Frogan's Cricket tales

Graham Mackie | January 25, 2023

The start

I was born 1950 in Chatswood not far from the ground

First cricket memory was walking up to Lofberg Oval aged 9 or 10 and fielding for B Grade if they were short - started playing in the Under 16’s when 11 no idea how I performed - played  C Grade when 14 and when 15 I took my first of 11 career hat tricks taking 7/23 and the same season was Captain of the under16’s and won “best bowling”

The next few seasons I played B grade and then finally A Grade under Lionel Banbury and Graeme Cochrane (ex Balmain) who was a great all-rounder - hardly bowled in A Grade.

The club was very well served by Managers/Coaches Ken Stewart and Peter Wood in our formative years at West Pymble

Grade Cricket

1968/69 I decided to give grade ago and went down to Chatswood and was graded 5ths.

Season 1970/71 we won the 4th grade Premiership beating St George in the final which was captained by Phil Bovey (Bozo) and featured Col Ashton (Garbo) who fielded at slip with a small transistor in his pocket listening to the races.

After climbing up through the grades mainly stuck in 3rds under Captain King I finally made my 1st grade debut in 1973 vs Sutherland at Chatswood. 1st grade no 336.

Grade wickets 264 from 1968 – 1982. I only played a handful of 1st grade games and played a lot of country cricket before I retired from grade in 1993 finishing with Brushgrove CC on the Lower Clarence and a final season in England and Scotland - I played on for another 10 years with Over 40’s (now finally Veterans) with Queensland Cricketers Club , Yamba and Lower Clarence.

Gordon District Cricket Club 4th Grade Premiers 1970/71

Highest score in 1st grade 34 not out vs Manly in a Rothmans KO and 87 for Bickley Park and 110 for the Artists vs Writers in 1982 ( the bowling was average) Gammi Goonaseena (Waverly) scored a ton for the Writers

Opening the batting with John Cosgrove at Chatswood Oval vs a Touring English League team from Hampshire 1982

Tours

I have been lucky enough to go on a few tours around the world and have played in 12 different countries and most of these are a result of joining the Australian Cricket Society first suggested by West Pymble cricket tragic David Milne where I later met Ronald Cardwell who organised tours to New Zealand in 1978, World Tour in 1979, Victorian Tour 1980 and South East Tour in 1983.

These tours opened the doors for a lot of Western Region players such as Lloyd Keir, Jeff Graham, Greg O’Connor, Steve Wheeler, Peter Leslie and Frank Smith to embrace cricket in other countries.

I was also fortunate to go to Sri Lanka with Bickley Park CC and Gordon Bray in 1983 and back to Hong Kong with HKCC Aust for 3 years under the leadership of Warren Kitson

 

Bowling

Best Bowling 9 for 24 Gordon vs St George 3rds - Captain King took the last wicket 8 for 50 vs Taunton for Sheffield Cricket Society

8 for 17 and 6/28 vs Warren Interdistrict claiming a hat trick in the first innings and removing the last 2 batsman and then taking the first 3 in the second innings. 14 wickets in one day + 5 wickets 5 balls

Another day at No 1 Oval in Dubbo I came on 1st change (hated that) and took a hat trick first 3 balls and in the space of 2 overs. Narromine went from 1/28 to 7/28 and I had 6/0 and left the field with a torn rib cartlidge - match drawn

Playing for Steetley in the Bassetlaw league I took 7/62 including the wicket of Mike Veletta for 29 who was playing for Retford (Derek Randall’s club)

In 1979/80 I was Dubbo Cricketer of the Year taking 77 wickets for the season in all matches

Dubbo RSLCC 1978/79

Best 4 fast Bowlers - Warren Boyd(Dubbo) , Peter Leslie (St George/Dubbo/ACS), Jeff Graham (Dubbo/Gordon/ACS), Warren Watkins (Yamba)

Admired 

Most admired players Lloyd Keir (Dubbo) and Bob Lowing (Gordon)

 

Captains 

Best Captains - Lionel Banbury (West Pymble) Dick Guy (Gordon) Phil Bovey (Gordon) also honourable mention for Jim Baker ( Gordon) ,Warwick Murray (Gordon) and Phil King (Dubbo)

 

Funniest Team mate 

They ALL were but Daryl Quigley stands out. He was a pest at the best  of times but one day at Killara playing Manly he used to sit in the change room and listen to the races. He also had a habit of leaving his bat/box and gloves just outside the door - a wicket fell so I called out to him, he rushed out grabbed his kit and headed out the gate.

