St George DCC Hall Of Fame
St George Cricket Club | August 31, 2024
The 2010-11 cricket season saw the celebration of the Centenary of the founding of St George District Cricket Club. Over 740 players past and present, sponsors and supporters gathered to hear the voice of cricket, Richie Benaud, with renowned cricket journalist Mike Coward interviewing a number of former players including the revered, Arthur Morris. Throughout the night guests had the chance to purchase a magnificent book written by Coward that outlined the 100-year history of the Club.
That evening the Club unveiled its ‘Team of the Century’, twelve players who were recognised as the most outstanding, of an amazing group of representatives across the Club’s first century. Those who had been tasked with the selection knew, having left out numerous Test and Sheffield Shield stars, that they could have easily chosen two or even three teams that would have been filled with high achievers.
With the opening of the Norm O’Neill Indoor Facility in Penshurst Park in July 2019, it was decided that a venue was now available to house a St George DCC Hall of Fame, so that a broader group of ‘Club Legends’ could be honoured for their contributions to the unparalleled success of the Club. Like the ‘Team of the Century’ it was known that the criteria for selection would need to be stringent with numbers limited and entry reserved to an elite group.
The Hall of Fame ceremony and unveiling at the Norm O'Neill Cricket Training Facility.
The selection panel quickly realised that to induct all the elite group at one time would detract from the individual contributions, so it was decided that the first inductees would be chosen from players who had debuted in the Club’s first half century, that being prior to 1960. Those five decades would be represented by sixteen inductees who had played a minimum five seasons for the Club and whose performances for the Club were exceptional. International and first class success were also a consideration but not a pre requisite.
The first sixteen inductees in 1st grade number order were – Alan Fairfax, Don Bradman, Ernie Green, Harold Theak, Ernie Laidler, Bill O’Reilly, Arthur Morris, Ross Longbottom, Ray Lindwall, Mick Favell, Les Favell, Warren Saunders, Keith Francis, Brian Booth, Bill Watson and Norm O’Neill.
While only three of the recipients were still alive – Saunders, Francis and Booth, many were represented by family members at the opening function held in December 2019. They shared the occasion with Club Life Members, local dignitaries, sponsors and Vice Presidents. Individual plaques were presented, and copies were unveiled on the wall of the Centre as permanent reminders of those honoured.
The unveiling of the original 16 inductees
Since that time three additional groups of inductees have been presented, being players who debuted in the 1960’s, John Martin, Ray Tozer and Kerry O’Keeffe, the 1970’s Murray Bennett, Jon Jobson, Greg Matchett and Steve Bernard and the 1980’s Geoff Milliken and Warwick Hayes. Their plaques are also proudly displayed at the Norm O’Neill Centre. At the Club’s Annual Dinner, to held on Wednesday 13 November with Greg Chappell as the guest speaker, three players who debuted in the 1990’s will be inducted. As we get closer to current players another significant criteria is important; retirement for five seasons.
The creation of a St George DCC Hall of Fame at the Norm O’Neill Indoor Facility has been, as expected, an unbridled success, with inductees honoured and often emotional at their inclusion. It also reinforces St George’s status as a leading producer of outstanding Premier, State and International cricketers. Additionally, if is a constant reminder to young players training at the Norm O’Neill Centre of the skill and talent of their local predecessors, hopefully instilling in them an increased desire to train hard and succeed.
The St George DCC, as have other clubs, a revered place in Sydney club cricket. It is important that for cricket to survive a legacy needs to be created and appreciated. This legacy is something that we are very proud of at the St George DCC.+
© Kevin Greene and The St George DCC
Saints Hall of Famers Keith Francis, Warren Saunders and Brian Booth come together for the opening of the Hall of Fame.
