From the Westcountry to Western Australia and back: Robbie Montgomery blog
13 January 2015
Next up in our series of player blogs is new boy Robbie Montgomery.
The allrounder writes about swapping Somerset for Western Australia as a child, his decision to return to the UK to try and make it as a professional cricketer and his pride at signing for Gloucestershire...
I was born in Taunton but at the age of six my parents decided to choose a debatably better and most definitely warmer lifestyle in Perth, Australia.
Two years later I had developed a change of accent, skin tone and interests. A very exciting childhood ensued - despite being paranoid of the snakes and spiders!
My granddad is from a West Indian background and calypso crazy about cricket. My dad is also a strong cricket supporter so I didn't have much choice to like this sport I've grown so fond of now.
Australia had a massive impact on my younger sporting life. From bowling at the washing line for hours on end in the backyard to representing Western Australia in athletics I have always been a massive competitor regardless of the sport.
I started playing club cricket at the age of nine and by 17 I had broken junior records at club level, captained regional state teams and won two premiership titles with my club Joondalup.
A big highlight was and being invited to tour Bangalore, India. During our two week stay we played five matches. We lost four of them but the experience was incredible and never to be forgotten. The tour was made by my nan and granddad secretly meeting me in the middle of Bangalore after travelling all the way from England as a surprise. That meant the world to me and showed massive support towards my new upcoming career.
In April 2012 I decided to take time off school to come back to England and play for Somerset Second XI on trial. Things went well but I was advised by the staff to go back to Australia and develop my game further.
On my return to Australia I was selected in the Western Australian under 19s winter training squad, I felt privileged and showed full commitment but a month into winter training I suffered a lower back and knee injury prior to the national tournament. I was gutted to say the least and worked extremely hard with bowling coaches and in the gym to develop more pace and reduce the strain on my lower back.
I was slowly seeing cricket turning from a hobby to something I'm might be able to do as a career and I was faced with a big decision. Do I stay in Australia and a career in excavating and drilling or do I come to the UK with a chance to make something of my passion?
After many discussions with family and friends, I came to live with my nan and granddad in Someset.
In 2014 I continued to put in the hard yards with Somerset and Bridgwater CC and results started to show. A third of the way into the season we played a rather decent Gloucestershire side in a T20 match at Taunton Vale CC. I was given the responsibility of death bowling and executed my lengths and varied my pace with convincing figures. Two days later Owen Dawkins, offered me an extended trial with Gloucester alongside my Bridgewater teammate Chris Skidmore.
I absolutely jumped at the chance and after performing well in Second XI matches I was given the opportunity to make my first team debut in the NatWest T20 Blast game against a fierce Glamorgan side with a crowd to match at SWALEC stadium. Although my debut didn’t go to plan with figures of 0-50, it was still an amazing experience. It gave me a good insight of where I need to be and a taste of what to look forward to - regardless of the rude awakening.
At the end of the 2014 season I was given the opportunity to sign a one year rookie contract with Gloucestershire and become a professional cricketer. Of course I said yes! Myself and my family couldn't be prouder.
I am now three months into my winter training and despite the cold weather I am loving the way of life, my new teammates and the staff. I have the desire to improve on a daily basis and believe I have a lot to offer to the club both on and off the field. I cannot wait to express this as the season undergoes in early April 2015.
