A FORMER Grassmere Cricket Association club has unveiled a full-scale rebrand after its bid to switch to the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association was approved.
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Purnim will now be known as Northern Raiders and field teams in the WDCA's division two, three, under 17, under 15 and junior female divisions.
It will be headquartered at Purnim Recreation Reserve but will don teal, white and black and a new logo. The club's playing shirt will pay homage to its history with 'PCC' featured.
President Trevor Dowd said it had ambitions to field a division one side within three years.
He said excitement was palpable at the club, which has secured Tim Bryce as its inaugural coach and brothers Jake and Joe McKinnon as co-captains.
"The energy and excitement has been fantastic," Dowd said.
"The last few seasons we've been fairly subdued. We've just going through the motions a bit but there's a real vibrance with where we're going and everyone is putting their hand up to have some input.
"There's been a buzz and we're reinvigorated through the players, supporters and past players."
Dowd told The Standard Bryce and the McKinnon brothers were a coup.
"Jake is coming back from Melbourne to his roots here. He could play in any division one side in Warrnambool but he wanted to come back and do it with his brother," he said.
"They all want to win. We've sort of said we want to spend the minimal time in division two, we want to be playing division one.
"We're working to get a turf wicket and we're hoping to get that within two years. We've done our homework and we have people who are willing to put their hand up and help us achieve that."
Dowd thanked Nestles for nominating and backing Northern Raiders' switch to the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.
Dowd also praised the Grassmere Cricket Association and said his club was proud of its long-standing participation in the league.
He said Purnim's history remained important and would still be celebrated.
"We're passionate about our history and we're conscious of maintaining that," Dowd said.
"It'll be celebrated as if the club is the same. We're conscious of maintaining our values too in a different league.
"We've always liked to play hard but we socialise as well. It's a game we want to win but it's about building long-term friendships and earning respect from other clubs."
Jason Fitzgibbon and Eddie Dwyer will look after Northern Raiders' under 17 players while husband and wife pair Ben and Deb Howarth will support the club's foray into female cricket.
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