New Sunbury Kangaroos coach Nathan Anderson wants help to grow the club to ensure its future in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association.
Anderson was last week announced as coach of the club, as it starts to put things in place for the future.
Anderson has been around the club for a number of years as a player, and was previously president as well.
He said it was exciting to coach at a club that he calls home.
“I want to pretty much provide a future for the club,” he said. “I have three young kids and I want to help build the stepping stones and help get the juniors up and running.”
Having never had juniors, getting that up and going is the focus of Anderson along with president Shane Woolley and vice-president Mace Green.
Anderson said they would start with the Woolworths Blast.
“We’re starting from scratch,” he said. “Skull [Woolley] has tried to get it up and going before but it hasn’t happened.
“We’ll look to have Woolworths Blast and gain momentum from there. It’s a very long term view.”
On the senior side, things are also looking positive.
Last season the club had to drop from two sides down to one, with just seven players the week of round one.
Anderson said they were looking at least two sides this season.
“We want to have two senior teams and if we’ve being very ambitious, aim for three teams,” he said.
“We have about 18 players signed up already and to go and that’s without even trying.
“Mace and Shane have been working hard behind the scenes.”
Last season in their first season in the McIntyre Cup, the Kangaroos finished eighth with three wins.
Anderson said they want to build on that.
“Last season we just wanted to survive,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get a few players back and improve on that and finish higher.
“We aren’t putting a ceiling on it. Finals would be amazing.”
The Kangaroos will start training on August 7 at the indoor centre in Sunbury.
Tara Murray
