United they stand for a good cause

Maclean United players show their support.

UNITED Cricket Club has turned pink in the name of charity with players donning the colour in support of the McGrath Foundation.

A chance decision to change up the usual whites was the inspiration behind the team linking with the breast cancer charity, set up in memory of the late Jane McGrath, wife of fast-bowling great Glenn.

United player and McGrath Foundation fundraising coordinator Nick Clark says it was a snap decision but one which could have far-reaching benefits. The team now wears pink caps, and have shirts, stumps and bat grips with the McGrath Foundation logo.

“It started with three or four guys mucking around and getting dressed in odd bits and pieces and going out on to the field,” he said.

“We then said we should have a McGrath Foundation day and we rang them up on the Monday.”

The side since has raised more than $4000 through selling merchandise as well as hosting raffles and charity days on the Friday night before matches. “It’s been around for a while,” Clark said. “There have been a lot of cases of breast cancer in the area so it’s a good cause. The president and secretary are very strong members of the group (McGrath Foundation) and we didn’t even know about it.”

Clark says his team has become known as the ‘pink guys’ but he wouldn’t change the good work being done both on and off the field for the cause.

“There are a couple of people who have commented about it,” he said. “And the more people talk about it the better it is.”

On the field the team was left seeing red after wet weather forced a cancellation to their match against minor premier Yamba. After bowling Yamba out for 72 United reached 1-23 before the heavens opened. United play Harwood at Barry Watts Oval on Saturday in the match to decide Yamba’s challenger in the grand final. Contact 6645 1888.