By ROY WARD
DANDENONG District Cricket Association will enter the winter with a pep in its step after securing a six-figure sponsorship deal from Kookaburra.
DDCA president Michael Hawking announced at the association’s presentation evening last night that the two parties had agreed on a five-year, $152,000 sponsorship deal.
The deal will be a combination of money and equipment which Hawking said would secure the association’s future entering the next half decade while also laying the platform the DDCA to seek out further sponsors.
‘‘This deal will mean a lot to our clubs because when we can attract sponsorships like this we can help reduce their costs,’’ Hawking said.
Kookaburra sponsorship manager Nathan Pilon said his company had agreed on such a deal because of the DDCA’s size and reputation.
‘‘After test match cricket grass roots cricket is our biggest customer,’’ he said.
‘‘So it makes sense to support growing competitions like the DDCA which are well run and continue to go from strength to strength.’’
Pilon also said the company’s location in Moorabbin also made sponsorship of a large, south-east Melbourne league attractive.
In his address to the presentation evening Hawking also urged DDCA clubs to continue grow their In2cricket programs which introduce young children to the game.
‘‘Junior cricket doesn’t start until under-11s and where do you get those players from?’’ Hawking said.
‘‘If you have an In2cricket program at your club you have 30 or 40 kids all playing cricket before under-11s.
‘‘Having those kids really adds to the longevity of your club, it gives you a future.’’
He said the majority of DDCA clubs had an In2cricket program although he urged clubs to put more time and effort into their programs.
‘‘There wouldn’t be many clubs who aren’t attempting to have one,’’ he said.
He also praised the efforts of former Doveton junior, now Australia Test fast bowler James Pattinson and former Buckley Ridges junior, now Victorian paceman Jayde Herrick for their achievements in elite cricket this past summer.
The DDCA and Cricket Victoria will host a junior cricket forum at Shepley Oval, Dandenong on April 18.
