Club History
Mackie’s original home ground was Bailey Reserve until 1963 when the club moved to it’s present site, Mackie Road Reserve. Stalwart President Tony Evans was the first junior player signed by the club in 1958, becoming club president for the first time in 1963 at the age of 18,and after 437 senior games and a prestigious award from The Victorian Cricket Association for services to cricket he remains resolute as the Helmsman at ‘the machine’. Tony captained the club’s first eleven to it’s first ‘A’ grade grand final only to be beaten by a meagre 16 runs. Tony’s two sons Stephen and Mathew both wore the Black and Gold with distinction.
John Park, affectionately known as ‘Jumbo’ not only proved to be the best bowler in the CMCA but has become president of the CMCA competition a position he has held since 1992. In true Mackie tradition John’s sons Dale and Craig are regular first eleven players, and wife Pam is the present Junior co-ordinator and served the club as Secretary for a number of years.
Alan (Arch) Barnes, was appointed the club’s first honorary coach in 1977/78 season at a time when teams in the CMCA were becoming more professional in payment to coaching staff and players alike. Arch continued in this role for nearly twenty years until he passed away in the late nineteen nineties. Alan’s son Murray together with grand sons Tim, Jarrod and Heath and son in law David all played for Mackie under his tuition, while wife Joan served on the social committee.
Mackie Cricket Club is located in the South East Suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and was formed in 1954 by a handful of men who resided in Tudor Street, South Oakleigh. The men, Stan Boyle, the club’s initial secretary, Ken Walker, Ted Pomeroy , Fred and Vic Graham, named the club after the adjoining road ‘Mackie’ unlike the stereotype at the time of teams named after suburbs.
To attract players to the fledgling club signs were posted on local street poles and bus stops together with a prominent notice in the window of the local newsagency. The club’s first president was Arthur Roberts with Fred Graham elected team captain.
Foundation member and first X1 Captain, Fred Graham,introduced his brother Vic, son Greg and nephew Phil to the club’s playing ranks, with Greg remaining involved as First XI team manager and scorer.
Another foundation member and former club president, Ken Walker, who represented Victoria in Australian Rules Football, not only continued working tirelessly for the club after his playing days also introduced his sons Peter and Tony to the club and for a decade the opening bowling partnership of Peter Walker and John Park forged a wave of terror amongst opposition batting line ups.
Although the club won it’s first premiership in ‘B’ grade in 1957/58, the machine had to wait until 1973/74 to taste success in ‘A’ grade (later to become the Longmuir Shield) under the leadership of Bruce ‘Golden Arm’ Aitken. The grand final against West Bentleigh will go down as one of the most controversial and firey encounters in the competitions history.
Despite remaining in the top grade ever since the machine had to wait until 1988/89 to hold the premiership aloft, this time led by Mark ‘Boof’ Rainey, who is currently on the executive of the association. Once again in the club’s family tradition sons Scott and James together with wife, Lyn and daughter Rebecca have all played for the mighty machine.
Bruce Haley, took over the roll as Honorary Senior Coach after a long stint as the club’s very successful junior coach and long playing career. Once again it should be noted that Bruce’s father Bernie was a former President and captain of one of the club’s senior sides before taking up a role as CMCA umpire, and his brother Don captained the Club’s first eleven and was club treasurer at one stage.
John Plumridge, served the club as a hard working President for a number of years and also earnt a reputation as the luckiest batsmen in the Southern hemisphere.
Milton Hammon, served the club as Secretary for a number of years and was responsible for instigating The Mackie Cup Eve, and the Mackie Gold Cup in 1973, with the tradition continuing under the auspices of Stuart Campbell.
John and Michael Little were early junior members of the club and went on to be fixtures in the club’s first eleven.
Pat Hogan served the club as President while his son John graduated from juniors to the first eleven.
Billy ‘the kid’ Morrison, was club Secretary and Historian for a number of years, and is a life member.
On the 1st April 2003, the Official Web site for the Mackie Cricket Club was launched
