Veterans Cricket is all about community.
It provides men with an opportunity to stay healthy, forge friendships and still be involved in the competitive nature that all sportsmen crave.
That’s why the new partnership between the Endeavour Hills Cricket Club and Casey Veterans is a “good marriage” for men 60 years and over in the south-east.
The new team – which will begin playing in early October – will be known as Casey Veterans-Endeavour Hills.
Jay Stent – who is the current president of the Endeavour Hills Cricket Club – will put on the gear this year with the Veterans team, and is of the strong belief that it will only grow his club.
“I think from a personal view, it’s very selfish of me – I’ll go from being the oldest guy in the team to the youngest guy, so I’ll have to probably do the 12th man duties,” he joked.
“From a club perspective, we’re a sub-district club and it’s a really good level – we’ll never compete with the Caulfields or Brightons, but to compete with the middle tier we need to build a stronger base, and the Vets coming over will help to develop that.
“Our facilities are second to none, there wouldn’t be too many clubs in Victoria with the facilities we have.”
But that community aspect – according to Stent – plays a huge role in the lives of men, and hopes that it will provide a positive outlet and safe environment for others in the community.
“I think Veterans Cricket has a really strong role in community – I can nail into a bit of wood, but I don’t want to spend ten hours a week at the Men’s Shed – I think Men’s Sheds are fantastic, and they serve a purpose, and I think cricket is the same thing,” he said.
“We can get together, play the game that we love, and have a bit of fun – I still believe there’s going to be some competiveness in there, which is good, so from that point of view it’s fantastic.
“Men’s health is always on the news, and I think a big part of that is men getting together and sharing stories, and giving each other crap. Men need a reason to do things, and they need a catalyst to build relationships.
“Veterans Cricket allows men to come together and chat, and talk about the things that hit us and what will hit us.
“To bring Casey to Endeavour Hills is maybe the first step into building Veterans Cricket in the City of Casey and Cardinia.”
Rob Wilson, a local cricket identity who has built the Casey Veterans, said the new relationship made sense, and explained the role cricket has on the lives of the men that are involved.
“Our boys were quite unanimous about going to Endeavour Hills – it’s been good, and we’ve started off on a good note. It just so happened that Jay (Stent) made enquiries about playing Over 60s cricket, and I didn’t even know he was president, so it sort of just opened up from there,” he said.
“Our guys at our age, if we can get a game on a turf wicket, it’s just cricket heaven – we weren’t going to get that Narre North, and we are certainly looking forward to our partnership with Endeavour Hills.
“Cricketers never lose their pride in what they can do, the graph is on the downward slope, but we still take pride in what we do, running, throwing, batting, bowling. You play for pride, but you still want to win the game.
“The camaraderie on and off the ground is something you have to experience to know how good it is.”
If anyone would like to get involved in the Casey Veterans – Endeavour Hills team, they can contact Jay Stent on 0417 593 157 or Rob Wilson on 0409 979 065
