the history of western suburbs district cricket club 1921-2002

-17-Early wickets prepared by Jack McAndrew Snr and John Norris were done with the assistance of a horsedrawn roller and shone like a new shilling. Death was the penalty for anyone playing on them in rubbersoled shoes. So keen was Jack McAndrew on his job, he would finish preparing the pitches at 11.00amon match day, return home to Goodna for lunch and then come back to the oval to seek a report fromthe players on how the pitch played. There were no covered pitches in those days.Keenness and love of the game continued throughout the years by the groundsmen who followed in theirsteps except with more modern day machinery. We acknowledge and thank these men whose effortsupheld our reputation - Jack McAndrew (Jnr), Bill Hodgson, Vic Wells, Matt Forster, Owen Driscoll andJohn Draney.The Graceville Oval has a rare place in the district’s history and Wests has been entrusted to uphold itstradition.COMMUNICATIONCommunication within the club was difficult after the war and as a consequence players were notified oftheir selection through the post. Selection meetings were held on Monday night and the teams wereposted out on Tuesday if possible. People having a telephone were as rare as hen’s teeth.Copy of Notification (O. Driscoll) - see next pagePractice was held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on the three turf practice wickets located in frontof the sight screen at the southern end of the grounds. It would commence when Geoff Cook got thereat about 3.00pm and any available schoolboys would bowl to him for no less than half an hour. On thearrival of other players he would then have his 15 minutes practice against them. Practice ceased whenyou couldn’t see anymore. Because of work commitments many players were unable to attend and asa consequence never touched a bat or ball from one Saturday to the next.Once a player became a financial member of the club he was given a small booklet showing where allgames were being played for the season. As most grounds charged for admission to their grandstandarea, this card entitled the bearer to free access.Like telephones, cars were just as scarce. Unless you had a mate who could give you a lift to the groundthe only method of getting there was “Shank’s Pony”. The club was considered in this area, theyprovided a timetable of trains departing and arriving at Graceville and Central as well as directions onhow to get to certain grounds.This really tested your love and keenness for the game. Would today’s players respond to the samechallenges?COUNTRY VISITSOver the years Wests were very active in promoting the game in country centres. As a result any goodtalent was invited to play with the club if ever they came to the city.Most clubs in those days cultivated certain areas.Wests hunting grounds were Ipswich, Beaudesert, the Lockyer District and the South Burnett.Tours to these centres provided the opportunity for young players to mix and learn from the club’sinterstate players as well as giving the selectors a view of their behaviour on and off the field.Many prominent players were netted through this initiative viz. Kev Laimer, Ric Mahoney, Alan Young,Len Johnson, Herb Zischke, Alec McIntosh, Nev Cumming, Geoff Gray, Richard Stayner, Don Bichel,Gary Jennings, Neville Brockie.Unfortunately, because of the schedule, tours of yesteryear are not now possible. It is a shame as itprovided a great social occasion as well as showing city players their opponents possess just as manyskills as they have.QCA COLTS TEAMThe Queensland Cricket Association fielded a “Colts” team in the A Grade competition comprisingplayers under 24 years of age who were not required by their club’s A Grade team.The team was coached by former A Grade players. Coaches engaged during this era were Morrie(Mossy) Guttormsen, Wal Walmsley, Mo Hansen, Jack McLaughlin and Brian Gaskell.The Colts team won the QCA A Grade premiership on three occasions. In 1949-50 and 1950-1 underWal Walmsley, Wests players in those teams were Jack McLaughlin, Keith Arthy, Cyril Jackson (49-50)and Barry Fisher and Geoff Hogarth (50-51).In 1965-6, the premiership was won again under the captaincy of Jack McLaughlin who at the time wasalso the Queensland coach. John Loxton and Peter Henley were the Wests players in that team.This was a great initiation for young players aspiring to higher honours.Each year interstate colts matches were played against New South Wales for the Syd Gregory Cup. Thismatch became a stepping stone for many players into the state and then international teams. ManyWests’ players careers can be traced through the annual summaries contained in this report.