Steve Grey had a couple of years away from playing full-time cricket and wanted to get back into the game.
A chance discussion with his former club Sunbury United will have him padding up as playing coach in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association next season.
It’s a role he’s familiar with, having coached Sunbury United for six years previously.
“I didn’t expect to coach them,” Grey said last week.
“They rang me up and asked if I wanted to have a chat and the chat led to me being the senior coach at Sunbury United.
“I’m very happy about going back to a club I was involved in for eight years.
“It’s another challenge in my career.”
Grey guided United from the then A-grade competition into the top grade, the McIntyre Cup, during his previous stint as coach.
He won the Kevin Sullivan Medal in the 2007-08 season for the best player in the competition.
After stepping down as coach, he played several more seasons with United before moving on to coach East Sunbury Cricket Club for two seasons.
Grey stood down from coaching the Thunder’s cricket side two years ago, when he took on the job as East Sunbury’s senior football coach. It’s a role he still holds.
Grey admits it’ll be hectic juggling both football and cricket commitments.
He finds himself in a similar situation as last time he coached United, with the team looking for promotion back into the top grade after being relegated at the end of 2015-16.
Grey said early indications were that most of last season’s players would stay at the club and there was the possibility of several past players returning.
“The group of guys who are here now, the majority of them were here when I was here last time,” he said.
“We have a young group of players coming through as well. We’ll keep working with the younger guys who’ve obviously got ability
“I’m trying to … build the club to again be a powerhouse in the competition.”
