History of Young Men Sporting Club
In the year 1938 a few distinguished gentlemen met and came upon the realisation that a plan has to be made keep the culture that had been handed to them alive.
Their concept was a simple one of a gentleman’s club, where young men could gather, share stories and promote the most simple of cultural pastimes – to sing. They sang songs taught to them by their forefathers and in turn taught these traditional folk songs to their children.
This meeting resulted in the establishment of a group for which they, in their wisdom,drew up a constitution. The name they chose for the club was typically strong Netherlands, which is where many of their forefathers stemmed from.
“De Jonge Mens Kulture Klub” was thus officially launched in 1938 in an area of District Six known as the Dry Docks, or more commonly called “Die Draai”. Through the years the culture was maintained, but as with everything else time had an effect on the club with modernisation and advancement.
The name of the club westernised and went from “De Jonge Mens”, to “The Young Man’s Social Club”, to eventually settling on “Young Men Sporting Club” in the late 1950’s.
The club that started out with an average of 20 to 30 members today boasts a membership of 135 ageing between 15 and 75. The fewer older members serve as Honorary Life Members to guide the youth and to ensure that all club endeavours are managed in the spirit intended by the leaders of the past.
Young Men Sporting Club has been one of the mainstays of the Cape Malay Choir Board, to which it is affiliated.
Did you know?
Established in 1938, YMSC is the oldest Cape Malay Choir participating in choral competition today.
YMSC has won the coveted Silver Fez trophy 6 times.
YMSC is the only choir to have won the Silver and Top 8 competitions outright in successive seasons.
YMSC holds the record for having won the Exhibition March item for 5 years in succession.
