Administrator Series - Eric Johnson
St George Cricket Club | November 26, 2024
We continue you our series of Key Administrators in the History of St George DCC this month with Eric Johnson.
By Kevin Greene
When Eric Johnson joined St George DCC in 1937, having previously played with the Marrickville Club, no one could have anticipated the impact he was to have over the next 5 decades.
Eric played the majority of his cricket over the next ten years in second and third grades, with the occasional appearance in first grade when the legendary Ernie Laidler was unavailable. He still holds the club record for most dismissals in a second grade season, 1942/43, of 45, including an extraordinary 33 stumpings, undoubtedly influenced by the presence of spinners, Ernie Green 111 wickets and Mick Favell 52 wickets as the team won the premiership. In the 1948/49 season he took on the position of fourth grade captain a role he held for the next 13 seasons. It was here that he mentored many of the Club’s future stars, including Norm O’Neill and Ray Tozer, who both lauded the assistance they received.
The 1948/49 season also saw Johnson join the Club’s Management Committee having commenced his off field service a few seasons earlier as a lower grade, Poidevin Gray an A W Green Shield selector. For the 1950/51 season he became the Assistant Secretary, holding that position for ten seasons until he took on the task of Secretary, having been made a Club Life Member in 1954. On his elevation to Secretary Eric retired from playing so as to concentrate on the Club’s administration. He added the role of Delegate to the NSW Cricket Association in 1966 where he also became a member of the State Match and Country Committees and elected a Life Member.
As Club Secretary Eric was highly regarded both within the Club and throughout the competition. Administrative tasks were handled with total efficiency and his garage became the unofficial storage area for everything St George cricket. It didn’t matter if it was a letter to the Mayor or cleaning club equipment Eric did it with passion and commitment. On weekends Hurstville Oval was Eric’s domain with umpires and opposition shown the highest standards of hospitality and friendliness.
When Eric died suddenly in December 1984 at the age of 71, his family and the Club were in great shock. The funeral at Hurstville was standing room only as the local cricket community joined with his wife, Jean and daughter Barbara, to honour a wonderful humble servant not just of cricket but as importantly the individuals who played the game. The scoreboard at Hurstville Oval is named in honour of Eric Johnson, one of the Club’s most significant contributors.
1953-54 Fourth Grade Premiers captain by Eric Johnson.
