Norm Trembath Inducted As Morwell CC Life Member in 1976 (Same Year As Joe Langley And

CHRIS GIDDENS – LIFE MEMBER – MORWELL CRICKET CLUB

Chris Giddens – inducted as Morwell CC Life Member in 1984 (along with his brother Allan and Ron Mahoney).

Chris joined our club at the commencement of the 1957/58 season, coming in along with ‘Mouse’ Mahoney, Norm Giddens and Tom Wanliss. All junior players were playing in our first ever junior side.

- 1958/59 Chris made 16 runs in a losing ‘D’ grade semi-final side.

- 1959/60 John Rutherford as a fifteen year old raised some eyebrows with his ‘pace’ bowling.

Same year Chris gained a reputation as a ‘bowler’ in ‘D’ grade, snaring 3 for 4 in a losing semi-final. Geoff Auton as captain took an amazing 68 wickets for the season.

- 1960/61 Chris played both ‘D’ and ‘C’ grade. A highlight being he captained the ‘D’ grade premiership side, which had notable team members John Blewett, Jim Morrison, Tony Johnson, Bruce and Bryan Quirk. Chris heroically made 49 in the final versus Monash out of a winning team total of 83.

It was a big year for the club with flags in ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘D’ grade.

- 1961/62 – club won ‘A’ and ‘D’ grade flags with Chris winning ‘D’ grade CGCA batting average. ‘A’ grade was led by Jack Vinall. Chris started making his mark at a senior level with 41 not out against Morwell YMCA in ‘C’ grade. ‘Mouse’ also stood out against Newborough with 5 for 23. Chris as ‘D’ grade captain led by example scoring two centuries – 104 not out versus Yallourn North and 106 not out against Yallourn. He also made 53 in the second innings of the successful junior grand final.

- 1962/63 – ‘A’ and ‘D’ grade were premiers once again. Chris backed up again winning the ‘D’ grade CGCA batting average at 39.6, whilst he had great support with the ball from Ron Mahoney who won the CGCA bowling average. In a huge step up Chris played in the ‘A’ grade Colts side, but promotion was soured when our more senior side routed the Colts out for 16! Same year Fred Debono with left arm slingers took an amazing 9 for 59 versus Newborough.

Believe it or not Chris took 5 for 15 in ‘A’ grade versus Yallourn Colts in 62/63 season.

- 1963/64 – Chris at the age of twenty one finally moved out of ‘D’ grade!!! Now a permanent member of the ‘A’ grade Colts side he did a Mitch Johnson against the more favoured Morwell senior side snaring 7 for 18. He also snared a great catch to send packing Allan Mathieson off Geoff Auton’s bowling. The senior side, courtesy of Chris’s guile and cunning, were rolled for 98 but their more experienced opponents had a quick reply when the Colts were rattled for 68. In the same year Chris made an impressive 83 with the bat against Moe SECV and took 4 for 42 with the ball (see page 169 in book) to lead his side to victory. Youthful Ron Mahoney 5/71 against Newborough in the same year had a day out.

- 1964/65 – club entered ‘A’, ‘A’ Colts, ‘B’ and ‘D’ grade sides. Chris made 63 in ‘B’ grade but there were no bowling heroics this season.

- 1965/66 – Legendary life member Jack Dykes took 7 for 9 and 7 for 38 in an ‘A’ grade match versus Morwell Ex Students. In the same year sixteen year old Col Luxford opened the ‘A’ grade bowling attack. Chris had more success, playing in the ‘B’ grade premiership side under Norm Abbott.

- 1966/67 – In an amazing effort ‘B’ grade were premiers after making 452 in the grand final.

Allan Mathieson made 153 versus Moe High and combined with ‘Gert’s brother’ Colin in a 146 run partnership to set an ‘A’ grade record (Mouse contributed 47).

CGCA won its first and only Country Week Provincial flag (Morwell members were Col Luxford, Jack Dykes and Captain Allan Mathieson).

Ron Mahoney snared 66 wickets in ‘B’ grade, but Chris must have found alcohol at this stage in his career as his achievements started to fall away!

- 1967/68 – ‘B’ grade lost their premiership flag due to playing two ineligible players in the final. Fellow life member Jack Vinall made 103 not out in round eleven versus Latrobe to lead ‘B’ grade to victory. Norm Abbott as ‘B’ grade skipper made five half centuries but Chris did not shine with bat or ball as it is suspected that he had found girls at this stage!!

- 1968/69 – In a poor year for the Morwell CC Norm Trembath’s 110 not out versus Newborough in ‘B’ grade was one of a few standout performances.

- 1969/70 – John Rutherford took over as captain of ‘A’ grade but once again no flags for the club.

