‘He was an inspiration...’ Tributes pour in for ‘JD’
TRIBUTES have paid to former Glamorgan all-rounder and coach John Derrick, who has died aged 54 after battling a brain tumour.
The Welshman was a successful coach for the county, leading them to two National League One-Day trophies in 2002 and 2004, as well as a promotion to Division One of the County Championship.
The one-day titles in 2002 and 2004, plus the appearance at Twenty20 Finals Day in the latter summer at Edgbaston, were a worthy reward for John, who previously had been the assistant to Duncan Fletcher when the Club won the County Championship title in 1997.
‘JD’, as he known to all in cricket circles, also spent a series of summers overseeing the development of a host of young players in the county’s 2nd XI, besides instilling in them the pride of playing for the daffodil county as well as the other expectations and duties as a professional cricketer with his beloved Glamorgan CCC.
He was also a fine all-rounder, playing for the county throughout the 1980s. He recorded a top score of 78 not out with the bat and best figures of 6/54 with the ball.
Most recently, he worked with Cricket Wales.
He was appointed National Performance Director of the Cricket Board of Wales in 2010 and was dedicated to enhancing young Welsh cricket talent, until he suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with a brain tumour in August last year.
He underwent brain surgery and chemotherapy in 2016 but, sadly, his passing was announced yesterday.
“John Derrick was one of my closest friends in the game,” said Hugh Morris Glamorgan Chief Executive.
“We started playing together for Welsh Schools at U15 level and were roommates in our early years at Glamorgan.
“He was always a hugely popular member of the dressing room and universally liked throughout the game. He enjoyed a successful playing career and became an outstanding coach, being seen by many Glamorgan players past and present as an inspirational figure in their careers. John was a great servant to cricket in Wales both on and off the field and will be sadly missed by us all.”
Cricket Wales Chief Executive Peter Hybart added: “JD was an inspiration to young men, women and parents as they followed their dream of representing Wales age-groups, Glamorgan and England.
“He had an unrivalled passion for cricket at all levels throughout the length and breadth of Wales and will be so sadly missed by the whole Welsh cricket family.”
After an outstanding career in schoolboy and youth cricket, John joined the Glamorgan staff on a summer contract in 1979, besides spending a three-year spell on the MCC groundstaff at Lord’s. John duly made the first of his 95 first-class appearances during 1983, against Yorkshire at Middlesbrough and subsequently developed into a useful all-rounder, especially in one-day cricket, winning his Glamorgan cap in 1988.
With his beaming smile never too far away, the affable all-rounder enjoyed the camaraderie and everything else associated with life on the county circuit at that time, but JD’s appetite for playing the game he loved was undimmed to the extent that he spent several winters during the 1980s playing for Northern Districts in domestic cricket in New Zealand.
Behind his relaxed and friendly disposition lay a steely determination with the players in his charge knowing full well that he held a firm hand inside a velvet glove. Whereas other coaches adopted a very laid-back or intense approach, JD was always at pains to nurture a great team spirit and to play the game in a proper manner.
He embodied all that is good about cricket at both professional and club level.
Glamorgan CCC, and Welsh cricket as a whole, has lost a great and loyal servant, and the game will be very much the poorer for his passing.