The Tamworth accountant is counting on a stress-free season just playing the game (on the field) and not having to worry about the finances of the Tamworth District Cricket Association.

He had been treasurer of the TDCA for the past decade until he stepped down at last Wednesday night’s annual general meeting.

“I took over from Bede Maher,” Greg recalled when he took time out to discuss his time as TDCA treasurer with The NDL.

“He was the same as I am now. Got a family and work as well. To hold that sort of position you have to be committed.

“It has been fun though and I do have to thank Tex (former TDCA president) too.

“He gave me the time to do both. I was very fortunate there.

“But I won’t miss the politics that always goes on.

“Some people have their own little agendas.”

He leaves the TDCA in a sound financial position too after it turned over $170,000 last season.

“We could have been in a better position,” he said.

“But everything we make we put back into the game. At the moment we’ve got a credit union loan to repay but that will be finalised in two years and we also have to come up with the annual ground fees for the Tamworth Regional Council. That’s almost $40,000 a season at this stage. That’s a massive amount.”

He said it costs the TRC around $140,000 a year to keep those grounds (mainly along Riverside) in playable situation for the cricket.

“However our fees keep going up,” he said.

“I fear for the mums and dads out there who will find it might be too dear to pay for their children to play in the future unless something is done.”

One way would be to ensure all the clubs return to the Ian “Butch” Southwell Cricket House for an hour after every game.

He said a TDCA administrator once did a costing of what it would mean to the TDCA. It showed that all six clubs – City United, North Tamworth, Bective-East, West Tamworth, South Tamworth and Old Boys – would be able to pay much of their costs for equipment and the like without interfering too greatly in those clubs’ supporting their various sponsor venues.

He still believes that’s true but will leave that to others to champion as he looks forward to “just playing”.

While he turns 42 next month he’s hoping to play with his Bective-East club and maybe some of the T20 he was forced to miss last season as his daughter, 10-year-old Annalise, begins a blossoming gymnastics career.

“When I first came to Tamworth I played third grade, then second grade. And the last few years I’ve been hovering between first and second grade,” Greg said.