I had smeared his box with dencorub. He got to the middle and felt something wasn’t right. He defended the first ball but 2nd ball stepped away and let the ball hit his stumps and came back seething. He turned the races back on and had a long cold shower

 

Best Batsmen - Dave Martin (Dubbo) ,Lloyd Keir (Dubbo) Frank Smith (Nyngan ) Ian Dunbar (Yamba) Mick Ryan (Lismore) Jim Kelly (Yamba) Bob Thomas (Gordon)

 

Coaching Beginnings

I first started when I went to grade in 1968 going down before cricket started at Chatswood Oval for the Saturday Morning Coaching Classes run by Clyde Coltman and from then on it remained a passion for the next 40 years. I remained on the committee at West Pymble and coached their U/16’s and then Brian Taber suggested I sit for my level 1 Coaching Certificate.

After finishing Art School in 1972 I took up a Teachers College Scholarship at Sydney Teachers College majoring in Art and Health Education.

I went and saw Brian Booth the Head of PE and he suggested I take cricket in second semester. I turned up for the 1st class and sat in the front row. Brian spoke about what we were going to do and then said this half goes with me and the other half go with Graham pointing to me. He had not said a word so I think Brian Taber and him got together and my coaching journey was off and running.

My first appointment was Dubbo South High School in 1974 and thought bush cricket would be pretty easy after taking 6/38 on the Sunday before school started.

The long haired art teacher was in for a rude awakening as there were State Players Peter Leslie, Col Blackman, Dave Martin and Country reps Tony Corcoran, Tim Marshall, Ian Drake and Lloyd Keir plus local talent such as Bob Stroud, John Armati, Alan Mann, Warren Boyd, Bob Waters, Les Ritchie, Keith Sparkes, Barry Cant, Glen Roff, and up and coming youngsters in Jeff Graham, John Watts, David Tink, Wayne Munro, Ian McGee, Steve Wheeler and Michael Kempston

South High had a 1st grade team in the Whitney Cup and were blessed with a number of left- handers who went on to play 1st grade Rugby League in Sydney Jim See (Cronulla), Martin Meredith (Manly) and Billy Noke (St George) as well Mark Ferguson ,Grant Stevens and Marty Gordon who were pretty handy cricketers.

DSHS Western Region reps 1974 Jeff Graham, Steve Wheeler, Mark Ferguson, Wayne Munro and Jim See

In 1975 I was appointed Western Region Cricket Convenor and we played Riverina at Griffith which was highlighted by 4 outstanding players for Riverina, Geoff Lawson 5/37, Ian Merritt 136 and for Western Ross Williams 5/48 and Daryl Rosser 106.

That was the start of my relationship with NSW CHS Cricket which I was involved in a number of different roles as Coach/Manager/Selector 1976- 1997 and Carnival Organiser on 5 occasions hosting the 1st ever one in Forbes in 1978.

I was then transferred to Maclean High in 1981 and played cricket in Lismore for Norths until 1985 where I represented Lismore City/North Coast and Combined North Coast which included a Tooheys Cup at Oakes Oval vs Tweed.

After starting at Maclean I received an offer to play in the Bassetlaw league from Allan Kettleborough father of international Umpire Richard and played over 90 games there in 3 months and game back to Gordon for another season as was appointed Secretary.

Back to the North Coast in Lismore in 1983 I moved back to Yamba and became involved coaching again with the National Cricket Coaching Camps in Armidale organized by Brian Taber.

Brian suggested I apply for the Level 3 Course so I headed to Brisbane Grammar in 1988 with Mike Whitney, Andrew Zesers, Stan Gilchrist and Phil Kelleard which was a magic week full of cricket knowledge, good humour and a few beers.

In the 80’ and 90’s I was involved as Regional Director of Coaching for 12 years then North Coast Zone Coaching coordinator for 5 and after that it was off to coach the Gold Coast Dolphins for 3 seasons from 1997 until 2000. Had a year with the TSS 1st X1 after that.

