It’s a new name, a new coach and a new era for Deer Park Cricket Club.
The Lions have dropped ‘Ardeer’ from the end of their name, appointed Glenn Sullivan as head coach and are determined to rise up the ranks of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
The club has also taken a number of measures to strengthen its relationship with Deer Park Football Club and Deer Park Bowls Club.
Lions president Steve Krstevski said the moves were made with the idea of building a stronger club.
“We’ve changed our name and removed the Ardeer part because we just wanted to build a closer relationship with the people and traders in the area,” he said.
“We wanted to build a closer relationship with the Deer Park [social] club as well. They’ve decided to sponsor some of our [ground] covers and things like that, so it’s a win for both clubs.”
Incoming head coach Sullivan joins Deer Park from Williamstown District Cricket Association club Grand United.
Former Sunshine sub-district player Shane Jones will be a playing assistant coach.
Krstevski was delighted to land a recruiting coup in the lead-up to the new season, starting early October.
“Shane played subbies at Sunshine and is going to run our fitness and co-ordinate all that sort of stuff,” Krstevski said.
“Coming from where we have been, we haven’t been able to recruit good people. To get both those guys is a massive win.”
As well as strengthening the Lions’ off-field relationship with the football and bowls clubs, Deer Park also hopes to mirror the recent successes of both those clubs.
The bowls club is knocking on the door of a spot in premier division and will be one of the favourites to win this year’s Bowls Victoria division 1 competition.
The football club’s success has been even more impressive. After winning the 2013 Western Region Football League grand final, the club is unbeaten in 2014.
But Krstevski isn’t expecting the results to happen overnight.
“We have a good group of 17 to 21-year-olds at the club at the moment so we want to build from within,” he said.
“We’ll build slowly, though. We want success. It’s just going to be a slow grind.
“The footy club was in a similar position to us six years ago and have slowly built into a strong position.
“We’re looking at a three, four or five- year plan.”
Deer Park started its preseason last week.
The club will compete in the West B1 division of the VTCA.
