhji. The Staten Island Cricket Club has a proud history, and will hopefully carry on its legacy for many more generations.

Westerleigh tutors want to see every student, “Ace,” their classes. If your student is struggling in school, a Westerleigh tutor might be just what you need. Every student deserves the chance to succeed.