By Tara Murray
New Hillside coach Anthony Alleyne is keen to help the Storm continue to rise up the ranks in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
Alleyne has been named the club’s coach for the next three seasons, which will provide plenty of stability at the club.
“It is exciting,” he said. “I’m going into my fourth season and it’s a good group of guys and club members.
“They have achieved so much since starting in the VTCA structure and getting up into senior division.
“It’ll be good to help them continue as a club to improve their standards and take the next step.”
Alleyne joined the club after having first class experience in Barbados. He has become one of the premier players in the competition.
Alleyne, who was captain in the recently completed VTCA season, was last season the club’s technical director as part of an overall leadership team.
He said he was looking forward to coaching and playing this season. Alleyne has a level 3 coaching certificate.
The club said he would have a major focus on development and performance improvement across the senior grades.
Alleyne said signing for three seasons means they can have some consistency in the coaching set up having had a few changes in recent seasons.
“It gives us time to work to achieve our goals.” We were unlucky to fall short in the bowling department in the semi final when we couldn’t get a breakthrough to put Deer Park under pressure.
“Hopefully next season we can go two steps further.”
Alleyne said they still see the season as a success after finishing third, after making the grand final last season.
“There’s some other teams like Deer Park and Yarraville Club, which are really strong,” he said. “It’s our second season in the top flight.
“We’ve had some really good growth in the club.”
Alleyne said from a club point of view things were going really well as the club continues to grow.
There’s also works being done to the facilities at the ground
“It is great to get wins but being around the club and the social life point of view is really good as well.
“People want to come to the club and it’s just as important as winning flags. We have a good culture to come and play cricket at and play with our mates.
“It’s a good environment to be in.”
