The South East Cricket Association or SECA (formerly the City of Moorabbin Cricket Association /CMCA) is a large amateur cricket association based in Melbourne, the capital city of the southern Australian state of Victoria. The SECA has provided a well-organised and affordable cricket competition for the local community since 1930. The majority of affiliated clubs are based in the Cities of Bayside, Port Phillip, Glen Eira and Kingston. SECA is affiliated with the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union (formerly known as the Cricket Union of Victoria).

SECA is a community based association, that provides & administers cricket to the local community for members of all ages, from as young as 5 up to senior ages.

 

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SECA Executive:
President: Simon Poll
Vice President: Peter Kemp 
General Manager: Nick Macmillan 0419 140476  Email
Juniors Manager: Simon Polinelli:  0410 579 418 Email 
Treasurer: Greg Halliday Email
Member Protection/ Child Safety Officer: Ian Poulter Email
 

Executive Members:

Phil Arnold
Matthew Balmer
Graeme Diggle 
Nicole Quiney
Harry Stamos

Andrew Collison

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SECA Juniors:

Manager: Simon Polinelli  0410 579 418  Email

Phil Arnold

Matt Balmer

SECUA -Umpires:
Secretary: Joel Lefkovic Email
Coach: Andrew Collison Email

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-The History of SECA-

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The South East Cricket Association (formerly the City of Moorabbin Cricket Association (CMCA)) is a large amateur cricket association based in Melbourne, the capital city of the southern Australian state of Victoria. The SECA has provided a well-organised and affordable cricket competition for the local community since 1930. The majority of affiliated clubs are based in the Cities of Bayside, Port Phillip, Glen Eira and Kingston. SECA is affiliated with the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union (formerly known as the Cricket Union of Victoria).

The SECA senior competition consists of around 120 teams organised into 12-14 grades. This comprises mainly teams from SECA primary-affiliate clubs, plus a small number of lower XIs from the Victorian Turf Cricket Association (VTCA). The premier grade (Longmuir Shield) is named in honour of the late Ray Longmuir, a past president of the CMCA.

The SECA junior competition consists of around 280 teams from 44 clubs in Under 18, Under 16, Under 14 and Under 12 & Rookies grades, including Wednesday Under 18 T-20 competition and Friday 16 & 14 grades.  U12s + Rookies play predominantly on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  The competition comprises junior teams from SECA primary-affiliate clubs, the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association and Cricket Southern Bayside (fornerly part of the VTCA).

In addition to running club cricket, the SECA fields 10 representative teams (7 male and 3 female) in the annual VMCU Representative Carnival.  SECA has had great success in these competitions for many years.

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-Through the Decades-

THE EARLY YEARS : 1930-1949

The South East Cricket Association (until June 2013, formerly known as the City of Moorabbin Cricket Association (CMCA)) is currently the third-largest cricket association in Victoria. Its origins go back to 1930, when a group of local cricket officials met in a barbers shop in Centre Road Bentleigh and founded the Moorabbin and District Cricket Association. The driving force behind this meeting was Henry Joseph (Harry) Morgan, secretary of the Bentleigh ANA cricket club. The fledgeling association started with 7 teams. The founding clubs were Bentleigh ANA, Highett, McKinnon, Allendale, P.A.F.S. (Protestant Alliance Friendly Society), Bentleigh Australian Labour Party, and G.U.O.O.F. (Grand United Order of Odd Fellows). Another stalwart of the Association, West Bentleigh, joined in 1932.

At this time there were few reserves specifically set aside for sport. Local cricket was played on an irregular basis, with many clubs using improvised ovals on any available vacant land. The impetus for forming the new competition was the fact that the Frankston-Glenhuntly Cricket Association (the predecessor of the Federal District C.A.) had rejected affiliation of local teams on the basis that their grounds were sub-standard.

The competition underwent several name changes in the early years: in 1934 the Moorabbin and District C.A. combined with Bentleigh Churches Association to become the Bentleigh and District C.A., and this competition was in turn renamed the City of Moorabbin C.A. in 1947. The association comprised a diverse mixture of teams drawn from Churches, local industries, footballers, Ramblers, the Moorabbin Band, and lodges such as the Australian Natives Association, the Independent Order of Rechabites (a non-drinking group), and the Free Gardeners.

The 1930s and 1940s were depression and war years, and as such posed enormous obstacles to the growth of the new association. Finance was a constant problem, with the competition heavily dependent on donations by local businesses and individuals to provide trophies. Individual clubs also struggled to survive as few players could afford to pay club subscriptions, and clothing, equipment and cricket balls were scarce. Moorabbin Council was reluctant to spend money on ground maintenance and facilities, so playing conditions were primitive. Within the association there was frequent turmoil as Church-based teams strongly opposed the consumption of liquor during post-match socialising and at Association functions. Fortunately for local cricket, the CMCA had many dedicated and capable administrators, in particular Harry Morgan (President 1936-1964), Claude Jones (Secretary 1939-56), and Charlie Pont (Treasurer 1941-59).