Max Shepherd and I also ran the Level 2 courses in the Regional areas which were highly successful. I remember one player who I had bowled to in Dubbo came up to me after the course shook my hand and gave me a hug and said “that was the best week of my life - don’t tell my wife”

Anyway enough of this rambling so being a photographer the best examples are portrayed with images from the past and will finish off with a few stories and suggestions.

NSW Schoolboys vs Victoria in Melbourne 1988

Back - Greg Hayne, Simon Taufel , Adam Smith , Warwick Adlam, John Davison, Paul Clark

front - Darren Holley, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Slater (C) Jason Young, Tim Frazer Darren Quint

NSW Media vs QLD Media 1987 at the Gabba

Sheffield Squirrels 1987 Tour of Norfolk featuring 4 Gordon players

Top left Graham Mackie, top right Michael Falk, Bottom left Phil Emery, bottom right Jim Cameron

NSW CHS 1st X1 1990

Back Row - Graham Errington (Manager) Brendan Shoebridge, Robert Luc,Glenn Fenton ,Graham Mackie (Coach) Andrew Grant,Andrew Prince, Craig Glassock, Ron Blok (Scorer)

Front Row - Simon Neich, Robert Woods, Shane Lee (VC) Matthew Phelps (C) Jon Howard, Mark Stimson

North Coast Zone Under 17 Carnival Dubbo 1988

The Australian Cricket Society Sydney X1 vs Victoria 1980

Hong Kong CC Australian Tour 1990 featuring England players Matthew Maynard and Bill Athey

Cricket Hero

Worshipped Gary Sobers and even got his special boots made up in Adelaide - also Alan Davidson

 

Favourite Grounds

Chatswood Oval, Victoria Park No 2 Dubbo, Clumber Park, Manly Oval BBQ with 3 mates - Bob Thomas, Michael Falk and John Dedman and I reckon Ian Packman, Tiddles Wilson and Jim Cameron would gate crash it without bringing any beer

 

Commentators

John Arlott, Alan McGilray and my old mate Jim Maxwell

 

Banter and Exchange

Plenty of those

Firstly playing against Ian Botham in 1978 in Melbourne. He was out here on a Whitbread scholarship and he bowled off about 28 steps and took 7/29 with our opening batsman Laurie Blackman carrying his bat.

Paul Stephenson (Yorkshire) was also playing and when I came on to bowl 1st change (I hated that ) after Col Fletcher and Allan Poole, Botham was batting - first ball he defended, 2nd ball went for 6 over cover, next a short ball he hooked for 4 and he walked down the wicket and said “too fooooking slow laddie” - next ball I delivered nearly took his ear off and I walked down the wicket and said “too fooooking slow lad “ - next ball caught at mid-off by Captain Graham Reed so I clapped Mr Botham off the ground - he got in his little red hire car and drove off.

Second one playing for Dubbo City against Wellington at Pioneer Oval in 1978 we had them a couple down when the next batsman came to the crease wearing a white Motor Cycle Helmet, I walked down the wicket and stood next to him and said “have you run out of petrol “

He was a Western Division Rugby league player (whose name escapes me) so first ball I bowled a beamer which hit the helmet and went for 4 leg byes - game on!

By this time the esky and singlet crowd had arrived so it all started to get a bit heated. After dismissing them we nearly need an escort to get off the ground - I certainly did anyway

The rest of the team drove back to Dubbo I went to Wellington Rugby Club, walked to the bar and bought 2 beer. One I handed it to White Helmet and said thanks for the game - he shook my hand.

Lastly a game for Bickley Park 3rd X1 which comprised the opening bat aged 56 (the man with no back lift) the opening bowler 54 (the man with no run up), Chris Sheerin (Captain Magic/Tragic), myself and 7 under 14/16’s

We batted first and scored a paltry 72 - they were cruising at 1 for 30 and I thought something need to change. The man with no run up took a wicket and in came “man mountain” - looks like the game is all over - bowled 3 balls to him and he did not lay bat on ball - so I went to the non-striker borrowed his bat and took it down to the other batsman and said here tape these two together and you might have a chance of hitting the bloody ball - bowled him the next ball took a hat trick and 7 for 29 and they were all out 54… game over

The opposition ran onto the field and all congratulated me as did the umpire who bought me the first pint and after a few more the ump drove me back to Bickley Park for a couple of pints with the lads.

