Ex-state cricketer and Adelaide club great Ken ‘KG’ Cunningham supports merger with Southern District

Adelaide Cricket Club life member KG Cunningham has backed his club’s proposed merger with Southern District – but a Stingrays great isn’t so sure.

Adelaide Cricket Club Hall of Famer and broadcast legend Ken Cunningham has thrown his support behind a proposed Premier Cricket merger between the Buffalos and Southern District. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Adelaide Cricket Club life member and media personality Ken ‘KG’ Cunningham has thrown his support behind a potential merger between the Buffalos and Southern District.

It was revealed last week that SACA clubs Adelaide and Southern District had reached an agreement to merge after months of secret negotiations.

It followed an independent review into SA cricket by former star Australian batsman Mike Hussey, which recommended cutting the Premier competition from 13 clubs to 10 to improve the standard and more ready-made first-class players.

Cunningham, who played 97 first class games for SA and was made a life member of the Buffalos in 2011, said the bid to merge with the Stingrays was the right move.

“I’ve been saying quite strongly for the past 15 years that our district competition is not strong enough,” Cunningham said.

Former Adelaide cricketer Ken Cunningham (L) and Rick Oliver after sharing a partnership of 64 runs in 43 minutes in match against Glenelg in October, 1967. Cunningham went on to score 120 after Oliver was dismissed for 27.

“If both clubs can come together and agree and both clubs can receive the right help from SACA … I’m totally for it.

“For too long we haven’t won a Sheffield Shield since 1995/96 — and I’ve got no doubt that the lack of tough competition at district level has been one of the reasons why.

“I believe we have a responsibility to improve the overall district competition because at the end of the day we are here to produce state cricketers and Test cricketers.”

Under the plan, the new club would be called the Adelaide Cricket Club with elements of Southern District incorporated into the new branding.

“I can understand and appreciate how tough it would be for one of those clubs to lose their identity, Cunningham, 81, said.

“I don’t believe it’s a takeover, I believe it is a genuine merger.

Southern District Cricket Club veteran Justin Ifould during his playing days. Picture: Matt Loxton

“There will be some heartache and there will be some sad stories but unfortunately, that’s life.”

Meanwhile, Southern District Life Member Justin Ifould had concerns about the potential merger.

But the club great, who played in the club’s first A grade victory in the early 1990s before the Stingrays’ inaugural and only top tier flag in 2015/16, hoped those would be alleviate at information forums this month.

“My concerns would be that it is more of a takeover rather than a merger,” Ifould said.

“But I haven’t had an opportunity to go along and hear from them (SACA, Southern’s board) directly yet, about exactly what it means for the clubs.

“In terms of the historical element of Southern District and what it means for our club history, even though it’s only a brief history compared to Adelaide is another concern.

“The fact the name would be Adelaide Cricket Club, the emblem would still be theirs and the location or home base would still be their at Glandore – those sorts of things lean to it being more of a takeover that a merger.

“My other concerns are that if it does become a situation where everything is based at Glandore Oval, the accessibility of that for young, aspiring cricketers in the south and the great southern area.”

The proposal must still be signed off by members and special general meetings will be hosted on February 15.