On a good wicket at Station Hill
On September 10, Leon Coetzee, president of the Grahamstown Cricket Board, openly and proudly backed the Station Hill Cricket Club at their 2021/2022 cricket season prize-giving that took place at St Thomas Church in Station Hill.
Coetzee nostalgically highlighted the blood, sweat and tears it took for the club’s three founders 17 years ago to bring cricket to the community of Station Hill.
The club has played in the second league since 2005, and has fought tooth and nail to overcome overwhelming social challenges as it perseveres towards the dream of being promoted to the first league.
Coetzee extended his heartfelt thanks to the women in the players’ lives as he acknowledged that the game of cricket takes hours away from family and loved ones.
He applauded the club for being familycentred and having partners included and visibly supporting at games and events.
History was made on September 10 when the club played their debut first league cricket match in Makhanda, winning with 108 runs. The sense of camaraderie was enormous. Coetzee wished the club all the best for the season for both the first and second teams.
Club president, Wayne Gaseba, said the club was still struggling to secure a field with a turf pitch to host home matches in Port Alfred.
Establishing a turf pitch from scratch is more than R150,000 away, and meanwhile, the club is in need of a temporary partnership with an established club or school.
Previous requests over the years have proven unsuccessful, as it is no secret the community club has limited access to resources.
The hope is to build relationships with people and organisations willing to reach out to help the club better the community.
Contact Teri-Lee Baartman or Wayne Gaseba on 083-743-5767 and 071-794-3185 if you can assist in this regard.