Ragtag royalty: Sir Garfield Sobers’ incredible coaching stint at East Malvern

They met at the greyhounds and drafted initial terms on a beer coaster.

PAUL AMY unravels the incredible tale of Sir Garfield Sobers – second only to Bradman in cricket legend – signing to coach a ragtag suburban club.

Garry Sobers with East Malvern's 1982 First XI premiership side.

Daryl Raggatt had a surprise for the committee of his Melbourne suburban cricket club ahead of the 1981-82 season.

And, as president, he wanted to drop it for maximum effect. He imagined the gasps that would follow in the committee room.

So he dealt with other items on the agenda at East Malvern Cricket Club and left the appointment of the club’s new senior coach to last.

How was sponsorship going? Had the indoor nets been booked for pre-season training?

Were player numbers looking OK? Was there any news from the association?

Finally it came to Raggatt.

At the previous committee meeting he had volunteered to find a coach. As he drove home that night, he wondered why. He had no experience of doing it and few ideas on where to start.

But soon after he got lucky at the Olympic Park greyhound track. “Very, very lucky,’’ he says now.

A fellow he met at the dogs – and immediately got on well with – had agreed to take the position. And he was one of the greatest names in the game.

Now Raggatt had the signed contract to show his committee. He pushed it forward. It was two pages long and dated August 2, 1981.

One of his committeemen read the name and simply said: “F–k.’’

When Raggatt confirmed it, another member of the committee assumed he was joking.

“Don’t be so bloody stupid, Daryl,’’ he snapped. “The season starts soon, you know.’’

But it was true. There was the signature on the second page. East Malvern’s new, non-playing coach was Sir Garfield Sobers.

Read more at codesports.com.au