New season and new direction in Tamworth league for Gunnedah

Gunnedah District Cricket Association has committed itself to a new look, 2024/25 season, combining with the Tamworth District Cricket Association.

In forming a new look Gunnedah club, the four clubs that previously made up the local, single grade Gunnedah competition of

Albion, Court House, Kookaburras and Mornington, will recess for the season under their own banners, but alas join forces, forming four grades together under the new alias of the Gunnedah Cricket Club in the Tamworth grade cricket circuit.

Due to the irregularity around Gunnedah’s four club sides, and their consistent lack of numbers throughout previous seasons, the opportunity was forecast firstly by the Tamworth District Association to the Gunnedah District Association working committee at the end of last season.

Secondly, it was unanimously agreed upon by that Gunnedah committee, and the four clubs that it governs, to take on the new look concept by foregoing the traditional Gunnedah single grade competition, undertaking the concept as one club in Tamworth’s four-grade competition.

In a fresh concept to revive the sport of cricket in the region, the Gunnedah District Association decided it will take the offer from the Tamworth District Association, with a mixture of matches in Gunnedah, Carroll and Tamworth scheduled to take place for the season.

Competition matches for first and second grade are scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 12, while third and fourth grade matches are scheduled to begin the following week, on October 19.

Gunnedah District Association player and club president, Sam Doubleday, is excited at the prospect of joining the Tamworth competition.

He was positive that under the new Gunnedah club and its formulation of a four grade, tiered system, it has the capacity to provide serious competition for those yearning for that, but crucially, provide a pathway for juniors by easing them into the week-in, week-out competitive and consistent grade cricket.

The four-grade system allows all players to participate in the grade that resonates with their application, talent and development.

“Excited is one word that springs to mind,” Doubleday said. “It will be good, competitive cricket.”

Doubleday is reciprocal of the Tamworth association’s stance on the new idea, coinciding that it will not only levitate both towns to prominence in NSW Country, and Central North cricket circles, but be of significant influence to those within the Gunnedah community who are passionate, and loyal cricket fans.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the community of Gunnedah coming together as one club in a higher standard of competition,” Doubleday said.

Although the initial excitement is heightened at being involved in a more competitive competition under the Gunnedah club banner, it is, however, remiss not to acknowledge the history left behind due to the move into another competition.

“It’s obviously sad that the player numbers have dropped off over the years in our local competition and it has had to come to this,” he said.

“Players are loyal to their clubs in a local competition sense, so that history and rivalry between the local clubs, which you can’t replace, is also hard to replicate.

“But the way it was, we had to try something, and this is where we are now.”

He was also quick to reiterate, that the positives far outweigh the negative inclinations on the reasons aforementioned.

“But this way we ensure that people can still play cricket in Gunnedah, and represent the community too,” Doubleday added.

“Although we are one club, our playing uniforms are designed to respect and honour the major colours of each club in town.”

Of particular importance are the pathways available through consistent and competitive cricket for Gunnedah’s ever-growing number of youth cricketers.

Juniors aged 6-16, through the new four-grade system, now have the opportunity at playing consistent and competitive competition cricket that’s relative to their development and age, and accordingly, will be selected in the tiered four grade system throughout the season on the back of their ability, application and relative form.

Development in their own age bracket will coincide with the lower grade system, such as third and fourth grades, alleviating a more intense than normal experience for a youth boy or girl who previously, was participating against fully developed men and women in the single grade, Gunnedah competition.

In turn, those players will be developed within the sport, and due to the capacity for a further learning and developing environment, it will potentially promote them not only into possible higher honours on a representative scale, but also, keep them engaged with cricket.

One area Doubleday sternly believes in, is that juniors are the lifeblood of not just cricket, but all sports in general.

“Building stronger pathways for the junior cricketers into the senior grades has been the big driving force,” he said.

“The added bonus of the better cricketers playing a much higher standard means more potential and exposure to representative cricket in the future.

“Juniors will have the chance to develop without the threat of being pushed away by brutality of seniors, which isn’t a senior player’s fault, it was just the way it was unfortunately.”

Doubleday is also of the belief, that while sad to see the demise of the local Gunnedah competition, the silver lining is that the current committee and players can form their own slice of history.

“We have a chance to create our own history, and can only see this move being beneficial for the sport in town (Gunnedah) for years to come,” he said.

“It’ll ensure that the juniors can still play cricket in or for Gunnedah in 10 years’ time.”

Formulated by the Tamworth District Association board, the draw for the season consists of a mixture of matches, designed to be played at various venues.

For first and second grades, Gunnedah will host the respective Tamworth clubs at Wolseley Oval for first grade, and Kitchener Park for second grade, with a mixture of T20, one day and two day matches set into the draw.

For third and fourth grade, third grade will use McAndrew Park as a home ground, while the halfway point between Gunnedah and Tamworth, will see the Carroll synthetic wicket and sportsground, used for their fixtures.

Set down in the regular season draw are three different formats of cricket for all grades, consisting of T20, 40 over one-day and also two-day matches.