When someone is known as ‘Mr Cricket’ you know he must have made an impact on the cricketing community in his respective region.
David McDonald has done more than just make an impact, he goes far beyond the expectations of a Community Cricket Co-ordinator (CCC).
For the past fourteen seasons David has been instrumental in all forms of cricket in Northern Districts, and more specifically in Poverty Bay.
A man who has witnessed the incredible service McDonald has given is Poverty Bay Cricket life member, Kim Shaw.
“I suppose you could say he’s a workaholic; sometimes I wonder how he manages to fit everything in during the season, because he just goes beyond what the normal CCC job description states. He just wants to do everything; help coach here, prepare grounds; assorted administrative duties etc. etc. Dave simply feels he has to get involved with all aspects of cricket in Poverty Bay,” Shaw stated.
McDonald, who was quite the talented rugby player, always seems to go the extra mile. He doesn’t stop at developing traditional cricketing communities, he goes into areas where cricket has barely been heard of and develops initiatives and passion for cricket.
“They go around in September before the season starts, visiting local schools to get our name in front of them for the first time since last season. We then have an assortment of boy’s and girl’s teams of varying abilities participating in Monday night competitions.
"For the more advanced children in primary and intermediate schools, we have a Saturday morning competition that David oversees.”
David’s passion for his work often spills into the late hours of the night.
“We receive emails from him at half past 9, 10 o’clock at night, because he’d be sitting down at that time thinking of other things to do, or reminders he has to answer. So sometimes we wonder if there should be more than 24 hours in a day.”
David has coached and managed countless age group teams, he has also been instrumental in primary school’s cricket, even being one of the first CCC’s to move Kiwicricket to a Friday night, boosting numbers and parental involvement.
A senior cricket competition has remained due to McDonald, and has been instrumental in keeping the midweek house league going.
He has introduced cricket for girls, which now has a presence at primary and secondary schools. McDonald coached Poverty Bays women’s team, even winning Northern Districts women’s league.
Essentially David has been the face of cricket in Poverty Bay for the past 14 years.
David McDonald is the 2015/16 Community Cricket Development Officer of the Year. The award recognises an association’s community cricket delivery staff member who has shown outstanding passion and commitment towards the delivery of cricket within their area.
Congrats David McDonald, providing over 14 years of service to Poverty Bay Cricket, helping sustain our sport in the Bay #ANZCricketawards pic.twitter.com/6GK2PEslFs
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 30, 2017
