Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

After eight years of being homeless, the Mount Maunganui Cricket Club has been given the green light by the Tauranga City Council to build a temporary structure on Blake Park, which will become the new clubhouse for the MMCC in the immediate future.

Situated on the divide, between the Blake Park rugby fields and the top level cricket wickets, the replacement clubrooms returns a social headquarters to the MMCC membership.

Small in structure, the replacement clubrooms gives a space to gather before matches, along with a small kitchen and a place to watch the cricket action on game day.

The cooperation between the MMCC and Tauranga City Council, will see the temporary structure in place until the Tauranga City Council have finalized the master plan for the re-development of Blake Park, and a new permanent pavilion put in place

Mount Cricket Club members will welcome the homecoming of the Clubs visual history, with the return of the Club honours board and photographs, to the walls of the new clubhouse.

The current Mount Cricket Club, which dates back over a half-century ago, has forged a reputation as a real heavyweight of Baywide premier cricket, since inception.

Ten, Hart Family Trophy Champion of Champions titles in the last 14 seasons, testifies to the team other clubs have to beat to get their name engraved on Baywide premier silverware.

Hand and hand with the MMCC Baywide success's, which include 8 Bay of Plenty Cups, 7 Williams Cups and four Baywide T20 titles, are some huge individual achievements on the field of play.

Long-serving premier all-rounder, Peter Drysdale, has blasted his way into the Bay of Plenty Club Cricket record books with 14 centuries to his name. A top score of 177 not out includes seven unbeaten stands. Age has proved barrier to the top order batsman, with RPO Drysdale, belting 137 and 129 not out, in Baywide action last season.

Mark Divehall, is one of only three Baywide premier batters to reach the coveted 200 run mark in an innings.

Two nine wicket bags sit at the top of the Mount bowling stakes. In the 1960's and 1970's, LD (David) Andersen wreaked havoc to finish his time as a "Mountie", with 13 six-wicket hauls alongside a remarkable 9/24.

The best individual match figures belong to Bay of Plenty Cricket (and Mount) legend, Derek Beard, who grabbed nine wickets at a cost of 22 runs. Beard held the record of 105 Bay of Plenty representative appearances, until overtaken by Peter Drysdale, whose tally currently stands at 119 Bay games.

In addition to the premier achievements on display are the Western Bay of Cricket MMCC rolls of honour. The Club honours boards show that the MMCC highest score was belted by Reserve Grade master blaster Khan Greig, who smacked 213 not out, in the 2011/12 season.

The Mount Maunganui Cricket troops are eagerly looking forward to the new season that kicks off in early October, to utilize the new temporary headquarters, which will greatly assist in restoring the MMCC legendary camaraderie.