Stalwart … 250-gamer Brian Bourchier at his Altona North home. 57492 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Luke D’Anello
AFTER a distinguished career with Altona North in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association (VTCA), Brian Bourchier has a plethora of memories and anecdotes to tell.
But his greatest moment could come in a few short years – that’s if his body, which is 28 in cricket years, doesn’t shut down.
Bourchier, who recently notched 250 games for North, said his next ambition was to play alongside his son, Liam, who is in the club’s under 13 team. Bourchier is also coach of the side and secretary of the senior club.
“I’ve got my son coming through at the moment and, if the body holds out, I’d like to play with him. That will be my next goal,” the 39-year-old said.
“If I can see myself playing with my son in the next three to five years, that would be good, and it might be enough (time to retire).
“I’ve had some back problems, so it’s a year by year (prospect) at the moment.
“How long the body holds up will determine how long I go on for.”
Bourchier registered his milestone against Strathmore in round four of the North seconds competition and, while his team lost the game, he said he was pleased to be associated with the club for such a long period.
Bourchier also spent four seasons with Premier Cricket side Footscray-Edgewater in the mid-late 1980s, and played mainly in the thirds and fourths.
His achievements with Altona North include six senior batting average awards, a bowling average and a club champion trophy.
In 1990, Bourchier scored the treble – batting, bowling and club champion awards –boasts a highest score of 160, as consistent seasons of 300-400 runs have become the norm.
“The individual stuff, I guess, is not high on my agenda, but I suppose it (1990) was a reasonable sort of year.
“These days, I’m more about bringing the younger kids through. That’s my major focus now.”
Bourchier is in the top 10 for games played at the club and captained Altona North’s first XI to its last premiership in the 1998-99 season. All this has been achieved while contributing off the field by filling the roles of secretary and treasurer.
On the field, Bourchier was, at one stage, a talented all-rounder but he has since turned his attention to batting.
He said captaining the first XI to a flag was his most cherished memory.
“It certainly stands ahead of anything else that goes around the place, like the batting and bowling averages.
“Generally, my time at the club has been pretty pleasing and pretty satisfying.
“I’ve probably made close to 10,000 runs overall. I think of myself as part of the furniture I suppose, and I’m not planning going anywhere.”
If Bourchier manages to enter the field of play with his son, it will ice what has been an exciting ride.
