50 Not Out

Friendships forged on and off the cricket pitch have sustained a group of UNE alumni for an unbeaten half-century. And despite many members of the UNEX (ex-UNE) cricket squad now being in their 70s, they're not ready to declare yet.

Most of the men met in 1968 as strapping young competitors in UNE's hard fought inter-college cricket competition.

One of them was John Coughlan, a lad from Moree living at Wright College and studying for a Bachelor of Economics. "Our cricket was very tribal - you either played for Wright, Robb or Earle Page - and we were fiercely competitive," he says.

When John completed his degree and moved to Sydney in 1973 to begin his professional career as an accountant, he became reacquainted with many of the players he once competed against. "A lot of us worked in accounting or the public service and shared networks; we would sometimes get together to have drinks," John says. "We were united by the shared experience of having studied at UNE and this created a special bond. Over drinks one day, Michael Muldoon and I floated the idea of forming a team."

UNEX (not to be mistaken with eunuchs) members went on to play together every Saturday for three years in the Northern Suburbs competition. "We were fairly fit and good cricketers in our 20s then," says John, who became team captain. "We won the competition twice."

Come 1976, however, travel, girlfriends and work commitments meant UNEX was effectively put into mothballs. But the friendships prevailed. Over the next 30-odd years players kept in regular contact and periodically met to reminisce, play tennis or enjoy a round of golf. "And when most of us turned 60, 10 years ago, UNEX was resurrected at the 2009 Armidale over-60s carnival," John says.

Since 2010, with their numbers sometimes swelling sufficient to field two teams, UNEX has travelled to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Armidale to play in over-60s cricket championships twice or three times a year.

"We've performed reasonably well, but it's never been about winning and more the camaraderie and memories," John says.

A trip to Christchurch, New Zealand, in April 2018 for a Golden Oldies carnival was meant to be UNEX's swansong, marking 50 years since the cricketers first took to the crease in Armidale.

"We won a few games, but at the presentation we were awarded the inaugural Bert Sutcliffe Award for the best over 60s team on and off the field," John says proudly. "When I congratulated everyone on our swansong, they said 'Swansong? We're just getting started'."

Which is why the team is now booked for its Tom Vincent Memorial Tour of Harrogate, Yorkshire, in honour of one of its esteemed members, who died in August 2018. Some 25 men have committed to the tour, along with 18 partners, many of whom the cricketers also met at UNE. Coronavirus permitting, they will play three 40-over games in an over-70s competition in early August in what John insists will definitely be their last outing.

"A lot of the guys did very well in their professional lives, one became the Director-General of the Public Service, others partners in or managing directors of major firms, but we all went to university in Armidale and UNEX means a lot to each of us," says John. "We have become very close and have supported one another through some of life's greatest challenges."

Like 15 years ago, when a close mate of the UNEX family - Bernie Coffey, formerly of Earle Page College - was dying of cancer in the St Vincents Hospice in Sydney. "Four or five of us would take it in turns to visit and sit with him throughout the night in two-hour shifts, to support both Bernie and his wife," John says. "After Bernie's death, one of his close friends established a scholarship in his honour, to support a high-achieving regional student, and we all contribute to keep it going. If any of the UNEX guys are in any degree of trouble, the others will jump in to help, without exception."

They're a little less hirsute and a little more rotund than in their UNE glory days, but the UNEX team bonds remain strong, even if the running between the wickets isn't.

"These days you invariably see singles and fours, the occasional two runs but hardly ever a three," John says with a laugh. "But it's a great group of guys and we have a lot of fun; there's plenty of singing and laughter when we get together. The bonds have strengthened significantly over the years. Nothing is taken too seriously, except we don't like losing."