For Jack Brown, the scorer's box at No.1 Sportsground provided the best seat in the house. After 63 seasons of dedicated service to Wallsend District Cricket Club, the man who witnessed some of Newcastle's most memorable innings has finally pulled up the stumps on a legendary career.
A Grand Final Farewell
Brown's remarkable tenure concluded in the most fitting way possible during his beloved Tigers' centenary year. In what would be his final match, he meticulously recorded every detail of Nathan Price's unbeaten 206 in Wallsend's first-grade grand final victory over Merewether on March 24.
Price brought up his double century by hitting a six directly toward the scorer's box, a moment the retiring batter later described as "the stuff of dreams." Brown marked all 28 boundaries of that innings with the same precision he'd applied for over six decades.
More Than Just Numbers
The recently turned 80-year-old officially retired after that match, forced into stepping down by what he simply called "an unfortunate injury." His statistics speak volumes about his commitment: 547 first-grade matches for Wallsend and 963 club matches in total.
Even more incredibly, Brown only missed one Saturday of scoring due to illness throughout his entire career. "It's a job," Brown explained with characteristic humility. "If you have a job, you have to go to work."
Brown's career highlights read like a history of Newcastle cricket. He witnessed Greg Geise's magnificent 271 at Lynn Oval in the 1990s, numerous double centuries, and what he describes as "one of the best century innings" by Joe Clarke in second grade.
The Heart of Newcastle Cricket
Wallsend secretary Peter Hanna perfectly captured Brown's contribution: "Humility, passion and loyalty, not just for the game, but for every aspect of his fantastic career as a player, Wallsend and NDCA committee member, and of course, his outstanding contributions as a statistician, scorer and historian of our great game."
Brown joined the club as a 17-year-old in 1962 and spent 15 years as a player, mostly in fourth grade. Though he modestly claims he was "only there to make up the team," his legacy extends far beyond his playing days. He served on club committees, represented Wallsend as a delegate to Newcastle District Cricket Association, and compiled extensive statistics that made him Newcastle cricket's walking encyclopedia.
His service has been recognised with a life membership awarded in 1970, plus honours from Cricket NSW, Cricket Australia and the NSW government.
A Legacy That Will Continue
Brown's impact on local cricket will endure long after his retirement. Such has been his contribution, along with long-serving Toronto scorer Grahame Jenkinson, that a trophy was cast in their honour.
Jenkinson praised his colleague, saying "He knew everybody. Anybody who walked up to the table, he'd know them by their name and he'd talk to them." He added that Brown has likely scored more games of cricket than anyone in Newcastle.
For Brown, the job was always about more than just recording runs and wickets. "I love the camaraderie," he reflected. "I love the companionship, as well as the players. I've got to know a lot of players. The mixing you do with other teams."
As he puts down his scoring pens for the final time, Jack Brown leaves behind not just statistics in 30 meticulously compiled "bibles," but a legacy of passion and dedication that has enriched Newcastle cricket for generations.
