By Marc McGowan
CATANI potato farmer David Williams admits he was disappointed to miss out on a spot in the final 30 players for this year’s West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) Jubilee team.
And it’s not hard to see why.
Williams, 44, racked up almost 9000 runs, 15 WGCA representative teams and four A-grade premierships in a distinguished career for Lang Lang.
“I didn’t expect to make the 12 (of the Jubilee team), but I was disappointed I didn’t make the 30,” he said.
“I didn’t win a player-of-the-year award, but I got close a couple of times – that might have hurt my chances.
“I don’t think I’m being unfair and I think a lot of people agree.”
Williams left the club, which he first represented in A-grade as a 15-year-old, seven seasons ago.
But he continues to play top level local cricket for Hallora in the Warragul and District Cricket Association.
Williams completed the extraordinary feat of competing in at least one match in A-grade or Division One in 30 straight seasons when he played in Division One this summer.
Other highlights include playing half a season for district club Waverley in 1982 and the opportunity to lock horns with the travelling Sri Lankan squad as part of a combined WGCA and Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association side in 1985.
“That was huge. We even had a crowd there and you don’t get to play in front of a crowd often,” Williams said.
“The way some of the Sri Lankans could hit a cricket ball was awesome.”
Williams played in his first premiership – a personal highlight – as an 18-year-old before sharing ultimate glory with brothers Grant and Evan in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1993-94.
The trio combined to win another flag, this time for Hallora, in the 2005-06 season.
Williams even managed to play a few matches with his father, John, and the pair once shared in a 100-plus run partnership for Lang Lang in the mid-80s.
He concedes that he is ‘at the end of the road’ and is currently playing in Division Two at Hallora.
But a Division One premiership as coach – Williams also mentors Hallora’s Division Two and Four teams – is another achievement he hopes to tick off this year.
And Williams says he owes it all to one person – wife of 24 years, Kerry.
“I’ve had great support from Kerry. She’s never said, ‘you can’t go to cricket today’ or asked if I could have a game off,” he said.
