Doonside cricket club brings families together to celebrate it’s 40th birthday

Doonside Cricket Club is more of a family than a sporting organisation.

Doonside Cricket Club is more of a family than a sporting organisation.

The Kareela Reserve-based club celebrates its 40th season this year, and has come a long way from when Keith Skeen helped create it in 1975.

“Doonside needed its own cricket club. People in the area didn’t feel the Blacktown City or Blacktown Workers clubs represented the suburb,” Skeen said.

“The field was a dirt track for years, and it took a long time to get the council on board to give us a hand.

“Everyone at the club worked hard to help build it in the early years. It was this hard work which helped establish the great culture we have today.”

Now more than 100 players pull on the Doonside whites during cricket season for one of nine teams.

Family comes first at the club, with multiple generations playing together.

Family groups make up more than three quarters of the players who represent the club.

Doonside Cricket Club co-founder Keith Skeen (centre) is pictured with his grandson Lleyten, 10, wife Debbie and son Michael.

Doonside Cricket Club life member Skeen has played alongside his son, Michael, while his grandson, Lleyten, also plays at the club.

The club’s 40th birthday will be celebrated at an event on May 25, 2016, at the Blacktown City Bowling Club.

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Doonside Cricket Club secretary Graeme Boyd said the celebration would be an opportunity for past and present players to come together.