They are fierce Maitland district cricket rivals on the field, but on Saturday legends from City United and Western Suburbs celebrate a combined 170 years of cricket.
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City United mark their 100th anniversary and Western Suburbs their 70th this year and to kick off celebrations legends from both clubs take part in a Twenty20 match at Robins Oval on Saturday.
Plovers historian Tim Clarke has dug up that Saturday’s date marks exactly 70 years to the day when West played their first game in the Maitland competition.
Their opponent was Centrals, one of five names City United has carried over the past century which started with Robins, Centrals, Combined City, GUOOF City and City United.
“It’s a great start to the season, 100 years is a massive milestone and 70 years on top of that. To be able to combine that with Wests first game is terrific,” City’s Mick Randall said.
“There are quite a few of the legends who played against each other over the years and there some good rivalries from years gone by but good friendships as well,” he said.
A huge day of activities is planned for Saturday with festivities starting with the annual Chris Mudd Twenty20 match featuring invitation teams captained by the Maitland District Cricket senior and junior association’s life member’s sons Lincoln and Nathan.
Chris Mudd passed away in 2012 after a battle with bowel cancer and the Twenty20 match named in his honour has become the traditional start to the cricket season and a major fundraising event for local charities.
The clubs will split proceeds for their respective charities.
“It shows what Maitland cricket is about. It’s not every club for themselves,” Randall said.
“So many clubs get on with each other and help each other out off the field.”
Wests legend Warren Jarratt said the day was a great fundraiser for charity and an important way to remember Mudd’s legacy as an integral part of the Plovers and Maitland and Hunter cricket’s history.
Jarratt said from a playing point of view the main thing was that the legends got through at least some of the overs.
“We’ve got a few youngsters standing by to help us out,” he said.
Jarratt said the day would also feature the popular Kingsgrove Sports "Newcastle" Longest Hit Competition with big hitters vying for cash prizes.
The day starts with the Chris Mudd T20 game from 9am, followed by the longest hit competition and the legends game from 2pm.
