Sport
18 January, 2024
Brook and Owls to honour Craig Jennings
Maryborough and Carisbrook will have an emotional A reserve meeting on Saturday as they launch a new perpetual trophy in honour of Craig Jennings. Jennings was a magnificent servant of both clubs on and off the field, playing 76 games with...
Maryborough and Carisbrook will have an emotional A reserve meeting on Saturday as they launch a new perpetual trophy in honour of Craig Jennings.
Jennings was a magnificent servant of both clubs on and off the field, playing 76 games with Carisbrook and 36 games with Maryborough, and was serving as president at Maryborough until he passed away from a car accident in November.
Jennings’ employer, McPherson’s Print Group, was quick to offer their services to help form the perpetual trophy for both Maryborough and Carisbrook, which was quickly agreed to by both teams, with Country Trends working on the trophy for Saturday’s game at Princes Park.
Maryborough CC secretary Ben Robertson also revealed that there will be medals handed out to players from both teams after the match as well.
“McPherson’s Print Group reached out and were very keen to get involved. They were kind enough to donate the trophy and a couple of medallions. We’ll do a best on for each side on the day, more to the players who represents the game as Craig would have. It’s something more of a sportsmanship award,” he said.
“Craig came to the club five or six years ago, and in his second year, he really hit the ground running in the president’s role.
“He was involved in everything being president, but one of the main things was the curating with myself for the time he was at the club. We spent a lot of time down there together.
“It was only fitting we were able to recognise him in some way.”
Carisbrook president Caleb Cluff was keen to preserve the memory of Jennings.
“When (Maryborough president) Kris Bagley rang me and said that McPherson’s and Maryborough had come up with this, we didn’t even give it a thought, we agreed to support a memorial in whatever form it takes, whether it was a cup or a shield, and in whatever grade, whether it’s A grade or A reserve or whichever it is,” he said.
“He was a wonderfully gentle and kind person, no matter which club he was at.
“He was someone you could rely on to help you out, someone you could talk to if you needed advice and someone who was funny, kind and always present.
“It’s a way of commemorating Craig’s memory and recognising that he really was someone who gave a real social and moral support to both clubs.
“There are a few shields and trophies that are in the competition, but this one is especially poignant as it is a recent thing, but also Craig was so young and he put in so much time in helping clubs in so many ways, in groundskeeping, training, preparing lunches and all the things that he did.”
Robertson was thrilled with Carisbrook’s collaboration in getting the idea off the ground.
“The conversation with Carisbrook was very simple, and it was a no-brainer. They were very happy to be involved,” he said.
“Each year the two clubs will get together and pick out which game it will be going forward, as we play each other twice in both grades.”
At this stage, the game will be left as an A reserve exclusive event, but Robertson said with the changing state of cricket, it can also be flexible for any situation going forward.
“We’ve left it open. The thought initially was to have it exclusively as an A reserve thing, and brand it that way, but we’re not sure where cricket is going in the future and we didn’t want to just label it A reserve, and then have things go back to A grade or B grade or that sort of thing, so we’ve just left it open as the Craig Jennings Cup for Carisbrook and Maryborough,” he said.
“While A reserve is still around, that is where it will feature, but going forward, it just depends on where cricket is locally.”
Robertson also revealed that the club will rename the roller room at Princes Park in Jennings’ honour, with a launch set for the end of January or in early February.
“We have Butch’s Bar in our rooms after Butch McPhee when he sadly passed away, and there’s other memorials like the trainer’s room and the timekeeper’s room for the football club. It was a no-brainer that the roller room became Jenno’s Roller Room,” he said.
“We’ll have that by the end of the month or early next month with a sign for it, and we’ll do something for the family to have an opening or a naming with them.
“The family have been really good, they were down at the cricket last Saturday chatting, and they have all been invited for Saturday.
“His boys, who are based in Geelong, are also coming up, so it will be a very special day for both clubs, McPherson’s and the family.”
Saturday’s game at Princes Park will begin at 12.40 pm.