Brian Doogan's Saturday Interview meets a former policeman who's now the professional at Church

BEING shot at during a bank raid is enough to drive any man to Church.

In Brendan Creevey's case, the surprise is only that it took him so long.

Just 19 when he realised that police work was not for him - unless body armour were suddenly made mandatory - it's taken him eight years to reach the Lancashire League, a breeding ground for Australian cricket stars from Allan Border to Shane Warne.

And it was only last December that he made his first class debut for Queensland against England A.

Did facing the gunfire of several aspiring criminals really traumatise him that much?

"It was not a nice experience, mate, I can assure you," said Creevey, confused by my sudden excitement at news of possible heroics (you were shot at - wow!).

"I thought to myself, '19 is too young to die'!"

Ah, not a hero after all.

"That was the final straw - I decided to get out of the police force and get into something safer."

So he became a teacher, and suddenly the greatest danger came not from bullets but spitballs instead.

"Well, at least they don't kill you!" he said wryly.

"It's quite a change in career. "Both my brothers, Mark and Gary, are teachers so I knew what I was getting into.

"I don't think I was cut out to be a policeman - you have to be strict and I couldn't manage that."

Pupils at St Dympna's in Ashley would no doubt find information like this very interesting - you can come out from under your desk now, sir, it's only a water pistol!

"It's very fulfilling to see children learn, knowing that I've taught them something," added Creevey.

"You see them come to you at the start of the year and when they leave their knowledge is hopefully so much improved."

That too is the hope of the young aspiring band of cricketers who travel here from Oz each year.

Creevey is no different in that he hopes what he will learn about coping on vastly different wickets to what he's used to will further his ambitions in the game.

"Every Australian cricketer wants to play for Australia and that's my goal too," he declared.

But the rumblings this week are that he wants to return to Australia earlier than anticipated.

"You can kill that one right away, mate - I'll be seeing out my spell at Church definitely," insisted Creevey.

"The guys there are fantastic, so hospitable and they've made myself and my wife, Linda, feel really welcome. "I'm enjoying it and I'm enjoying the experience of playing here."

Certainly anyone who sees Creevey in action off the field, in the clubhouse for example, would seriously doubt those who suggest he's not enjoying himself.

"I brought over some drinking games for the guys," he said.

"One of them is called broomjumping.

"You have to sprint the length of a pitch and back again then skull half a pint, stretch both arms over your head and point the broom skywards, spin around 10 times as fast as you can, drop the broom and then try to jump over it.

"I've only ever seen one person do it - and he fell straight back!"

Well, it beats dwarf-throwing, I suppose.

Doubts about his happiness, though, have been fuelled by on-field performances.

A niggling injury, however, may be responsible for that.

"The tissue around my right shoulder is torn in three places," he explained.

"At first, I thought it was the cold weather.

"It was obvious against Accrington a couple of weeks ago that I had an injury.

"I missed the Haslingden match last week and also the Inter-league match and I've been going to the physio, (former Rovers man) Tony Long, for the last week and a half.

"It had been getting to the stage where I was letting the team down.

"Chairman Tony Marsden advised me that it would be better to take a break. "I don't like being sidelined, I prefer being part of it all."

Chronic frustration has been avoided through the ever-present support of Linda, who before they got delivery of their "jellybean" - how Brendan refers to the sponsored car - became a real snooker fan during the world championships in Sheffield.

"I got hooked on it completely - I know all the lingo now!" she said, in between entertaining Bob and Trish, a friendly couple from Brisbane who on this trip alone have been to London, Paris, Norway, Scotland - and East Lancashire.

"I thought Brisbane was highly populated until I saw London," added Brendan.

"My perception of it now has changed totally - it's like the outback compared to London!

"We like to drive about and see the sights.

"I'm amazed at the tradition and the Lakes are beautiful."

They are reminiscent of the stunning coastline with which Creevey is familiar back in Brisbane. Born in Charleville, a small country town in eastern Australia, Brendan and the family moved to Augathella, finally settling in the finance centre that is Brisbane where dad Bernie established a carpentry business.

Young Brendan enjoyed all sports but displayed no exceptional talent at cricket.

"I achieved nothing at school level in the game apart from playing for my age group," he recalled. "I gave it up when I joined the police - I had been accepted for courses but with the police you immediately became a cadet in the Academy - and they paid you!"

It was only when fate intervened, in the form of an all too up-close bullet, that he got back into the game and in his first outing for Sandgate-Nedcliffe firsts claimed 9-82.

He played a handful of one-day games for Queensland last season and was recommended to Church by Queensland regular and last year's professional at Blackburn Road Matthew Mott.

"I've given up teaching for the time being to be at Church while Matthew has gone back to complete a teacher-training course," said Creevey.

"It's like tag team!"

And it means that for the time being he only has to dodge the odd bouncer here and there - no spitballs and definitely no bullets.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.