Veteran’s double call-up
Secret to long career in rep sport
NOT many people can say they’re representing Queensland in two different sports at the age of 71.
However Toowoomba’s Mick Fogarty wears it as a badge of honour.
“I’m pretty sure I’m the only one in Australia playing both tennis and cricket for their state in the over 70s,” he said.
“I think that’s a pretty good achievement.”
Last month Fogarty returned from the over 70s Australian cricket championships in Adelaide to the news he had been selected to play in the Australian teams tennis carnival on the Gold Coast in January.
He has played in the tournament since 1997 and this year entered his own Toowoomba team with Ray Moor, Andrew Sparksman and Cedric Hubbard.
Fogarty grew up in Clifton and started playing tennis at a young age.
He still plays tennis three times a week at Holy Name Tennis Club which he and his wife have run for the past 12 years.
He said tennis was the best practice for cricket.
“It’s much the same kind of sport with hand-eye coordination and keeping your eye on the ball,” he said.
So when he took cricket up at the age of 17 it was an easy transition.
Now in his 70s, Fogarty returned to the pitch when the new veterans cricket competition kicked off in Toowoomba last year.
He not only enjoys playing but representing Qld as well.
“It’s something I wasn’t able to do when I was young,” he said.
“Now it’s just fun to be involved in it.”
He puts his good health and almost injury-free body down to the fact he never played football and rarely drank alcohol.
“I hope I can continue enjoying these two wonderful games for a while yet but there are no certainties in life,” he said.
Next he hopes to make the Queensland cricket team which will play England’s over 70s touring side in March.
England will play four matches in Brisbane, three against an Australian team and one against Queensland.
Fogarty believed he played “alright” at the Australian Championships.
“Like all games of cricket you have to have a bit of luck... I didn’t have much luck on the first two days,” he said.
“I had a not out and run out which doesn’t help things.”
However he scored 50 runs in four innings and scored 32 on the last day (players have to retire at 40) which he hoped would help his cause.