Spud's run comes to an end

SPUD’S RUN COMES TO AN END

For the first time this century, Moonee Valley Cricket Club will step into next season without Darren “Spud” Nagle firmly at the helm. 

Darren stepped down at the June annual general meeting after 13 years as president – a period during which he led Moonee Valley from a Club of just four sides to one which had 19 teams take to the field in the black and white in 2005/06.

Long-standing player and life member Sandro Capocchi has been elected the new president.

Darren (left) had been advising the Club for several seasons that it needed to think about a succession plan, and at the end of 2004/05 had firmly stated it was to be his last season at the helm. His retirement comes a year after close friend John “Odie” Talone stepped aside after 13 years as Club secretary.

While he’s stepped aside from leading Moonee Valley, Darren has no intention of hanging up his whites.

After amassing 239 games – third-highest in the Club’s history, 3769 runs (11^th highest), 387 wickets (3^rd highest) and seven premierships as a player – Darren is within sight of the magical 250 games by the end of this season.

A fixture in the First Eleven for more than 20 years, Darren is talking about possibly dropping back a grade or two to use his skills and experience to help the young stars of the future now advancing through the senior grades.

Darren’s 13 years as president was part of a 21-year term on the Club committee.

He said a highlight of his time as president was the decision to move Moonee Valley’s top two teams from synthetic cricket – where they had been a major success – to turf. The Club won a local turf premiership on its way to gaining admission to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, where the First and Second Eleven now play.

“We worked very hard to have a turf wicket table installed at Ormond Park, and with the help of curator Ian Beel it has become one of the premier wickets in the area,” Darren said.

“For the future, I believe we need to maintain a culture of individuals challenging themselves to play at higher levels.

“We need to keep a focus on recruitment of players, while continuing to nurture the kids that are coming through.

“It has been a wonderful time as president and I thank people like John Talone and others on the committee and around the Club for the work we have done together to make Moonee Valley a great Club.”

As president, Darren was totally committed to the long-term vision of the importance for juniors at the Moonee Valley Cricket Club when the idea of starting a junior section was floated at the start of the 1996/97 season.

Even though we started with just one Under 10 and one Under 12 side, Darren’s vision of what those ‘little tackers’ from those years would mean to the Club is now bearing fruit, with players from that first intake now taking their place in the top grades at Moonee Valley.

Fittingly, the Under 16 bowling award is named the Darren Nagle Trophy is his honor.

Moonee Valley’s 19 teams in 2005/06 comprised five two-day senior sides, two one-day sides, a mid-week turf team, nine junior boys/mixed teams and two junior girls teams.

Well batted Spud!

*To see the Community News article on Darren's career, click here.