Penrith Cricket Club Pre Season Training August 1980

Steve Frances | January 23, 2024

Preseason training was usually not memorable, but in August 1980, it was photographed by the local paper. Perhaps the Rugby League Panthers were training at the park next door. During this time, Gary “Kid” Donlan was a local celebrity, appearing each week on local radio. The club was also expecting former test players, Ian Davis and Kerry O’Keeffe to play in the upcoming season (A History of Cricket at Penrith, Bill Ball, 2014). 

A lap around Howell. Frome left Greg Jamieson, Stu Green (obscured), Graham Pitty, (Unknown), Steve Small, Peter Savage (RIP), Ron Halse, Mike Gibson (the only Panther cricketer to play for the Socceroos’), Ken Hall, Gary Donlan (RIP), Les Andrews and Steve Frances.

 

Warming up with a game of touch football: From Left, Tim Sullivan, Doug Hardcastle, Greg Jamieson (with ball), Ken Hall, Stuart Green, Ron Halse, Graham Pitty, Gary Donlan RIP (the only player wearing the club training shirt), Steve Frances.

This photo is looking west at Howell Oval. In the subsequent years the Penrith Leagues Club has been built on the vacant land shown.