The 1938-39 premiers of the Kiama District Cricket Association are part of a long history of success at the Cavaliers, and most importantly, community. Photo: Kiama Cricket Club/Supplied by Bill Peters.
Community, camaraderie and a love of cricket have created a club legacy at Kiama Cavaliers lasting generations, with former and current players set to share stories as they celebrate 170 years on the pitch.
It was friendship that drew Allan Snelling to start cricket in the 1940s, but a knack for the game and a strong club spirit saw him stick around Kiama Cavaliers Cricket Club for decades.
“All my mates played so it was just a natural type of progression for me and once I started I couldn’t stop,” Allan said.
“I think it’s the friendships that form with all the players that make the game.”
After 30 years making records and winning awards for his skill, Allan had to hang up his bat due to injury, but his family ties remain strong within the club, with his great-grandson William now an up-and-coming talent at just 11 years old.
“That’s something; it’s special,” Allan said. “It’s unbelievable and makes me really proud.”
William started cricket when he was eight, after being inspired by the country’s most elite sportsmen.
“I started watching it on TV and watched them hit the ball really far and when I was little and was like ‘I want to do that’ so a couple of years later started playing,” William said.
Allan Snelling was a star of the Cavaliers for decades; now his great-grandson has been passed the torch. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
He has been climbing the ranks as one of the region’s rising young stars, making representative teams and even scored his first maiden hundred at the start of this year, which his great-grandfather was able to see on a livestream.
Will even inspired his dad Glenn to come back and play after a 15-year hiatus with the two part of the fourth grade father-and-son team.
“I didn’t expect to be playing cricket ever again; sometimes my body doesn’t want to be playing again,” Glenn said.
“That’s another thing with cricket, it’s that family based culture, especially in juniors; you need a whole group of parents and helpers to help out on game day from umpiring to scoring and setting up the field.
“You actually get to spend quite a bit of time together during the game.”
Glenn Coghlan and son William have a long connection with the club with Will maintaining the family legacy. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
Pathways to nurture juniors and offer them avenues into senior games is a strong focus for the club as it continues to grow its player base.
“We just want to make sure there’s always a clear pathway, firstly to introduce juniors to cricket, and secondly to develop their skills and talent – we’ve got a large pool of 13 or 14 kids that have played rep cricket this year at different levels,” Kiama Cavaliers vice president and junior coordinator Nathan Battishall said.
A key part of that success is the higher graded players that help out and inspire the next generation.
“We had a couple of the first grade boys come down and give a bit of a rev up with the little kids,” board member Ethan Whitaker said.
“Having those top graders coming down and helping out is a big effort.”
Glenn and Will Coghlan with board members Nathan Battishall, Ethan Whitaker and Bernie Brown. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
“It sends a really powerful message to parents too to see our first grade captain who’s already doing a lot at that level is coming down and investing back in at the very grassroots; that’s critical,” Nathan said.
Club culture and dedication have been crucial to the club since its inception in 1856 and through wars, economic change and shifting sporting trends.
“170 years is a remarkable milestone; it just proves the longevity of the club, it proves the community of the club and that’s what it’s all about – getting the generations through, ensuring we get teams on the park every week,” president Bernie Brown said.
“Also a lot of it comes down to the after-hours things – the catch-ups after a game at the leagues club, the training sessions, the camaraderie, and it just builds from there.”
The club is hosting an anniversary dinner on 7 February at Kiama Leagues Club with fundraising, memorabilia and Australian cricket legend Mike Whitney as a special guest speaker.
And there will be plenty of stories told and friendships rekindled as past and present players come together to share their love of the club and the sport.
“It’s the most natural thing; you see someone you used to play cricket with years and years ago and the first thing you talk about is cricket,” Allan said.
“It brings back all those memories just talking to one another.
“The friendship and the comradeship of all the players – I think it’s the most important thing of all.”
For more information or to buy tickets to the event visit the Kiama Cricket Club website.