Most embarrassing moment

My First Grade debut vs Sutherland at Chatswood. The phone rang at 7.30 Saturday morning which Dad answered. He said “there is a Mr Guy wanting to talk to you. Dick said you are playing 1st grade and be at Chatswood and hung up.

Dad turned around and said you only just got home (5.30am) get back to bed and I will wake you in a few hours.

Arriving at the ground I walked into the dressing room (no you can’t put your bag there). I had another cold shower while Dick went out to toss which he won and batted - so luckily I just sat there clapping while Ian Davis (170) and Jim Cattlin (88) took the score to 260 without loss.

In reply I took no wickets with John Dyson scoring 72 not out before rain stopped play

 

Umpires

I had the privilege to know quite a lot of very capable and enthusiastic officials who I encountered when playing and coaching.

Jack Hughes who umpired at Killara when I had 49 wickets. He gave me an LBW which would not have rated on DRS and then shook my hand and said congratulations.

Arthur Watson the Umpires Umpire. Over 800 grade games and many overseas tours, he’s a cricket tragic. Came on tour with ACS to NZ in 1978.

Bernie Armour - Umpired a lot of ACS games, a great character.

Tom Brooks - a legend of the game.

Bede Morton from Dubbo, my nemeses as I had him in Grade, Inter District and Far West. I had a batsman plumb which he gave not out. The next ball I cartwheeled the leg stump and I walked up to him without appealing and said “that was pretty close”

John Wealy Dubbo knew the rules backward and loved umpiring InterDistrict.

Harold Crozier, John McMahon and Stan Jenkins from Lismore were all cricket tragics and very astute umpires.

Jim Cameron after being suspended he took up umpiring and went to State level

Darren Goodger from Grafton had a passion for the game and moved to Sydney where his career has gone to another level.

Simon Taufel -member of the 1990 NSW Schoolboys who excelled at an International level.

Bruce Oxenford - Dolphins 1st grade leg spinner who has progressed up the ranks to become an International Umpire.

 John Hampshire Yorkshire and England - International Umpire who came and stayed with me a few times in Yamba.

Richard Kettleborough was 9 when I lived with them in Dinnington in 1981. He played for Yorkshire and Middlesex before becoming the No 1 Umpire for the ICC

Final Years of Coaching

Craig McDermott was President of the Gold Coast Dolphins in 1997 so I applied for the job of Head Coach and got it while still North Coast Zone Coach and connected with NSW Cricket

The club had some great players with Andrew Symonds, Matthew Mott, Scott Muller, Ian Redpath, Bruce Oxenford, Jeff Pffaf and a host of young players such as Chris Swan, Andrew Robinson, Damian Wallis, Chris Kaddatz Adam Daniels and David McIntosh plus a brilliant home ground at Kerrydale.

As well as coach I became Chairman of Selectors, Committee member and delegate to the QCA which was probably too big a workload but had great support from Greg Kaddatz, Warwick Gonzo Glaves ,Don Whittle and Tony Matthews.

In 1997/8 we won the Under 18 premiership and one member of that team Adam Daniels is now the new President of the Gold Coast DCC

Coaches

Coaches who have helped and influenced me.

Brian Taber, Brian Booth, Bob Simpson and Steve Rixon have been guiding lights.

Max Shepherd and Alan Campbell were instrumental in furthering my career with the Country Boys Coaching Class, the Armidale and Bradman Camps plus Level 1’s and 2’s in Regional NSW.

Ross Turner who helped supply NSW Coaches when I started as Coach of the North Coast Academy of Sport at Lake Ainsworth in 1990 to 1994 - Mark Taylor ,Brett Williams, Mark O’Neill, Wayne Holdsworth ,Phil Alley to name a few.

Old stagers Warren Smith and Keith Wyatt still maintain great enthusiasm.

