From little things, big things grow.
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A note at the bottom of the cricket column from the Shepparton News on August 6, 1928 started the ball rolling.
‘‘Definite announcement was made at the cricket social concerning the proposed High School eleven next season. Mr AG Daws is practically certain of rounding up a good team.’’
So the story goes, Daws was an active member of Shepparton High School’s Old Students Association, formed during World War I to help out the school and the wider community.
As well as fundraising, the association also began to enter teams in sports competitions under the banner of Old Students.
Cricket, tennis, table tennis and basketball was played — there was even a women’s hockey team that competed until the 1970s.
However, we are talking cricket.
The little note at the bottom of the August 6 cricket column confirmed the rumours — Shepparton High School would be entering a first XI cricket side for the 1928-29 season.
The side was again mentioned in the paper as the Shepparton High School ex-students before finally being admitted into the Shepparton District Cricket Association on September 20, 1928 under the name of Old Students.
From this humble start, Old Students went on to an equally humble debut, playing its first match against Shepparton A on October 6 1928 in the Shepparton District Cricket Association Saturday competition.
The seasoned Shepparton A side had no trouble defeating the new upstarts with a 62-run victory in the first innings.
Nevertheless, cricketing history was made with appearance of a certain Bert Lightfoot, George Moon and Alan Daws among the first XI list.
During the next few years, Old Students gained strength until they got their revenge — beating Shepparton A to win their first premiership in 1935.
Captain Bob Coulstock bowled all day backed up by Old Students’ first ever century maker George Moon.
Old Students had finally made the A-grade.
More than 90 cricket seasons later, Old Students are still playing the game at A-grade level.
Club president Vince Gagliardi, who played 25 seasons with Old Students, believed the longevity has a lot to do with pride and passion.
‘‘I still find a lot of members are passionate and proud of the club. We’ve always stuck it out — it’s a proud club,’’ Gagliardi said.
‘‘We’ve never merged and we’ve managed to stay in A-grade.’’
Unsurprisingly with nearly a century of history, there have been ups and downs, winning streaks and lean times — including a 40-year Haisman Shield premiership drought broken just two years ago when captain Luke McPhillamy took his team to a sensational victory against Katandra at Deakin Reserve.
The McPhillamy name is one of many that burn bright among an illustrious list of Old Students legends.
‘‘Mr Cricket’’ Bert Lightfoot, all-rounder Norm McCarthur, spin bowler Ian McCarten and Legends of Cricket Shepparton Dave Shaw and Clyde Young are just some of the names who loom large in Old Students’ long history.
Present captain McPhillamy’s grandparents Jack and Polly were long-time club stalwarts, with Polly being the first listed life member and only female life member.
Luke’s father John ‘‘Boofa’’ McPhillamy starred in the Students’ premiership in 1977 and won Old Students’ first Lightfoot Medal.
Undoubtedly these are some of the names that will be bandied around when the club celebrates 90 seasons of cricket with a shindig at The Woolshed tomorrow night.
Gagliardi said there would be about 80 past and present members attending.
‘‘It’s going to be a great chance to reminisce. There are people coming from all over the place, including some surprises,’’ he said.
There will be on-stage talks and filmed interviews with past and present players.
And of course, there will be enough yarns to fill several books.
Because let’s face it — what is country cricket without the yarns?
Old Students legend Clyde Young, who played for 29 seasons between 1950 and 1978, will not attend due to ill-health.
However, he has filmed an interview and perhaps a couple of yarns might just spill out.
Such as the time when 1970s Old Students heyday captain Shaw left the field at Chapman Oval feigning an explosive bout of diarrhoea.
The story goes Shaw then sped off to the races to see his mare Gay Manners win at Echuca, then zipped back to Shepparton and resumed the game — much to the surprise of his teammates and the umpires.
Young said this exploit was kept secret for years until it was finally revealed at a club reunion about 15 years ago.
John McPhillamy has another classic Shaw moment up his sleeve.
‘‘We were up against Shepparton Youth Club in the grand final at Deakin when a shadow came across the wicket about 5.30pm,’’ McPhillamy said.
‘‘We had two wickets to get after losing the first innings, but the umpires called it off.
‘‘Shaw told us to stay put — so we sat out there waiting. The umpires walked up the Harold St end, the crowd went home, but Shaw told us to get in the centre and stay put.’’
Shaw’s stubbornness paid off.
When the light returned, play resumed and Old Students claimed their wickets and won the match outright.
Among its packed annals of 90 cricket seasons, Old Students will have countless other snatched victories, sore losses, sledging shenanigans and sly tactics to remember.
Many will undoubtedly be revealed tomorrow night.
Old Students’ celebration of 90 cricketing seasons starts at 7.30pm at The Woolshed, Kialla. Tickets are $60, which includes entertainment and a two-course meal. More information from Vince Gagliardi on 0402860322.
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