John Pearson

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | July 04, 2024

John Pearson played just two seasons, 13 years apart, with Petersham-Marrickville, yet he was one of the most influential members of the club in the 1980s and through to its merger with Randwick in 2001.

Born on 15 October 1947 at Leichhardt and educated at Ibrox Park Boys High (now Leichhardt High), John Charles Pearson played his early Grade Cricket with Balmain. Prior to the 1968-69 season, John’s brother-in-law, Jeff McQueen, had an offer to join Petersham-Marrickville and the young opening bat, who had played a handful of 2nd Grade matches with Balmain, decided to go with him. Starting in 3rd Grade, Pearson impressed with top-score of 78 in only his second game. It was a match against Northern District which ended in a rare tie with both sides scoring 254. However, after five matches and a tally of 161 runs and nine wickets, selectors ushered him into 2nds where he completed the season.

A highlight of his 169 in 11 2nd Grade matches was his innings against his old club Balmain at Petersham Oval. Chasing a moderate 184, on the second day of the match, Pearson and Billy Moffatt, who made 127, got together in a big partnership ending the day at 7-353. And while the Petes players celebrated their big win, they did so without “Pearso” who left the ground at 5pm after belting 78 in just 91 minutes. He had good reason to be absent however, as he was required at St John’s Church, Birchgrove at 6pm where he married his bride, Lorraine, in a glittering affair!

The 3rd Grade team where John began with Petes, went on to win the competition. Pearson’s contribution to the side was not overlooked and he took his place in the team premiership photo. It was a successful season for the newly-wed as he also was the leading run-getter in the under 21 Poidevin-Gray side, making 200 with a top score of 78. Across three competitions, he scored a total of 530 runs in an impressive debut season. He also did well at the bowling crease, taking 28 wickets in all competitions with his medium-pacers including a match-winning performance of 6-45 against St George in 2nd Grade at Hurstville. He was also part of another photo-shoot as the club won the Club Championship as well.

Sadly for Petersham-Marrickville, that was Pearson’s only season with the club at that time. A change to residential boundaries by the NSWCA, forced John to join the Sydney club where he played for the following 12 seasons, including seven or eight as 1st Grade captain and Club Coach. But in 1981-82, frustrated at poor wicket facilities at the Sydney club, the 34 year old was back in Petes colours. And a successful comeback it was, with John a leading bat in a 2nd Grade side which made the semi-finals before rain put an end to their season. One of the best wins for the team occurred against Penrith at Petersham Oval in heatwave conditions. Chasing 190, Pearson was the top-scorer with 105 batting at no. 6. He hit 19 fours with eight coming in his first 13 scoring shots. He also played three matches in 1st Grade that season. And while his 305 runs for the summer showed he had lost little of his thirst for runs, increasing family commitments saw him retire as a player at the end of that season.

 

John was not lost to the club however, being appointed Club Coach four years after in 1984-85. The following season he became involved in the administration when appointed Assistant Hon Treasurer while chairing the pre-season selection committee. A year later, he was Hon Treasurer and a Delegate with President Jack Ross to the NSWCA and Sydney Cricket Association. He remained Treasurer for two years and Delegate for 10. Pearson also served on the Board of the NSW Cricketer’s Club for four years.

In 1991, John took over as President of the club and held the position until he retired from the role in December 1995 due to ill health and a rapid developing banking career. During his time as President, he provided outstanding leadership when the club was under continual threat for amalgamation or exclusion from the 1st Grade competition. He and Hon Secretary Tim Dein formed a formidable duo in seeing off many such threats. His contribution to the Petersham-Marrickville club was formally recognised in 1996 when he was elected a Life Member. Four years later in the year 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal by the Governor-General.

John Pearson was a very successful Sydney Grade cricketer scoring 5,080 1st Grade runs with four centuries and 23 fifties in a career spanning 13 seasons. All but 46 of those were with the Sydney club. With his lower grade performances, his overall tally exceeds 6,000 runs. He also took close to 100 wickets across all competitions.

John left a wonderful legacy to cricket in his son Corey, who went on to become one of Petersham-Marrickville’s most successful wicket-keeper/batsmen. Corey was an outstanding young cricketer, captaining the NSW under 17s team before playing for the State in the National under 19s competition. He subsequently gave away cricket to concentrate on a successful Sydney rugby league career.

These days, John Pearson has maintained his involvement through the merged entity Randwick Petersham Cricket Club as a valued Director of the Randwick Petersham Cricket Foundation and a committee member of the club supporter’s group known as the Randwick Petersham Cricket Legends Society. He and son Corey are also the joint sponsors of the “Clive Johnston Memorial Award”, an annual presentation to the best under 21 Poidevin-Gray player.

Sydney Cricket Club at the SCG in 1970

John Pearson is far left in the front row