Craig Wilkinson has been a member of the Johnson Park Cricket Club for 30 years, the past 20 as president.
By Casey Neill
JOHNSON Park Cricket Club president Craig Wilkinson is officially a legend.
Cricket Victoria selected Wilkinson, 47, as its Club Legend of the Week for the week of 15 February.
He was nominated for the award by the club’s general manager Stephen Brown.
Wilkinson was invited to play indoor cricket for Johnson Park when he was 17 and has been a fixture of the club ever since.
President for the last 20 years, he last year celebrated 30 years with Johnson Park as the club marked its 40th anniversary.
He said he has enjoyed seeing how the club has grown and watching players go on to bigger and better things.
Wilkinson said the highlight of his time at the club was the recruitment of former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Dulip Samarweera.
In addition to his presidential duties, Wilkinson works behind the bar and assists in organising the junior team.
Wilkinson plays for the club’s veterans’ side, umpires Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association (FTGDCA) matches on Saturday afternoons and is a junior match secretary for the district.
The Club Legend of the Week is an initiative to reward the ‘legends’ who help create a welcoming, friendly environment around their club.
People are invited to nominate a legend at their club through an entry form on the Cricket Victoria website.
Each week one nominee is selected to appear on the website and receives a gift of recognition.
All of the nominees go into the draw to receive two tickets to the Boxing Day Test including a Cricket Victoria hosted breakfast.
