Gordon Dry has been the backbone of the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club since it was founded in 1993, when Kilbirnie and Midland St Pats Cricket Clubs came together at Kilbirnie Park.
In that time Gordon has been instrumental in building the cricket club from 12 adult teams to 25. The secret to Gordon’s success is his can do attitude and his phenomenal organisational skills. As Club Manager Gordon performs many thankless tasks to ensure the smooth operation of Easts:
• Selection of all teams
• Cleaning club rooms
• Stocking bar
• Putting on the covers every week
• Procuring sponsorship
Gordon’s limitless time for the club has no clock, fielding late night phone calls regularly. The inevitable result of his contribution has been the success achieved by the Club in taking home the Cricket Wellington Club Championship 14 times out of the 17 years Gordon has been Club Manager.
If this achievement wasn’t significant enough, his work load includes single handedly producing the club’s annual report, and being the club’s Treasurer for the past 21 seasons. He also managed to find time to project manage the extension of the clubrooms and redevelopment of the changing rooms and shower facilities.
Gordon’s son, Lance, knows all too well how his father’s passion for the game transformed Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club.
“When he started as General Manager the club had 10 adult teams and was a bit of a shambles. Through Gordie’s hard work, ability to organise people and most importantly determination to get things done, he has single handedly created NZ’s largest adult cricket club with 25 adult teams. The success the club has had under his management is unprecedented, in the last 20 Seasons Easts have won 13 Premier Championships, 18 Wellington Club Championships and 1 National Championship.”
Gordon’s love for cricket has been apparent as long as Lance can remember. When asked why his father puts in never-ending service to the club, Lance answered;
“For the very same reasons all volunteers get involved in sport, he has had a lifetime interest in cricket and he loves the camaraderie that comes with club sport and the pleasure that people get from playing, and equally as important to Gordie is the satisfaction that players experience from winning.”
Outstanding Contribution to Cricket Award
Gordon Dry is the recipient of the 2015/16 Outstanding Contribution to Cricket award. The New Zealand Cricket award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to community cricket over many years.
The annual Outstanding Contribution to Cricket award is open to major associations/district associations/clubs/schools with the recipient having demonstrated commitment and passion towards community cricket for several years.
