Photo Special: Allan Border returns to Mosman to open new sports pavilion.

By JACK KELLY. Images: Graham Monro from gmphotographics

Cricket legend Allan Border has made the trip down from Queensland to reunite with his old teammates at a new pavilion named in his honour.

Last Saturday, Allan Border Oval was also given a face to its name, with a bronze statue unveiled to immortalise Mosman’s most famous son.

“It’s a great honour to finally see the sculpture, it’s obviously me 40 years ago, you know, it’s got the moustache, but it evokes memories of my playing days, that’s for sure,” Border told Mosman Collective.

“To have a statue just out in the open there, it is really special.”

Hundreds of residents attended the ceremony, with former Australian Cricketer teammate and captain Ian Chappell sharing a few memories to those assembled.

“In his early days, I felt that Allan probably didn’t want to be captain and didn’t want to lead,” he said, “But from 1989 onwards I thought AB was a damn good captain, he decided he wanted to become a leader,” Chappell said.

“He will always be remembered as a very brave batsman. And I think none more so than the game in Trinidad, where he got 198 not out. It’s still talked about by many of those West Indies players.”

Chappell told Mosman Collective he was “thrilled” that the pavilion had been appropriately named.

“The main thing I’m pleased about is that they’ve named it after an ex-cricketer, rather than it being named after an administrator.”

At a special VIP function following the ceremony, Border’s Mosman Cricket Club mates gathered, including his U-21 cricket team, who won the premiership in 1973/74.

Barry Hyland, Leigh Clapham, Greg Bush, Greg Simpson and Jim Tait said they are all still in regular contact despite the passage of time.

“We actually won the under-21 premiership 50 years ago; and while we had a reunion six months ago, we wouldn’t miss being here to celebrate AB,” Mr Bush said.

“I started playing with Allan when I was 13, when he lived at 27 The Crescent.

“This is a beautiful place to play. I had 13 seasons with MCC and really enjoyed my cricket here.

“It’s a great community and wonderful to catch up with the blokes from our premiership team.”

The experience not only sparked shared smiles but also memories from a simpler time for the former Australian Test captain.

“Mosman – and this oval – is a special place for me, with many great memories,” Border said.

“As a child, I spent so much time here playing baseball and cricket. It was the best way to grow up. As a young kid, you don’t realise how special those moments are and how lucky we were.”