SACA Annual Report 1983/84: Same As It Ever Was

The cover of this Grote St antique store find features a panoramic view of Adelaide Oval as it was in my youth and early adulthood (the bottom photo, smarty). Note the red behind posts, the Creswell Stand to the left (that was replaced by the soon to be redundant Bradman Stand) and the verdant swathes on both sides of the pickets.

 

Fear not readers, I’m not going to bore you with the entire report. On second thoughts, why not take up this once in a lifetime opportunity to talk you through the season that coincided with me tying the knot with my beautiful wife. (Click on all photos to expand)

 

 

The upcoming Centenary of Test Match cricket at Adelaide Oval gave rise to this tremendous piece of artwork.

 

 

Nothing to see here – line and length.

Page two was intentionally left blank

 

 

Those of you from the convict states may be surprised to know that Governor Don Dunstan and Premier Don Dunstan were not the same person. I’m quite sure that Lord Mayor Wendy Chapman was the only woman mentioned here.

 

This humble correspondent knew both Hartley Wood and Bruce Jolly (and their children) and played footy with the sons of Judge Birchall and Daryl Wood, such is Adelaide’s Adelaideness. 

 

Establishment Adelaide, same as it ever as.

 

 

Hmm, a bit of turnover with the hired help. (And I knew Ernie Clifton’s daughter and scoreboard attendant Frank Scott)

 

Rather than acting as a document of historical record, the Annual Report became the keeper of partial results and notable performances only.

 

At the top, however, it was the same as it ever was.

 

 

Phil Ridings was still there, same as he ever was. Ian Chappell wasn’t.

 

 

Australia’s limp showing in the World Cup gets minimal treatment here, not even a mention of how Phil Ridings went with the travel arrangements and per diem handling.

 

 

 

The photos bolstering the Pakistan tour records have an SA flavour, as expected. The Adelaide Test featured a poultice of centuries, some of which were scored by batsmen.

 

The West Indies fill-in one-dayers are here. Note the good form of WA Country player Waldron against both touring sides.

 

 

 

No summer of the post-WSC days was complete without the obligatory fifteen match (plus best of three finals) limited over tri-series. As International Cricketer of the Year, did Viv Richards find himself behind the wheel of a large automobile?

 

These games packed the punters in, as the Adelaide Oval panorama vividly depicts.

 

 

 

The players certainly earned their recently improved pay and conditions, finding themselves in another part of the world for a five Test series in the Caribbean, giving them little respite.

 

Never mind the results, here’s the Croweaters.

 

Australia had no First-class success apart from their tour opener, but at least Col Egar had some respite from the heady world of the Adelaide dry-cleaning scene.

 

 

 

Richard Watson’s extensive GM’s report is chock full of gems, the most notable perhaps being the extensive developments to the Oval, such as the new cool room at the rear of the Members Dining Room.

 

The purchase of Park 25 eventually resulted in the recent redevelopment known as Karen Rolton Oval.

 

 

Peak 80s SA – Great.

 

 

 

Back Row (from left) Hogg, Haysman, Inverarity, Hilditch, Parkinson, Hookes, Phillips, Wright

 

Front Row (from left) Harms, Bishop, Carmichael, Bradley (12th man, carried the water)

 

This nothing-more-80s arrangement of Aussie cricketing maleness was taken at this match.

 

 

SA’s Sheffield Shield season was (West End) light on for success, finishing fifth, ahead only of the perennial cellar-dwellers from Bordertown East. At least they all got the latest in sponsor-bedecked leisure wear to remember the season by. And some photos.

 

 

 

 

The SACAs more than atoned for their first class showing with an unforgettable win in the time-honoured McDonald’s Cup Final. What a pity that the accompanying post match celebrations were not captured in colour.

 

 

 

 

 

At last, the real substance of this report, the West End District Competition.

 

Salisbury won the A Grade. Same as it ever was. Peter Sleep had a monumental season for the Premiers, 548 runs @ 61/31 wickets @ 14. Wayne Prior with a lazy 70 wickets @ 15 probably helped a bit as well.

 

No surprises that Uni won the B Grade, the season after I was the scorer for that team.

 

These pages are strewn with blokes that I played in footy flags with, worked with, went to school with (Swish inserting himself into the narrative – same as it ever was). And Boz.

 

I was briefly alarmed to find no mention at all of women’s cricket, until I reminded myself that the SAWCA was a completely separate body until it merged with the SACA (or vice versa) in the late 1990s.

 

 

Good old Ernie Clifton. A far cry from the years where the State coach’s main concern was the batting order in the nets.

 

 

 

The Bowling Club needed to lift its game, but the Tennis Club looked to be thriving.

 

Martin Chappell and Dick Whittington were very notable outs. Gil Langley’s services to politics, sport and electrical sub-contractors was deservedly recognised.

 

 

Even recognising that this is from thirty five years ago, the numbers reflected in these money shots seem extraordinarily low. That the SACA’s net worth was way less than a million dollars had the former CPA in me asking questions about valuation and ownership that, let’s face it, don’t really matter any more. And try and get away with one page of Notes to the Accounts these days.

 

And what’s with those $2 SBSA accounts in the trophy funds?

 

Players Benefit Fund – indeed

 

 

The inclusion of Bradman and Favell, as demanded by the South Australian Constitution meant that Ian Chappell was only given a small photo rather than the entire centrespread as should have been the case.

 

 

PBL getting a mention in the SACA Annual Report – My God! What have they done?

 

 

 

The Tigers Almanac 2019 is out soon.
Order copies HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you really enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
One off financial contribution – CLICK HERE
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE