Mick Allen is yet to play a game for Riddell Cricket Club, but the club already feels like home for the cricket star.
Allen, who dominated premier cricket and then Victorian Sub-District Cricket, will play for the Bombers in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association next season.
The opening batsman said the decision to play for the McIntyre Cup side was an easy one.
“It feels like my local cricket,” he said.
“I played football here for eight years and work with half the guys from the club.
“I’m always popping down to the club. I live 300 metres from the ground.”
Allen, who won the top individual awards in both premier and Subbies cricket, the Ryder and Hatch medals, considered making the move to the Bombers 12 months ago after deciding to leave Melton Lions.
An approach from his mate Jarrod Travaglia saw him make the move to Subbies club Oakleigh.
It provided the icing on the cake to Allen’s Subbies career, a fifth premiership.
“It couldn’t have worked out better,” Allen’s said.
“Everything was up in the air after I left Melton. Jason was at me to come and play at Oakleigh.
“It didn’t pan out how I wanted it to individually, but the result was the perfect finish.”
Allen now sees it the right time to move to the Bombers.
“After I left premier cricket there wasn’t the thought to come to Riddell,” he said.
“The last couple of years I’ve spent a lot of time away from Eliza and the kids.
“I wasn’t seeing them on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“I was working in the city or on the other side of the city and would go straight to training. The kids would be in bed by the time I got home.
“Now the kids will be able to come and watch me play. They can ride their bikes to the ground.”
Allen will also take on the captaincy role with Heath Wadden stepping down as both captain and coach.
“I’m not expecting it to be easy and I’m expecting a challenge,” Allen said.
“I haven’t played on mats for a while, but we used to train on them at Melton.
“I’m not expecting an easy ride and there’s some pretty good cricket out here.
“I’m looking forward to it being more relaxed.”
Wadden, who will continue playing, said it was an exciting time for the club with Allen coming on as captain.
“I think I went on one year too long [as captain-coach]. We thought Mick have may come back last year and took over.
“When that didn’t happen I put my hand up again. I was pretty cooked at the end of the season.
“Mick will captain the side on Saturdays and we’re looking for a coach to run training during the week.
“It has transitioned the way we had planned it to come together. Hopefully he’ll take the younger guys under his arm.
