Old Mentonians Cricket Club

e, and a succession of premierships was won. Indeed, this was the first Golden Age in the Club’s history. In 1978, a year after the move to the new Keysborough playing fields in Springvale Road, we transferred our First and Second XIs to what was then known as the Victorian Junior Cricket Association (VJCA). The VJCA later became the VTCA (Victorian Turf Cricket Association). This heralded the second Golden Age. Between 1978 and 1985, the Club won four VJCA premierships and this culminated in promotion to the VJCA’s Senior Division, where we remained until the 1999-2000 season. In 1992, we also transferred our Third and Fourth XIs to the VTCA. Unfortunately, the first few years of the 21st Century saw the Club in a gradual decline. Indeed, by the 2003-04 season, the Club was fielding only two teams, in the VTCA’s South A1 and South A2 grades. The following season the First and Second XIs were relegated to the South B1 and B2 grades, respectively. However, this marked a resurgence in the Club’s fortunes as the Second XI won that season’s South B2 Premiership and the newly formed Third XI was runner-up in the City of Moorabbin Cricket Association’s (CMCA) One-day grade. The Club took another step forward in the 2005-06 season when the First XI won the VTCA South B1 Premiership thereby breaking a drought of 21 years since the previous First XI premiership. The Club now fields four teams, two playing in the VTCA competition, another in the CMCA and the fourth in the Southern Districts Churches Cricket League (SDCCL).

2007/2008 saw the appointment of Darryl Stevens & John Seeary to Coach and Captain respectively, after a disappointing 2006/2007 a culture of winning and success was brought about through Hard work and commitment from the playing group and club administrators. Appearances in the finals series for seasons 07/08, 08/09 saw great improvement develop within the club, along with a 2nd XI GF match in 08/09 that will rival as one of the greatest games played within OMCC history V’s Parkdale CC, sadly no flags were to be had during this time.

2009/2010 proved to be the difference and resulted in 2 PREMIERSHIPS for the Club’s 1st XI and 2ND XI teams. The 1st XI fought hard all season and it all came together in the GF to provide the elusive 1st XI PREMIERSHIP flag, the toss was won by OMCC and the 1st XI never looked back, taking an advantage and never looking back. The 2nd XI side finished minor Premiers and were keen to make up for last year, the scene was set as Parkdale CC were to be the GF opposition second time running, this time however thanks to some outstanding individual efforts the OMCC was able to take the Flag from there opposition in another amazing game of cricket.