The 2009/10 winner of the Sir Jack Newman Award, recognising an outstanding junior cricket administrator for his or her past and present services to the development of junior cricket in New Zealand, is John Grocott from Christchurch.
Grocott has been involved with junior cricket for over 50 years and because of his passion and dedication to grassroots cricket he was the clear winner for this year’s award.
Grocott was chosen as this year’s recipient because of his long standing association with East Shirley Cricket Club and junior cricket in Christchurch. He has been a driving force behind junior cricket in Christchurch, developing and running a junior programme before the invent of MILO cricket. He’s coached some of the biggest names in Canterbury and New Zealand cricket and is still actively involved today.
He is the current president at the club and was surprised to learn he was this year’s winner. “It’s a bit of a shock and it has really taken me by surprise,” he said. “This is beyond my wildest dreams. I’m very thrilled and honoured to have won.”
He first became involved with East Shirley Cricket Club in 1956 when he joined as a player. In the late 50s he started his coaching career along side the likes of Walter Hadlee who coached groups of junior players on a Saturday morning.
He has been both heavily involved with junior cricket programmes within the club and further afield in Canterbury. The success of the programmes has been put down to his involvement, which included him growing the number of local schools and clubs actively participating in the programmes.
The 1960s was a time of personal development for Grocott who secured both level one and level two coaching status – he still maintains the latter today. During this time he also organised coaching clinics to help the development of younger players during weekends and school holidays.
In the 1970s he was involved with adult cricket as a selector however his sights were firmly back on junior cricket in the 1980s when he and former Sir Jack Newman winner Bill Duncan came together to create a Saturday morning programme which was the predecessor of the MILO Have-a-go programme. Once the MILO programmes had come into effect, East Shirley Cricket Club was the first club to sign up, thanks to Grocott, who has been running the programme ever since.
Grocott said it’s humbling to be recognised in the same way as an old friend. “I’m very proud to be following my old mate Bill Duncan, to be considered in the same light is great thing,” he said.
A number of well known players have gone through Grocott’s programmes, including former BLACKCAPS Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle, as well as numerous Canterbury Wizards.
Even though Grocott is now well into his 70s, you can still find him actively participating every Saturday down at Burwood Park, encouraging the next level of talented players.
“Kids are great; they are just beginning and are great fun to work with. They try so hard and it’s quite a thrill. I don’t want give up just yet,” he concluded.
