David Reynolds attended Apley between the years of 1969 and 1974

Shropshire Chronicle - May 2002

Cricketing tributes to player, leader, friend

David Reynolds

By John Kirk

FRIENDS and colleagues have paid their respects to a popular and hard working sportsman who organised youth cricket competitions across the county.

David Reynolds, (seen left) of Grasmere Road, who was manager and coordinator of the youth section of Shrewsbury Cricket Club, died suddenly last week, aged 44.

Mr Reynolds was first introduced to cricket by Gerry Gladwell while he was at school and later joined Shrewsbury Cricket Club as an opening left hand batsman in the mid 1970s. He was still playing in the third eleven last season.

In the early 1990s he took on the role of manager and coordinator of the youth section in the club and was responsible for all youth teams, organising all youth matches and competitions played during the period.

He also organised competitions which attracted young cricketers from across the county including the MCCC under-11, cricket competition due to take place on June 5 and the Shrewsbury Chronicle Cup due to be contested for on June 16. Both competitions will still take place on the same days and will be played in his memory.

Sad loss

Mike Jones, president of Shrewsbury Cricket Club, said: "Without doubt David was the most well known of youth cricket organisers in the county.

"It is a desperately sad loss to the club and there will be a void within Shrewsbury Cricket Club which will be nearly impossible to fill with anyone who had the character and loyalty of David. He was one of cricket's absolute perfect gentleman and I couldn't have wished for a nicer friend."

Andy Barnard, captain of Shrewsbury Cricket Club, said: "He's been a life long friend and it is the blackest day we've ever had at the cricket club."

Dave had also been the inter-club competition organiser for Shropshire Cricket Board for the last three years.

The role meant he organised competitions throughout the county for under-11 to under-15 cricket teams.

Steve Aston, board administrator and assistant development officer on the Shropshire Cricket Board, said: "Apart from his undoubted popularity, Dave was a respected, reliable, well organised and committed ambassador for Shrewsbury and Shropshire and within cricket circles throughout the Midlands and beyond."

David is survived by his wife Liz and his two children Doug and Becky.

The funeral will be held at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Harlescott, at 11.45am on Monday, May 27.