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Q: Who remembers the Gabba Cricket Camps when they were run by Lew Cooper at the Queensland Cricketers Club?
I thought I would touch on one of my most enjoyable childhood memories.
During the 90s, the time when the Queensland Bulls were firing, many young junior cricketers were lucky enough to attend these camps. I am fairly sure every member of the Bulls first Sheffield Shield side either coached at the camp or was a guest coach for the day.
Boys from all over Queensland and even Northern New South Wales would come together for a week and receive expert coaching. We played on specially made hessian mats out on the Gabba.
During the lunch breaks a 3-a-side competition was held and this was an opportunity for a junior, intermediate and senior player to compete for the prize of a Gabba bat.
At night, as boarders we would eat at the Cricketers Club, play squash, indoor cricket and indoor soccer and then sleep under the Sir Leslie Wilson stand. And what about the greyhound track - who can forget that. It was a great childhood. Many of my club teammates would attend. It was fun to be around other young cricketers who were all so enthusiastic. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a school like this – where you study select academic subjects of your choosing and cricket intertwined into the syllabus. I always loved my school holidays going off to the camps – I remember one year going to four cricket camps in a row during January.
Some of the coaches included: Alan Free, Brad Murphy, Peter Drinnen, Brendan Creevey, Michael Kasprowicz, Bob McGhee, Jimmy Maher, Alan Skuse, Scott Muller, Jeff Pfaff, Wade Secombe, Bob Joyce, Paul Pink, Matthew Mott, Joe Dawes and Richie Robinson.
Wouldn't it be fantastic to see a return to the 90s when life was a bit more care-free and less clinical and there was a return to the Gabba Cricket Camps. Did you attend a camp? Do you remember your coach?
Sheldon Stackpoole
11 months ago
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Q: Robert Bailey - Chiropractor, Cricket Tragic, The Fast Bowler
Some know Dr Robert Bailey through his 20 plus years of private practice as a Chiropractor in Brisbane’s inner west where he specialises on the management and rehabilitation of lumbar disc injuries.
Others know might know of Robert as a cricket volunteer with a ’take no prisoners’ approach that gets the job done and can always be counted on to ruffle a few feathers along the way.
But in his spare time Robert is engaged in PhD level research at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to find answers to the question of the best way to manage our future fast bowling stocks.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/268/sheldon-stackpoole/blog/1434/robert-bailey-chiropractor-cricket-tragic-the-fast-bowler
Sheldon Stackpoole
last year
blog post
Some know Dr Robert Bailey through his 20 plus years of private practice as a Chiropractor in Brisbane’s inner west where he specialises on the management and rehabilitation of lumbar disc injuri ...
Sheldon Stackpoole
last year
question
Q: Brendan Creevey was a fast bowler who made his first class debut for Queensland in the 1996/97 taking 31 wickets at an average of 30 in 12 games. His best figures for the Bulls was 6 for 70 and his top score with the bat was 52.
He also played 31 one day games for Queensland.
There are some great messages embedded in Brendan’s tale and we appreciate him taking the time to share his journey.
It is true. I was playing indoor cricket in my brother’s team weekly but I did play school cricket through high school. That was my only exposure to Outdoor Cricket. When I joined the workforce I travelled around a bit and being part of an outdoor cricket team involved more of a commitment, so I didn’t really get involved.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/268/sheldon-stackpoole/blog/1416/brendan-creevey-a-different-pathway-to-become-a-bull
Sheldon Stackpoole
last year
blog post
Brendan Creevey was a fast bowler who made his first class debut for Queensland in the 1996/97 taking 31 wickets at an average of 30 in 12 games. His best figures for the Bulls was 6 for 70 and his ...
Sheldon Stackpoole
last year
question
Q: My granddad has a unique place in cricket history. Jack Stackpoole was born in a Cobb and Co coach, in Jundah, QLD to the daughter of a bookkeeper and a jackeroo from Milo Station - one of Queensland's largest sheep stations.
Growing up, while his Dad searched for itinerant work, Jack spent time in Port Lincoln and the Adelaide Hills.
Jack eventually found his way back to Queensland and played first grade cricket for Toombul as a pace bowler. His three games for Queensland may have amounted to little if it wasn't for “that ball”.
In January 1940, playing for Queensland against South Australia, Jack found himself at the top of his long run, as Don Bradman strode to the crease! Without a doubt, even the most devoted Queensland supporter at the Gabba that day, was there to see the 31-year-old phenomenon score an inevitable century, belting Queensland bowlers to all parts of the ground.
Jack gathered himself, the bloke taking strike had already amassed a record 452 not out against Queensland. “Here goes” he thought and began his run to the wicket. Jack thundered in, leapt and served up the best full ball he could muster. In slow motion, he watched as The Don surprisingly misqueued the ball in the air straight to short mid-wicket. OUT! A golden duck for the legend! One of only two in his celebrated first-class career.
The spectators booed as Bradman left the field. Ever the humble man, my granddad Jack, went back to the top of his mark, and readied himself for the next batsman. He went on to take 6-72.
Not long after, Jack departed for Milne Bay to take on the Japanese in World War 2.
Sheldon Stackpoole
last year
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Q: The Gabba - Australia v West Indies Tied Test in 1960
As my dad rummaged through his study recently, we came across the scorebook he maintained as a young 14-year old. As a cricket tragic you could imagine my surprise and delight to find one of the games in the scorebook was the tied test match between Australia and the West Indies at the Gabba in 1960-61.
Dads dad, my grandad, Jack Stackpoole was on the executive for Toombul Cricket Club and he had received passes to the game. Dad, John Stackpoole sat in the delegate’s area next to the Queensland Cricketers' Club, a fine vantage point at the Gabba and watched the game diligently - taking score each over. Here’s a replica of dad’s scorecards:
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/268/sheldon-stackpoole/blog/1121/the-gabba-australia-v-west-indies-tied-test-in-1960
Sheldon Stackpoole
last year
blog post
As my dad rummaged through his study recently, we came across the scorebook he maintained as a young 14-year old. As a cricket tragic you could imagine my surprise and delight to find one of the ga ...
Sheldon Stackpoole
last year
