Original leader back at the Vale
HELENSVALE’S first Agrade playing coach Grant Stanley will be returning to the Hawks to mastermind preparations for the next Kookaburra Cup cricket competition.
Now 65 and coming from 25 years in Singapore, where he was national coach for eight seasons, the big lefthander has agreed to rejoin the Hawks, since renamed Helensvale-Pacific Pines, as coach for the 2017-18 season.
Stanley will be back in charge at Hession Oval for the first time since he led Helensvale in the local competition in 1984-85.
Originally from Essendon in the Victorian district premiership, Stanley took over Helensvale the season after they won promotion to first grade by winning the second grade premiership under Joe Saunders.
Stanley stayed with the Vale – the club did not have an official nickname back then – for two years then switched to Palm BeachCurrumbin where he had another six seasons.
“I think it’s a good challenge for me. I still love being involved in the game and I still have a passion for the game,” Stanley said.
“And after 25 years in Singapore it’s a good time to come home.”
During his
Coast days the early Gold all-rounder played for Queensland Country from 1985 to 1987, he played for Queensland Country in a three-day match against New Zealand at the old Carrara Stadium and also played against England at Gatton.
Current Australian women’s coach Matthew Mott and Brett Crichton were two of the many gifted players who emerged from Palm Beach-Currumbin during the Stanley reign at Salk Oval.