DDCA: Parkdale makes pitch to join

By ROY WARD

PARKDALE Cricket Club has applied to enter the Dandenong District Cricket Association next season.

The DDCA executive is expected to consider the application at its next meeting on June 12.

Parkdale president James Seeary is hopeful his club and its four senior sides will get a favourable outcome but know the decision now rests with DDCA clubs. 

“It’s a pretty big change for the club. I think the only move made previously was when the old Federal competition was rolled into the Victorian Turf Cricket Association,” he said.

Seeary said the club had looked at moving out of the VTCA after an increase of costs to play in the competition next season, especially pertaining to higher affiliation fees and demands to buy new covers.

“Our players don’t agree with some of the structural parts of the VTCA, so we looked at the DDCA and met with people from the association and were suitably impressed.

“It will mean slightly more travel because in the VTCA we play against teams like Mentone and Dingley who are just down the road from us.”

The Parkdale Junior Cricket Club will not be making the move with the senior club as the juniors play in a very localised competition and are believed to be happy in their current situation.

Parkdale senior sides are expected to continue playing their home games at Jerry Green Reserve, Parkdale and at the Parkdale Secondary College.

Parkdale officials are yet to decide which divisions their lower sides will play in. The top team is likely to be entered into the DDCA turf 2 competition.