The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is proud to announce that one of its most dedicated and selfless former leaders, Stephen J. Gough, has been formally awarded Honorary Life Membership at the Club’s 186th Annual General Meeting.
Gough received the highest honour the Club can bestow on a member in recognition of the significant role he played over more than 17 years at the MCC, appointed as Club secretary/General Manager in 2000 replacing fellow MCC Life Member Dr John Lill.Gough’s title would formally become Chief Executive Officer in 2004.
Some of the most demanding projects imperative to the Club’s growth were successfully delivered under Gough’s guidance, with the former CEO instrumental in steering the Club towards a collective goal while keeping this invaluable piece of advice front of mind – the MCC is a private Club with a public responsibility.
MCC President Fred Oldfield acknowledged Gough’s outstanding contributions, highlighting his unrivalled commitment to enhance every facet of the Club – internally, and, for the benefit of members and fans.
This rebuild required cohesion between the Club, the MCG Trust and the Victorian Government in order to deliver a successful redevelopment, with the MCG able to host a memorable 2006 Commonwealth Games upon the completion of the project.
This event will forever be engrained in MCG history.
A number of additional refurbishments occurred during Gough’s time at the Club including the restoration of the Great Southern Stand (now Shane Warne Stand), the opening of the National Sports Museum (now Australian Sports Museum), while remaining closely involved in the ongoing management of Yarra Park.
The Club experienced notable changes within the sporting sections during Gough’s time as CEO.
MCC Bowls section merged with the Glenferrie Hill Recreation Club – an outcome achieved as a result of his commitment to ensure the Club remained engaged at community level, while MCC Golf, MCC Real Tennis and MCC Croquet were established as sporting sections with Gough’s support.
Special interest groups - the Women of the MCC and MCC Bridge Club were introduced, with Gough also orchestrating the statues program involving 16 statues of sporting legends that prominently feature externally around the MCG.
The Honorary Cricket Membership category and Provisional Membership category were notable additions – a vital broadening of the Club’s membership base in a conscious effort to reduce time on the waiting list.
Along with the ongoing management and protection of the MCC’s historical artefacts and archives, Gough oversaw a significant rebuild of the ground’s biggest asset – the hallowed turf – in 2014.
As ground manager of the MCG, the MCC continues to evolve and expand its event offerings, and under Stephen’s management the Club hosted the following events in addition to regular AFL and cricket fixtures:
- Olympic football (soccer) matches
- World Cup soccer qualifying matches
- International Champions Cup soccer events
- The opening ceremony of the 2002 World Masters Games
- 2006 Commonwealth Games
- 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
- ICC World XI vs Asian XI Tsunami fundraising match
- Bledisloe Cup rugby Test matches
- NRL State of Origin
- Sound Relief Benefit concert for victims of the Black Saturday bushfires
- Introduction of the Melbourne City Mission’s Sleep at the ‘G to raise money for youth homelessness.
The last life Honorary Life Member inducted was former MCC President Steven Smith in 2021.