Why I Love Latrobe

by Nathan Dennis

People that don't know much about our club will often say that "Latrobe is just a glorified MVCA club - you don't care enough".  This statement couldn't be more wrong.  This article is a reflection of my love for a club that has helped to shape me as a person and given me purpose in my life.

I started playing cricket competitively in 1993 in the Latrobe 7/8 Cricket Roster, organised by Bob Dickson.  I had been going pretty well with the new ball and 3rd Grade Captain at the time, Peter Bonney, father of my team-mate Luke, invited me down to training and gave me a few games in the 3rd Grade team that year.  At the time I lived closer to Sheffield and was going to play there, but the fact that someone had shown some interest in me sealed the deal, I was going to be a Latrobe Demon. 

I was given the opportunity to rise through the ranks as a fast bowler, receiving great advice from legends like Grant Astell, Peter Bonney, Gary Spillane and Kevin Pearce, eventually getting an A-Grade game.  I had gone from being a raw teenager with not much idea of where the ball was landing to an A-Grade cricketer.  As a quiet teenager known as "Rowdy" I never had to ask for help, it was just always given. 

Times got tough just as I felt I was entering my prime.  I had just bowled my best ever A-Grade spell in a Kookaburra Cup game in Hobart on the weekend, hurrying up Tasmanian Squad members and getting my rhythm back.  Three days later I was in hospital fighting for my life and looking like I would lose an arm.

Many of my friends found it difficult to come in and see me in hospital as my injuries were quite horrific.  My first visitors outside of family were four representatives of Latrobe Cricket Club: Grant Astell, Darren Nicolle, Paul Dickson and Steven Adkins.  Not once did they say anything negative or even look overwhelmed, despite the fact I was swollen up to twice my size and with a limp, mangled arm.  They talked to me about cricket and other things in general and left me feeling great.  All of my other visitors had really struggled seeing my like that.  I will never forget the composure they showed.  How can people say that Latrobe people don't care?

After a few months in hospital I was able (after bribing all my doctors) to attend the club's Annual Dinner, still with a paralysed arm and being quite ill.  To my surprise I had won the A-Reserve Bowling Award, despite only playing half a season.  The people in attendance gave me a standing ovation when I received my award, and I still choke back tears thinking about it now.  I wasn't sure if I'd ever play cricket again, so that award and the response meant a lot to me.  Do you still think Latrobe people don't care?

At the end of that year I was missing cricket a bit and my brother was playing at Latrobe, so I came down to training.  I was still wearing a sling as my arm was weak and I was told that I would never be able to move it much, but I was sending a few balls down to batters in the nets.  Third Grade Captain at the time (and former LCC Coach) Stewart Ashdown said to me that if I could get out of my sling I'd be able to play 3rd Grade.  Well, this one statement gave me the greatest impetus I could ever have had in my rehabilitation, working twice as hard, and true to his word, when I got out of my sling he gave me a game in 3rd Grade.  He didn't have to do this, as I could really only bowl half rat-power, struggled in the field and couldn't bat, but he did.  In true fairytale style we won the 3rd Grade Premiership that year and I was on a real high.  Stewart didn't have to give me a game, but in true Demon style, we love a battler.

The cricket bug was now back with me.  I continued to work really hard, making my way back into A-Reserve and taking the new ball once again.  In Season 2002-2003, coach David Squibb approached me and said I'd be playing in A-Grade against Burnie-Yeoman and you could have knocked me over with a feather.  I was a player with only one good arm, but he gave me a go and I took wickets in the games I played that season.  He didn't have to do this, it was a risk, but I defy anyone to say that this could happen at another club.

I owe a lot to this club.  I have tried to give something back by taking on coaching roles, enjoying this immensely.  The mateship that is around our club, the willingness to give battlers a go and people going out of their way to help you through tough times; I haven't seen that in any of the other sporting organisations I have been involved with.  Through accidents, injuries and depression the Latrobe Cricket Club has been there for me, and I love the club.  So the next time someone says or even thinks people at Latrobe don't care, I'll give them a copy of this story, as if you knew the club as I do, there couldn't be anything further from the truth.

RIP Coley and Harry

With the development of this new website it is apt that we remember two of our fallen comrades from recent years, Stephen Cole and Grant Harris.  Both made a significant contribution to our club and their sudden passing was difficult to handle - yet the way they lived their lives was a great inspiration to many.

Stephen Cole was a young man who loved his cricket, but struggled a lot with most skills in his early days.  However, he was very keen to learn, and was fortunate enough to get a lot of good coaching from Colin Lamont and others at the club as he was developing.  Year by year Coley improved and was the opening bowler for 3rd Grade for several years, winning the bowling average on one occasion.  He then moved up to A-Reserve and was a valuable new-ball bowler there, bowling nice outswingers on a good line and length.  He loved his cricket and was a fierce competitor.  It was fitting that in the year before his death Stephen would get to play an A-Grade game for Latrobe and fulfil his cricketing dream.  His sudden passing from a heart condition was all the more devastating due to the fact he had just been engaged and was expecting his first child with his partner.  Stephen Cole has been immortalised at our club with an award that is presented at our Annual Dinner each year.  You are deeply missed "Coley".

Grant Harris was an amazing person.  He overcame cancer twice and was a committed North-Melbourne supporter and lover of sport.  At our club he was 3rd Grade captain during the 90's and guided our teams to Grand Finals.  He was a determined right handed batsman and right arm off spin bowler, whose great promotion of young players stood the club in good stead for many years.  He was so intent on winning one Grand Final that he could not speak to his players after the game, he cared so much about the club and wanted success so badly.  Unfortunately "Harry" could not beat cancer a third time, his immune system had fought so hard for so many years that it didn't have much fight left.  He got a final chance to lead Latrobe out onto the field in a 3rd Grade game and played a hand in a great Demon victory, before he finally succumbed to the disease that had plagued him throughout his adult life.  Grant was a great man, will never be forgotten, and is immortalised with an award that is presented at our Annual Dinner each year.  What a legend.