By Lyall Gardner - an extract from his book "Heroes of the Ages - The Randwick Petersham Cricket Story
At his peak, Bill Anderson was one of the most dynamic and feared batsmen of his era in Sydney Grade Cricket. And while his ability was undoubted, it is his contribution to the game through coaching and the development of younger players throughout a career spanning more than 50 years where he has created an indelible mark.
The eldest of three children, William Charles Anderson was born at Glebe on 10 April 1948. His father was a carpet layer by trade and had no real interest in sport. The influence of his grandfather on his mother’s side and the teachers at Glebe Primary School however, soon instilled in young Bill the value of sport in all its forms. That led to an early interest in cricket with the youngster showing such promise with his secondary school Fort Street Boy’s High, that he captained the Combined High Schools team. That led to a place in the local Glebe Cricket Club’s 1963-64 A W Green Shield team. Heading the batting with 247 runs that season resulted in his selection in the representative NSW Cricket Association’s Combined Green Shield team. He also made his Grade Cricket debut appearing in Glebe’s 4th Grade side before later making 2nd Grade.
Shortly after, the family moved residence to Earlwood which gave Billy the opportunity to switch clubs to Petersham-Marrickville. Interestingly, Petersham-Marrickville was Bill’s original club of choice but because of the residential restrictions applying at that time, he was permitted to play only with Glebe.
Bill was 16 when he joined Petersham-Marrickville at the start of the 1964-65 season. His 4th Grade captain Bill Calder made the observation in the annual report that summer that “W Anderson, a newcomer to the club, gave indications he could figure prominently as a batsman in the future”. Prophetic words indeed, for in seasons to come Bill Anderson would become the scourge of many Sydney Grade Cricket bowlers.
In 1965-66 he hit 311 runs in 2nd Grade and the following season at 18 years and 216 days, made his 1st Grade debut, being run out for 27 in round 6 against Bankstown at Belmore Oval. The strength of the 1st Grade side however, did not allow Bill to secure a consistent spot in the side until 1969-70. That season included a momentous occasion as Billy scored his maiden 1st Grade century, hitting 102 in just 126 minutes with 12 fours and a six against Randwick at Marrickville Oval.
A temporary loss of form in 1971-72 saw him play a number of games in 2nds where he knocked up 504 runs including centuries against Cumberland and Gordon forcing selector’s hands. By 1972-73 he was a 1st Grade regular.
Petersham-Marrickville made the 1st Grade semi-finals in 1972-73 due mainly to the outstanding batting of Bill Anderson who scored 690 runs during the season. Such was his dominance that his captain Noel Hughes called for his inclusion in the State squad after he had played in the NSW State Colts team. Two seasons later the team had won the 1st Grade premiership with Bill’s consistency in amassing 648 runs including a score of 109 against Cumberland a telling factor. Bill finished that season runner-up to Bobby Simpson in the Sydney Grade Cricket Player of the Season competition.
With a number of pressing commitments outside of cricket, in particular his appointment as Assistant Coach with the Eastern Suburbs rugby league team on the recommendation of Jack Gibson, the 27 year old was unable to play the full season in 1975-76 and at the end of that summer retired as an active player. He finished his playing days after 201 Grade matches with a total of 5,098 runs for the club which included 2,819 in 1st Grade and 1,972 in 2nds. He hit four centuries. Bill also played five seasons in the Poidevin-Gray under 21 competition, twice as captain, while scoring a total of 483 runs in 25 matches.
Bill’s involvement in coaching and player development was first evident in 1968-69 when he coached the under 16 years A W Green Shield team to win the competition while captain of the under 21 PG team. The side included Dave Chardon, Brian Riley and Greg Hartshorne, all of whom would later play alongside Bill in the club’s 1st Grade team.
Bill Anderson was Petersham-Marrickville’s A W Green Shield coach for 10 years. In 1971-72 while still a player in the 1st XI he was appointed Manager and Selector of the representative A W Green Shield team by the NSW Cricket Association, a role he continued to perform for seven years. During that time and in the period leading up to 1985, Bill was employed in various coaching roles by the Association including Assistant Coach of the State Squad. He also spent a season as Petersham-Marrickville Club Coach while for 14 years he was Cricket Coach at Gymea High School.
Over the following years Bill continued his involvement in coaching. From his beginnings as a junior rugby league coach at the Brothers Club and Gymea Junior Rugby League Club and then Assistant Coach at Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney, Bill had by now carved out a career as a professional rugby league coach. In 1980, at just 32 years of age, he was promoted to the position of Head Coach at South Sydney, a role he continued for three years. He returned to cricket coaching in 1985-86 leading NSW to win the Sheffield Shield. A year later in 1987 he was appointed Head Coach of the Balmain Rugby League team. He was later to return to the Tigers from 1993 to 1996 as Assistant Coach.
Bill successfully juggled his coaching commitments with a career in the media, working as a sports journalist and commentator with Network 10 and radio stations 2GB and 2KY from 1983 until 1996. His coaching career also enabled him to achieve a rare double being the only person to coach a Sydney 1st Grade rugby league team and a NSW Sheffield Shield team. In 1992 he returned to his original career in public education.
Bill Anderson, Graeme Hughes and Wayne Pearce - Channel 10 commentary team 1980s
In 2001 Bill received Petersham-Marrickville’s highest accolade when he was made a Life Member. When the merger with Randwick to form Randwick Petersham followed shortly after, Bill took on the demanding role of Director of Coaching and subsequently Director of Cricket Operations. In those roles he has been of immeasurable value to the club and players alike. As an advisor, mentor, supporter, counsellor and friend, many players have benefited greatly from the know-how and experience he has been able to impart. That he instills confidence in players is measured by the fact high profile Test batsman Usman Khawaja, who began his career under Bill’s guidance at Randwick Petersham, has him as his manager.
On any playing day, Bill can be found at the ground assisting and encouraging the 1st Grade team. He is also a regular at lower grade matches around finals time. He has an uncanny knack of quickly putting his finger on a problem or technical deficiency while his tactical knowledge of the game is second to none. And while the 1st Grade team remained one of the most competitive in the competition, season after season, the premiership eluded the side. Three times it finished runner-up. However, the pinnacle of Bill’s involvement with the team occurred at the end of the 2019-20 season when it won the coveted Belvidere Cup in taking out the 1st Grade premiership for the first time. There was no-one more entitled to savour that victory than Bill Anderson.
Bill Anderson on the job at Coogee Oval
Bill’s contribution to the game and its development was recognised in 2008 when he was awarded the Bob Simpson Coach of the Year Award. That same year he was named Randwick Petersham’s Clubman of the Year and followed up with the club’s prestigious Ernie Toshack Memorial Award and Cricket Australia’s 50 Years’ Service Medal in 2010. In 2009 he was elected to the club’s Management Committee, a position in which he continues to serve.
In his professional life Bill Anderson has a number of achievements in public education. As Director, Specialist Programs in the NSW Department of Education and Communities, Bill managed teams across all the performing and visual arts, sport and the conservatoriums of music. He became involved with the annual School Spectacular in 1998 and in 2008 was appointed Executive Producer, a role he continued until his retirement in 2015.
A proud Bill Anderson displays his Public Service Medal
He developed the School Sport Foundation, the Public Education Foundation, the Premier’s Sporting Challenge and a range of corporate and media partnerships to support and promote departmental programs. In 2014, in recognition of his outstanding work, Bill was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List as the recipient of the New South Wales Public Service Medal "for outstanding public service to education in New South Wales". It was a fitting reward for a man who throughout his working life, encouraged and motivated students, young adults, colleagues and sports people to achieve the best they could achieve.,
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