The last time Cam Clayton took the coaching reins at St Anthonys he led them to a B-grade premiership and promotion to the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s top grade, contesting the McIntyre Cup.
St Anthonys came straight back down the following season after losing a swag of players.
Clayton was recently announced as new head coach for last summer’s B-grade runner-up, and everyone at the club hopes he can repeat his success of 2012-13.
He returns to the club after a season as a player with Riddell, and the chance to get back into coaching has him excited as pre-season training approaches.
“I was really keen to get back into coaching so when the opportunity came up I jumped at it,” Clayton said.
“I enjoyed it at Riddell, but I’m looking at getting back into coaching rather than playing under other people. After coaching (St Anthony’s) a couple of years back and getting into McIntyre I have a bit of unfinished business at the club.
“We want to get back to the top grade and stay there for a long time.”
Clayton, who will be a playing coach, takes over a club in a strong position, with the top three grades all playing finals last season and the first XI falling just shy of another premiership and promotion.
“The club has a good culture and a good system in place, and that shows on the field,” Clayton said.
“Our biggest thing this year is retaining the players we had, getting a couple of main strike bowlers and, maybe, another good bat at the top order.
“But I think the nucleus of a strong first XI is there already after making a grand final. If you have strength in the top grades it feathers out through the whole club, so, hopefully, all the sides can pick up where they left off last season.”
Clayton says he still has fond memories of his time at St Anthony’s.
“I played a lot of my junior cricket there so it’s exciting to be back there.
“The last time we went up only three players from the B-grade premiership played McIntyre Cup, so it was a whole new side and a big step- up and they struggled a bit.
“This group is pretty settled so that’s a good sign this season and beyond.”
Far from easing into his first season back at the club, Clayton is setting the bar high for the 2016-17 summer.
“We’ll make finals again,” he said.
“We want to go in with the attitude that we’ve had a couple of years together now, the game plan is in place and we should be aiming for the top.
“We’ll be taking it week by week, play as a team and, hopefully, get back to that top grade.”
