The following was written by Vanessa Bacon-Hall for the Coolum Adveriser
IN A COUP for local sports, Coolum Cricket has been asked by the Sunshine Coast Crick- et Association (SCCA) to take up the eighth place in the First Division Men’s competition – the invitation seen as a reflec- tion of the strong senior club side and more importantly, the strong and growing junior player base.
Competing in a home and away fixture against stalwart teams – Maroochydore, Caloundra, Tewantin/Noosa, Nambour, and Gympie, Glass House and Caboolture, the sea- son will run from October 5 with the finals taking place in late March. Coolum Cricket President Marty Bristow said that hav- ing a team in the first grade was a real win for the juniors with the club now able to offer a progression for the younger players. “We have boys and girls playing juniors together and our junior club has grown from 70 to 140 kids over the last four years, and now we can offer a pathway going forward for the juniors. “Now they can play at our club the whole way- from ju- nior ranks and then on to the first grade and then possibly on to the scorchers side which is the Sunshine Coast team that plays in the Brisbane comp.”
Cricket has a long history on the Sunshine Coast with the association operating since the 1940s with around 60 teams competing in the Men’s com- petition across seven divisions from Gympie down to Burpen- gary. The Coolum Cricket Club formed in 1991, with the club historically competing between sixth and third grade, up until last year where a second grade team was fielded and now on to this season, which will see the first division team playing.
Coolum will enter either four or five sides in the SCCA Men’s competition this season and will also enter a side in the SCCA Ladies competition for the first time this season, with the ladies team playing on the main oval on Sundays during summer.
“We are a very inclusive club and we are a really fun club to be a part of,” Marty said. “We have our sign on day tomorrow and whilst there is a serious side to Coolum Crick- et, we have a good culture here and we are open to boys, girls, ladies and men – with every- one who plays for us saying it’s a great club to be part of.”
Coolum Cricket are looking for new members, with train- ing starting in September and the season starting in October. More information can be ob- tained by either visiting www.coolumcricket.com.au or by heading to the sports grounds behind the aquatic centre off David Low way from 3.30- 5.00pm tomorrow, Friday August 30.