Tribute by Andrew Watson.
Yorkshire Cricket is very saddened to learn of the passing of Jack Bland, one of South Yorkshire’s most prominent and influential coaches at the age of 97.
Jack was born in Sheffield in 1922 and played cricket for Hillsborough Boys School in 1934-35. He served in the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War and played for their cricket teams both home and abroad.
From 1946-1955 business commitments limited his cricket to mid-week matches only for Oughtibridge CC, Suggs and Thorncliffe in the Sheffield Midweek League and the Suggs Thursday League, but 1956 and 1957 saw him play for Stocksbridge Old in their Championship winning years in the Sheffield Cricket League. He also played for Globe Sport, Brightside and Sheffield Zingari. During these years he was one part of the “3 JB’s of Stocksbridge” – Jack Bland, Jack Bethel & John (Jack) Barraclough.
However, Jack will be best remembered for his coaching and his significant contribution to junior cricket and coach mentoring. He qualified as an NCA Coach in 1973 and two years later he became secretary of South Yorkshire Association of Cricket Coaches, a position he held until 1986, when he tendered his resignation and was immediately appointed Life President. He was a member of the original Sheffield Coaches Association which was the forerunner to South Yorkshire Coaches.
Upon the sad passing of his great friend Ben Jessop BEM, Jack was appointed President of the Ben Jessop Junior Cricket League which Ben had originally formed with just 4 clubs in 1948 which was called the “Sheffield Junior League”. Jack was also Vice President of the Sheffield Cricket Association, President of Steel City CC and a former committee member of Sheffield United CC.
Jack has been active in junior cricket for over 50 years, first as a coach and delegate from Stocksbridge Old to the Sheffield Junior League in 1973 and then worked as a very active league committee member before becoming a Vice President and then President.
One of Jack’s proudest moments was when as team manager he saw Sheffield win the Joe Lumb Competition in 1976 (for the first on only time Sheffield has won the competition).
For all those young players and indeed the coaches, he will be best remembered for his winter Sunday morning net coaching sessions at Bramall Lane in the 1970’s and 1980’s - every Sunday morning from October to March. He organised all the youngsters to attend and had 10 coaches coming every week giving their time… Everyone wanted to be there - even though it was freezing!
Andrew Watson (Managing Director YCB) said:
“…Whether you were a coach or a young player he always had time for you and together with his calm, relaxing, influencing manner we all knew everything would be “Just Fine”.
One of life’s absolute true gentleman has walked this way and touched all our lives…”
Picture with Jack (left) is Raymond Illingworth (centre) and Stuart Anderson (SYACC Chairman) at a Coaches Award presentation night.