Greg Monaghan – Player and Administrator
Parramatta District Cricket Club | July 25, 2026
Greg Monaghan is a classic example of the dedicated volunteers, from all clubs, that have devoted their skills, time and energy towards maintaining a place in the celebrated NSW Premier Cricket Competition for their own clubs. Throughout its history this competition has spawned many of the greatest names to have appeared in Australian cricket – e.g. Don Bradman, Bill O’Reilly, Ray Lindwall, Bob Simpson, the Waugh brothers, Jeff Thomson, Doug Walters, Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummings etc.
Greg has served the Parramatta District Cricket club initially on the field as a player, and then later as an administrator.
On the admin side he has been entrenched as the Club’s President (now known as Chair) since the 2005/06 season and will be back on deck in that role for the upcoming 2026/27 season. This lengthy stint makes him the longest-serving president in the Parramatta Club’s history – surpassing the previous record holder C.J. Byrnes (former Parramatta Mayor) who held the post from 1891/92 through to 1907/08.
Greg Monaghan brought a wealth of business experience to his tenure as Club President. This comes from his professional background in the Corporate Banking and Finance related industries where he held a range of Senior Executive positions.
He has utilized his key strengths in corporate networking and event management to revitalize the club’s fund-raising activities – the annual Sporting Legends Luncheons and the Doug Walters Golf Classic have proved outstanding successes and over the past 20 years have benefited the club’s financial well-being, and he has been adept at presenting P.D.C.C.’s issues to local Councils and politicians.
His interest in cricket administration in general saw him elected to the Sydney Cricket Association Committee, that is responsible for the running of the Premier Cricket’s competitions, in 2006/07 and he has continued to serve as a club delegate to the SCA. In 2008 he won appointment to the Cricket NSW Board on which he served for several seasons.
In 2020 Greg was appointed to the position of President of the Board of Parramatta Leagues (four year term) and currently remains an active member of that body, which added further credence to laurels as a sports administrator.
Under Greg’s tenure as Club Chair (President) the Parramatta District Cricket Club has arguably enjoyed the most successful period in its long history, this statement is well-backed by the following:
· Club Championship win in 2024/25, Runners-up in 2017/18, 2022/23.
· First Grade Belvidere Cup wins in 2017/18, 2022/23 and 2024/25.
· Third grade premierships in 2009/10, 2022/23 and 2024/25.
· Fifth grade premiership in 2024/25.
· Poidevin-Gray Shield premierships in 2012/13, 2016/17 and 2020/21.
· A.W. Green Shield titles in 2007/08, 2017/18 and 2022/23.
· The Parramatta District Cricket Club has fully-fledged Women’s division (fielding teams in First, Second and Third grade and Brewer Shield).
On the playing field Greg represented Parramatta from 1974/75 to 1981/82 - making his First grade debut in 1976/77 - Player Number: 422. He transferred to the Penrith Club in the 1982/83 season and whilst there he won a First grade premiership skippered by John Benaud
Greg came to Parramatta (then Cumberland) in 1974/75 as a fledgling 19-year-old right-handed batsmen, from the Sydney Church competition and was selected in Fifth grade. But fine Innings of 59 and 108 bore evidence of his potential batting prowess and he won early promotion to Fourth grade and by season’s end was a member of the Third grade team.
His progression continued to the point where he played the bulk of the 1975/76 season in the Premiership-winning Second grade team, performing solidly as an attacking middle-order batsman and fine slips fieldsman.
Greg’s 1st grade debut occurred in the 1976/77 season, and he remained a permanent fixture in that team until the close of the 1981/82 season, captaining the team soundly in 1978/79. He then transferred to the Penrith club where he played out the remainder of his career.
A batsman with a tight technique, he possessed a calm temperament and solid array of strokes.
His batting really flourished after being elevated to opener in 1979/80 with a resultant 511 runs @ 28.39 (H.S. - 96). His safe hands in the slips snared a club record 21 catches for a fieldsman – broken in 2015/16 by Luke Dempsey with 24 in Second grade.
The Monaghans had a strong family involvement with the Parramatta club – siblings Richard, Ian and Tony, son Ben and nephew Trent all turned out for the ‘two-blues’. Ian was a towering fast bowler, a first grade regular who captured 257 wickets 16.82 (all grades); Richard was a wholehearted paceman in the lower grades grabbing 282 wickets @ 15.82; Tony had a unique role with the club – he was a member of the 1975/76 A.W. Green Shield premiers team captained by Greg Matthews and then coached the 2007/08 winning A.W.G. team in which his son Trent was a player; and Ben was an allrounder who scored 3,027 runs and snared 117 wickets (all grades), he captained Third and Fourth grades and First grade T20).
Greg was made a Life Member of the Parramatta District Cricket Club in 2016 for services to the organisation. His Parramatta playing career statistics were:
Back Row: Wes Gould (Scorer), John Affleck, Greg Monaghan, Bob Aitken, Ray Hudsworth, Mick Haire, Ron Wright (Club Secretary).
Front Row: Greg Matthews, Dave Parker, Tom Wood (Captain), Allen Turrell, Garry Oakes, Darren Tucker.
Long term Officials – Ron Wright, Greg Monaghan and Tom Wood celebrate Parramatta’s 2017/18 Belvidere Cup win.
By Tom Wood – Parramatta District Cricket Club Historian
