Written by Russell Holmesby.
Stuart Craven first played in a Bentleigh side at the age of nine.
It was a time before there was a Bentleigh Vic-kick/Auskick and the under-10 team was the only side that Bentleigh Juniors had.
Today, 33 years later, Bentleigh is a vastly bigger structure, but Stuey Craven is still on the books and reached the milestone of his 150th senior game last weekend in our thirds. Despite many extended patches of him not playing due to family and work commitments, he has always remained loyal to the red and blue.
If cricketers claim to be in the nervous 90s then Stuey can be said to have had a parallel in the “nervous 140s” for the past five years. He jokes that he hasn’t lost any pace because he never had any in the first place.
He downplays his own contribution, but scan through the club records and you will find accolades such as the Ralph Phillips Encouragement Award in the early 2000s that give a hint to his ability.
Well done Stuey on the milestone. At this rate you will hit the 300 in the year 2055!