- 1970/71 – Club made a statement being runners up in ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘D’ grade. Norm Trembath was appointed ‘A’ grade skipper. Chris made 31 in the ‘B’ grade semi-final and along with Ron Mahoney’s 51 a spot in the final was secured. Unfortunately we went down in a high scoring final 197 to Yallourn’s 327.

Youngster Paul Coffey snared 48 wickets in ‘C’ grade (including 6 for 15) to raise a few eyebrows.

- 1971/72 – saw the beginning of the club’s ‘glory days’. Luxa led ‘A’ grade but we were knocked out in the semis, however Chris led ‘B’ grade to a flag and our juniors were also premiers. Norm Trembath in ‘B’ grade made three centuries and featured in two double century partnerships during the season.

- 1972/73 – New President Chris Giddens led a clean sweep for the club with flags in all four grades – a first in the CGCA! Captain Col Luxford welcomed back Matho and led his side to a premiership win over Yallourn at Yallourn. Morwell 9/130 (Luxford 46) vs Yallourn 98.

Chris was a member of ‘A’ grade side and won the association batting average with an average of 28.17. Good mate Mouse took 52 wickets for the season.

We won the CGCA Club Championship and all CGCA awards except the ‘B’ grade batting average.

- 1973/74 – Morwell CC entered two ‘A’ grade sides and also had ’B’ and ‘C’ grade sides, plus five ‘D’ grade sides! Chris in his second year as President showed class with the bat to make 272 runs in ‘A’ grade for the season. Bruce Hotton dominated the batting with a season high 533 runs. It was back-to-back flags for Col Luxford’s side with an easy win over Moe. Moe were all out for 57 (Percy Jones 6/35) versus Morwell’s 5/65 (Giddens 11 not out).

The five ‘D’ grade sides were all coached by eventual club life members Joe Langley, Norm Trembath, Norm Abbott, Jack Dykes and Ron Mahoney.

- 1974/75 - club again entered two ‘A’ grade sides, two ’B’ sides, one ‘C’ side plus five ‘D’ grade sides! A year remembered for Trevor Pickering’s amazing 10 wicket haul against Tigers in ‘B’ Grade.

Chris was selected to represent CGCA at Country Week (led astray a youthful Paul Coffey off the field)

Chris in his third and final year as President saw his ‘D1’ junior side to a premiership.

- 1975/76 – an ‘A’ grade season that will long be remembered in Morwell’s history. Under new skipper Ray Grieve it was a season of highlights – Evan Rowlands 529 runs led the batting, with a feature being his 73 against Erica from only 18 scoring shots (seven boundaries and a half dozen sixes). Cars were moved back from the boundary for fear of being hit! Grieve with 53 wickets and Vogel’s 50 scalps led the ‘chuckers’ and Mathieson’s 25 victims (21 catches and 4 stumpings) backed up a strong side.

In a thriller, Morwell tied with Yallourn North in the semi. The Northerners compulsory closed at 6/112 and Morwell replied with 9/112 (Coffey 49, Giddens 15). With just four runs needed, three wickets in hand and seven balls left, Morwell was well placed. Two singles drew them closer to victory, but successive wickets meant Morwell still needed two for a win off the last ball. A quick single meant the sides could not be separated. By being the higher placed side on the ladder, Morwell snuck into the grand final. The ensuing grand final was also a test of one’s nerve. It was played over three days due to weather intervening. There was no play on day one with play finally starting at 3.00pm the next day. Morwell batted first and reached 7/148 (Rowlands 32, Coffey 20, White 18, Mathieson 15, Hotton 15 Luxford 15, Giddens 8 not out) off their allotted overs. Yallourn reached 6/107 at the end of day two.

Next day Yallourn was well placed as it moved to 6 for 121, but two quick wickets left them 8/124 and struggling. Collie (20) led a fight back for the home side but Oliver’s dismissal meant Yallourn was a tantalisingly 9/144 with 13 balls remaining.

Five dot balls meant Yallourn needed five runs off the Vogel’s last over with Collie on strike. A double and a single pushed them within a whisker of winning, but youngster Bernie Howard was now on strike. A glance to fine leg and a dash up the wicket was soon to turn into disaster – Collie sent him back but a strong throw from twelfth man Ian Spence saw Howard short of his ground and Morwell had won by the narrowest of margins (Grieve 5/75)!

This wicket will forever be part of our folk lore and fittingly featured on the cover of the “History of Morwell Cricket Club”.

Interesting footnote that Chris was originally appointed as ‘B’ Grade captain and made 79 in one of his few ‘B’ grade appearances but a recall to ‘A’ grade always beckoned.

- 1976/77 – Club wins three flags (B, C and D) under new President Ray Grieve. In ‘A’ grade Coff was appointed captain and led all comers with 400 runs , Luxa with 399 and Chris 272 gave great support but we were knocked out in the semi’s.