Many competitions suspended operations during the Second World War but the Bentleigh and District CA (reduced to 12 teams) continued to play senior cricket during the war years. Junior cricket was abandoned in 1940, and did not resume until 1948.
 

POST-WAR CONSOLIDATION : 1950-69
The post-war era saw a population boom which put increased pressure on the open spaces available for community sport. Harry Morgan had the foresight to realise that it was essential to provide sufficient sports grounds for a growing community, and ensured that the CMCA furthered the election of local Councillors willing to assist the CMCA in provision of grounds. In those days voting in Council elections was non-compulsory so as few as 300 votes could elect a Councillor. Election of public-spirited Councillors was essential to counteract the influence of builders and real-estate developers already entrenched in the Council system.

Every year deputations were sent to persuade Councils to purchase land for new sports reserves. Constant pressure was maintained on Councils to upgrade facilities, as most grounds lacked pavilions or sewered toilets in the early years. The CMCA provided the impetus for the acquisition of such grounds as McKinnon Oval, Victory Park, King George VI Reserve, Bailey Park, Mackie Rd Reserve, Le Page Park and Peterson Rd Reserve. It was very much a "hands on" effort, with both club and Executive members often doing the pick-and-shovel work needed to lay new pitches. Increased availability of grounds facilitated the growth of the competition: 7 teams in 1930, 16 teams in 1939, 28 teams in 1947, 40 teams in 1957, 62 teams in 1963.

The CMCA was the very first Associations in Victoria to establish junior teams, recognising the need to foster youth involvement in community sport. The first junior teams (U-15) were formed in 1937, but junior cricket ceased between 1940-47 due to the war. An U-14 section was created in 1948 (6 teams), and an U-16 section in 1949. By 1963 there were 36 junior teams.

 

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MAJOR EXPANSION : 1970-1979
When Harry Morgan retired as President in 1964, he was succeeded by longtime colleague Ray Longmuir, another superb administrator to whom local cricket owes an immense debt. The 1970s was a decade of great expansion which saw the CMCA senior competition double in size (62 teams in 1963, 90 teams in 1975, 140 teams in 1982). Many new clubs joined the CMCA when the neighbouring Brighton District Cricket Association disbanded in 1978.

As Chairman of the Junior Section from 1966-84, Lloyd Champion played a major role in developing junior cricket in the area. An U-12 section (6 teams) was created in 1977, and this has remained the fastest-growing part of the junior competition (52 teams competed in 1999/2000).  Upon the death of Ray Longmuir in 1984, Lloyd become President of the CMCA, and he was succeeded by Mackie CC stalwart John Park.

 

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THE MODERN ERA : 1980-THE PRESENT
After reaching an all-time peak of 140 senior teams in 1982, the senior competition has remained fairly stable at 9-10 grades comprising around 120 teams.  In 1999 the CMCA welcomed into its senior ranks three clubs from the ailing Federal District C.A., which has prompted many cricketers to resume playing in an area where park cricket had been in decline for a considerable time.  A further 7 Federal clubs have joined the CMCA at junior level since 1992.  Of the six major Associations that once operated in the southern area, only the CMCA and Southern District and Churches League have survived.

The junior competition has experienced significant growth, from 80 teams in 1990 to 116 teams in 1999 to 174 teams in 2010.  Progressive rule modifications for juniors (compulsory batting retirements and bowling restrictions) ensure that most kids get reasonable participation in the game. Many former CMCA juniors have progressed to District and first-class cricket : players who have represented Australia include Graeme Watson (Bentleigh Presbyterians), Davenell Whatmore (Highett), Julien Wiener and Simon Davis (Brighton Union), current Australian record wicket-taker Shane Warne (East Sandringham), and Brad Hodge (Moorabbin).  Players who have represented Victoria include John Leehane, Mick Taylor, John Anderson, Brad Green, Ian Hewitt, Nick Jewell, Robert Quiney and Jon Holland.   After representing Australia in junior National teams, Ashton Agar (McKinnon) went to Western Australia to pursue a state cricket career, and in June 2013 toured England with the Australia "A" squad.

In 1999 the CMCA was threatened with fragmentation under a Victorian Cricket Association blueprint for community cricket. Under this scheme CMCA clubs were to be divided into two new VCA-controlled "Super competitions".  In November 1999 a meeting of the 47 CMCA-affiliated clubs unanimously rejected this VCA proposal, affirming their faith in 70 years of dedicated volunteer administration.  The Regional proposal went ahead for Junior Representative purposes, but Cricket Victoria finally saw the light and from season 2011-12 all CMCA clubs were grouped within a single Region (South East Bayside). 

On Wednesday 29th May a majority of clubs voted in favour of changing the CMCA's name to become the South East Cricket Association (SECA).  This name was felt to better reflect an Association that stretches from Port Melbourne to Bonbeach. 

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The SECA is justifiably proud of its history, and will continue to flourish for many years to come.

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