The year was 1987, and a 10-year-old Sonny Singh was in Year 4 at Bangalow Public School. A few of the older kids started discussing playing cricket for Bangalow that season, and the rest is history. Here Sonny shares his recollections with R.U. Bradman. No ‘soft ball’ cricket back then; it was straight into under-12s hard ball, full-length pitch, with the big kids. The coach was Brian Richardson, who helped around the club for many years. He was old school—three laps around Schultz Oval before training. Initially, I was quite scared of the hard ball as I was the youngest in the team, but as cricket does, it teaches you patience, courage, and belief. So, by the time I was 12 years old, I had become comfortable with the game and the rules, and by under-14s, I had hit my first fifty at Bangalow Oval against Mullumbimby-Brunswick.
By the age of 15, I was straight into second grade senior cricket. I batted at number 8, and by 16, I was opening the bowling.
In 1995, Bangalow, Byron, and Mullumbimby-Brunswick combined to form a first grade team. Bangalow had two representatives in the team, Mark McLean and myself. We were 18 years old, a left- and right-arm opening combination forming a lethal fast-bowling duo. We loved the contest against the best batters from the other teams. By 1999, I had hit my first 100, but the combined first grade team folded, so I found myself back at Bangalow, playing second grade with my mates.
Around this time, the legendary Robert Parks re-joined Bangalow and captained our team. He was the toughest cricketer I ever encountered, never took a backward step, and expected 110% from everyone when you played for Bangalow. This instilled in us the confidence and spirit that led to Bangalow winning three consecutive premierships in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Winning those three premierships in a Rob Parks-led side was probably the highlight of my cricketing career. As a mentor, Rob has had the most influence on how I play the sport: ‘Take on the challenge and never give up.’
Anthony Maxwell, the president of the club for the last 20 years, has also been a rock for me and the club. He has steered the club through many tough times and got it to where it is today—four junior teams, three senior teams, and a strong Blast program bringing the young kids from Bangalow Public School and other local schools through.
More recently, I have had the opportunity to see my son Yuvraj rise through the junior system at Bangalow and play grade with me. It is indeed a special feeling being able to play a competitive sport with your child, take a catch off his bowling, bat in partnership with him, and enjoy success through our love of cricket and the mighty Bangalow Cricket Club.