By LIAM TWOMEY
HE started as a player, progressed to committee member, was promoted to president and now Altona Cricket Club’s Neil Birthisel is a record breaker. Playing against Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association rivals Werribee last week, Birthisel struck 26 runs in the first innings to become the A’s leading run scorer of all time.
En route to the milestone, he passed previous record holder and one of his good friends Gordon MacFarlane.
Birthisel now sits on top of the tree at Altona with 6276 runs in a brilliant career.
“People have made a bigger thing about it than what I have individually,” Birthisel said after reaching the milestone.
“While I am humbled and honoured, it is a team sport and it is all about playing for the team.
“I passed one of my good mates in Gordon McFarlane and he is a legend as far as I am concerned. He has played a higher grade of cricket than I have.
“I have so much respect for the blokes that I have passed in the last few years. They have all been top grade cricketers whereas I have pottered along doing my own thing.”
After growing up in North Ballarat, Birthisel joined Altona as a 22 year old and has played at the club for the past 27 years.
On field, he said being a part of the premiership winning third grade side and an against all odds victory on a wet wicket over Broadmeadows, were two of his most memorable highlights.
However, it is his work off-field which Birthisel has enjoyed just as much.
As one of the senior players at Altona, he also coaches the club’s under-11s and helps mentor other young players on the way up the ranks.
“That role is more enjoyable,” he said. “I have played a lot of cricket and I think I know a little bit about the game and I like to impart that little bit of knowledge.
“The ones that are willing to listen, I am more than happy to help them along.
“I still coach the under-11s down there and my young fella is playing in the under-11s. I get a lot of enjoyment out of seeing kids improve. We have taken kids that couldn’t bowl and bat and now they are doing really well and getting a lot of enjoyment out of the game. They are the special things.”
At the end of the 2012/13 season, Birthisel retired as Altona president.
His replacement, Neil Burns congratulated his predecessor on reaching the milestone and described Birthisel as one of the greats of the club.
“This is testament to his professionalism and what he means to the club,” Burns said.
“His attitude and the way he goes about his cricket are second to none.
“What he puts back into the club, he should be proud of everything he has achieved and it is something to look back on in the future. Breaking any record for any club is a great achievement and we are certainly proud to have him as part of our club.”