Ron Mahoney skippered the successful ‘B’ grade side with Doggy Vogel giving Tigers a torrid time in the final snaring 8 for 39.

‘C’ grade amazingly under Captain Chaos won a flag with ‘Red’ Robinson 762 runs at 48 leading all bats. Chaos hit winning runs at Yallourn in final.

- 1977/78 – Mouse took over as ‘A’ grade skipper but would have been disappointed when his side were rolled for 69 in the semi versus Moe.

Chris as ‘B’ Colts skipper made a personal season high of 64 not out against Hernes Oak.

- 1978/79 – Chris took on the Presidency again (fourth term) after a three year break. It was the year Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket Tour came to town. In a need of experience ‘A’ Colts looked to skipper Chris Giddens for leadership and he delivered with 75 against Moe in the last round of the season.

- 1979/80 – Chris relinquished presidency to Ken McDonald in a year remembered for Joe Langley’s long waited maiden century. - 1980/81 – Chris resumed as President for his fifth term and his ‘midas touch’ was never more evident with premierships in ‘A’ and ‘C’ grades. Luxa snared a memorable hat trick in ‘A’ grade versus Newborough, but the flag would have been more memorable as ‘A’ grade knocked off Churchill in a rain delayed final that went into a second weekend. In a low scoring affair we were led by John Miles with ball winning 62 to 41.

- 1981/82 – Chris backed up for a sixth term as President and had a clean out sending Mouse off to St Vincents and Tremmy to Willow Grove! Age shall not weary them as Chris in captaining ‘C’ grade made three half centuries and his stance became even more front on.

- 1982/83 – Voted in as President for a seventh term he amassed ‘Dad’s Army’ in ‘C’ grade which included names like the Giddens brothers, Ken McDonald, Col Luxford, the Mahoney brothers and Greg May. Not surprising they won the flag when they defeated Moe at Churchill with May 53, Mick Pollock 49 and ‘CG’ 29 leading the bats and Mouse and Luxa both bagging four wickets.

Chris made a senior career high 94 versus Newborough during the season before ‘holing out’!

- 1983/84 – Elected unopposed Chris led the club again which saw ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ grade all fall short in their respective grand finals. Chris did his bit in a losing ‘C’ grade final with a well-made 65.

- 1984/85 – Trevor Pickering gave Chris a spell as President and he may well have questioned his decision to walk away as we secured premierships in ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘D’ grades. Coff captained the successful ‘A’ grade side. Chris was still making an impact with the bat when he made 75 in ‘C’ grade against Morwell East during the season.

- 1985/86 – Chris racked up another premiership as a player with a medal in ‘C’ grade. Ably led by John White with 730 season runs we were always a strong chance to succeed.

- 1986/87 – The year Morwell Cricket Club became incorporated Chris decided to phase himself out of playing cricket.

- 1987/88 – Son Craig began a long and successful career in ‘A’ grade – a proud moment for the Giddens family. Not long after son Marty also made his presence felt in ‘A’ grade and both sons played many games over a long period with the Morwell Cricket Club.

- 1989 to 1993 - Chris answered the call and resumed with another four years as President of the Morwell Cricket Club. This took his tally to twelve years as an influential leader of our club and there has not been a more successful president in our long history. - 1996/97 – It is hard to keep a good man down and Chris was elected again to the role of Morwell Cricket Club President (thirteenth term in a long and illustrious career that is a record still today) for the final time.

As one of the proudest members of the Morwell Cricket Club Chris Giddens has had an amazing career that it glittered with many highlights:-

President for a record thirteen (non-consecutive) years

Played in nine premiership sides -

- ‘A’ grade – 1972/73, 1973/74 and 1975/76 - ‘B’ grade – 1965/66 and 1971/72 (captain) - ‘C’ grade – 1982/83 and 1985/86 - ‘D’ grade – 1960/61 and 1961/62 (captain in both)

Won many club batting and bowling awards.

Won CGCA ‘A’ Grade Batting Average in 1972/73.

Won CGCA ‘C’ Grade Batting Average in 1981/82.

Made two centuries in ‘D’ Grade.

Represented CGCA at Country Week on two occasions.

Fondest memories of Chris Giddens from a club point of view:

- Had worst batting stance of any Morwell cricketer - Had even worse throwing arm

With Jeannie created a cricketing dynasty at Morwell with both Craig and Marty playing many games.

Most successful President in history of Morwell Cricket Club.

Won Best Clubman award in 1980/81 season.

Trip away legend remembered for his ‘snoring’ and poor shaving habits.

Still is involved with club as family sponsors annual Life Members dinner and is a long term sponsor.

Played in excess of 400 games, made nearly 3000 runs and took countless wickets early in his career.