Invincible Sam Loxton and I became great mates on the Gold Coast and he came to Yamba a number of times to enthrall the audiences with his great knowledge of the game

The last few years before Covid I have been involved with the Baggy Blues. A great concept following on from the guidelines of the old Tooheys Cup but now centred on promoting the game in the bush and bring to the fore the problems of mental health - Phil Emery, Steve Rixon, Phil Marks, Len Pascoe, Shane Lee, Steve Small and Gavin Robertson who gives great insight into the problems facing everyone today - his speech is just brilliant and hits home to all that listen.

Baggy Blues at Murwillumbah 2016

NSW Team at Paradise Springs Gold Coast 1998

In 2003 I bought a property on the junction of the Mann and Clarence Rivers 80kms west of Grafton and was going to set up my own private cricket ground with a turf wicket, picket fence and pavilion where I would host matches and conduct coaching classes with everyone staying in tents and cooking outside with camp ovens and barbecues - a sort of Outward Bounds of Cricket with wild water kayaking thrown in.

That was not to be when I played 4 games in 7 days at a Golden Oldies carnival at the Sunshine Coast and the body self-destructed in 2004.

I have turned it in to an Artist Retreat, Studio and Gallery and is a haven for campers, bass fishermen and broken down cricketers.

Micheal Falk and Bob Wellham are regulars along with Brad Bannister, Ian Packman, Ben and Craig McDermott, Phil Emery, Sam Loxton, Kevin Styles and Trevor Chappell who have made guest appearances.

After painting Mike Whitney for the Archibald in 1982 I have painted Craig McDermott 1996 and Sam Loxton 2006 but all have been rejected.

Recent book launch at Runaway Bay 2021 with Martin Rogers and his biography on Sam Loxton “Invincible” and my Archibald portrait of Sam from 2006

With Scott Muller and Bruce Oxenford

 

Suggestions

A couple of suggestions to improve the game. I just wonder how many of those chosen in NSW Cricket hierarchy actually read and take on board these improvements.

• Test cricket - have ALL 4 umpires go onto the field and rotate every session. It’d take a lot of pressure off and involves them all in the atmosphere and feeling for the game.
• Numbers - more Americanisation of our game. Iif they are going to have them, number them in batting order\
• Water carriers coming onto the field at every break in play. Umpires should send them off
• Shield Cricket and 2nd Xi - bring it back to its rightful place in the calendar and have all contracted players go back to where they started Grade and Premier Cricket
• Veterans Cricket - finally got rid of the ugly “Golden Oldies” tag and playing in decades. I have just been to over 65’s in Armidale and the 70’s in Port Macquarie where it was great catching up cricketers you have played with or against - I nicknamed it “Cricket in slow motion “or “wheelchair cricket “ - great to see so many people playing and still enthusiastic
• Coaching Courses - make them more relevant without the apps and computers - more practical
• Grants needed to upgrade to more 1st grade grounds (Local/NSW/Federal) such as Drummoyne, Nth Sydney, Bansktown, Oakes Oval Lismore and Victoria Park 1, 2 and 3 in Dubbo
• ONLY the BOWLER is allowed to polish the BALL - would save a lot of hassle
• Players should learn to adapt and play every format if they have the ability

 

“As long as everyone is playing Cricket we should ALL be happy” - Jim Maxwell Maclean 2016

“Don’t ever forget History “- Sam Loxton Yamba 2007

In 2019 NSWCHS finally came to the Clarence Valley with matches played at Grafton, Harwood and Yamba. I was the ground manager at Yamba and the guest Speaker at the Managers Dinner in Grafton so that’s me done after being involved for over 30 years.

Some great memories, great games, great team mates and friends for life.

 

Better finish off with the story of Dan Frogan.

In 1978 I was playing for Dubbo Kangaroos at Goolma Rugby Park. I was sent from the field after 10 mins play so the Referee said “what’s your name?“ I replied “Dan Frogan” and so Dan was suspended for 2 weeks and I kept playing - so the legend was born - just google him -it’s been a lot of fun.

Thanks everyone for being part of my cricket Journey from Lofberg Oval to the “Lost World” out here at Coombadjha - if any “Old Cricketer” is passing by call in for a beer and sit around the campfire reminiscing how good we used to be

it’s now time to feed my Wagyu cows and paint a picture to win the Archibald.

 

Train hard, play hard and bowl at the stumps

www.graham-mackie-artist.com