Jamie Harry reflects on his WDCA cricket career

Born: Warrnambool, December 4, 1975.

Partner: Renee Johnson.

Children: Lucy, Toby and Theo.

Parents: Maureen and Terry.

Sibling: Kelly.

Education: Warrnambool Primary School before attending Warrnambool Secondary College.

Sporting Highlight: Playing for Woodford Cricket Club when it won the 2014-15 division one premiership against East Warrnambool.

Jamie, the obvious question to you is how did you perform in the 2014-15 premiership victory?

Let's just say it was not one of my greatest games personally but it was great to be involved in the first cricket premiership that Woodford had achieved in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.

The club had its first season in division one in the WDCA in 2010-11 after playing in division two for a few years. We had many successful years in the Grassmere Cricket Association before joining the WDCA.

The victory was a great reward for all the hard work that had been put in by so many people over the journey, whether they be players, sponsors, the committee or the local community who follow the progress of the Woodford Cricket Club very closely.

The 2014-15 premiership was the first of three in a row for Woodford. Did you play in the division one side when it won flags in 2015-16 and 2016-2017?

No. I played in the division two side for 2015-16 and 2016-17. I played a couple of games in the division one side during the year, but I never played in those premiership sides.

Where did your cricket career begin?

I was 12 years old when I started playing with Brierly's junior side.

I was 14 years old when mum and dad moved out to Bushfield. The oval was across the road, so it was obvious I would play for Woodford.

I played in the under 16s in the mornings and filled in for the B grade senior side in the afternoon.

We used to play in the Grassmere competition when I started playing but we saw more and more of our younger, better players wanting to play in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.

So, the club bit the bullet and decided to join the WDCA. The fortunes of Woodford changed around when Gary Strickland came out to be playing coach in the late 1990s.

Gary had been a successful player with Allansford before joining Woodford. He introduced a more professional approach to the club.

Matthew Burgess took over as the playing coach after Gary for a couple of years, before I was appointed senior playing coach for three years from 2006 to 2009. We won the division two flag in 2006 and were runners-up to Koroit in 2007.

I suppose one of the best moves the club made was to appoint John Houston as the senior coach back in 2010.

He's been a big key to the success of the club in the senior grade of cricket in the WDCA.

Jamie, your record with Woodford is very impressive - just a few weeks ago you played your 200th game for the club in the WDCA. The record books show you've made more than 4700 runs, scored five centuries and taken more than 40 wickets and played in the senior premiership side in 2014-15. How is Jamie Harry performing this season?

I'm fairly happy with my form this season.

I've found as you get a bit older it gets a bit tougher, but I still love the challenges each game throws up.

I would say the best thing about still playing is to see the young players coming through the ranks.

Woodford has some very good young players, and with any luck they will be the cornerstone of the club going forward.

I'm just lucky to be still able to play.

My personal achievements on the cricket field have been helped by my teammates.

I've been lucky to have played with some great players over the journey.

I've found through playing cricket I've made some life time friendships, not only from players with Woodford back to opposition players also.

It's a bit difficult to devote my time into training because of work commitments with Saputo, which was formerly Warrnambool Cheese and Butter.

I've worked for the company for 22 years and I've been fortunate to have worked my way up from a casual position packing cheese over the summer months to a managerial role.

My parents instilled a very strong work ethic is me from a young age.

Saputo is a great company to work for.

Jamie, you're well credentialed to have an opinion about some of the top players that you've seen play in the WDCA. Who would your best players be that you've seen during your career?

I only saw Brett Eldridge at the back end of his career but I thought he was a very good player.

Stephen Gibson from Allansford was good.

He was a pretty fast bowler and then there's Nick Butters from Woodford.

Nick has had the ability to turn a game on its head.

Have you filled many administration roles with Woodford Cricket Club?

I've been on the committee for a few years, and who knows when I retire I may get a bit more time to be involved in the administration side of the club.

But for now I'm just happy to do what I'm doing.

How's the discussions going regarding a turf wicket for Woodford?

There's plenty of talks going on about the matter.

We're in the last year of an agreement to use the facilities out at Koroit for our turf games.

I'm not sure where the discussions are at this stage but once I find out I'll let you know.

Jamie, away from cricket have you played any other sports?

I've played a bit of footy, firstly with old Northern Districts in the junior competition and then I had a stint with Allansford.

The only downside is that I've had three knee reconstructions.

The first one was in 2003 when I played football for Allansford. It's the right knee.

I've still got a few issues with the knee but we're battling on.