Harold ‘HG’ Goodwin – A Man of Action - Parramatta District Cricket Club
Parramatta District Cricket Club | June 27, 2025
Harold Goodwin gave ‘glowing service’ to the Club over a very extensive period both ‘On and Off’ the field – in the lengthy annals of the Parramatta club’s history he is another club devotee whose investment of time and energy played a vital role in keeping the Two – Blues afloat after 182 years and still going strong in the 21st century. HG was forthright of opinion and with a ‘roll the sleeves up and get on with it’ approach he was able balance a number of balls whilst contributing to the clubs operations, this was best typified during the 1960s, when in a hive of industry, he managed a burgeoning Executive Business career in the Pharmaceutical industry with his playing commitments, and at the same time undertook the key administrative role of Parramatta District Cricket Club Honorary Secretary.
Harold was a schoolboy contemporary of the great Richie Benaud and former star batsman Wilf Ewens at Parramatta High School (1942/43 – 1946/47). He first played for Parramatta (Central Cumberland) in A.W. Green Shield in the 1945/46 season and next made a handful of appearances in the Poidevin-Gray Shield team in 1947 - 49 – whilst still playing for Wentworthville in the Parramatta District Junior Cricket Association.
After a fruitful career in the P.D.J.C.A. ‘A’ grade competition he decided, at the relative mature age of 24 years, to try his hand with Central Cumberland and commenced, what was to be long and valuable association with the club, in 4th grade in the 1954/55 season.
A batting swashbuckler Harold ‘HG’ Goodwin despite his slight stature ‘packed a punch’ – possessing a strong inclination to attack from the first ball, the right-handed opener bludgeoned the new ball bowlers with flashing pulls and cuts his specialty – throughout his career he developed a penchant for flat batting the first ball of an innings for six. He backed his batting prowess with excellent slips fielding. He would have been a sensational T20 player.
From 1955/56 to 1958/59 Harold played ‘snakes & ladders’ between 2nd and 1st grade – scoring heavily in 2nd grade (including 2 centuries 178 & 135) but not able to reproduce that form when promoted to the top grade. But after good early season form in the 2nds in 1958/59 he was finally able to cement his position as a 1st eleven opener via some aggressive batting and outstanding slips catching – closing out the decade in a role he was to continue to occupy until the 1966/67 season.
Harold’s golden days were the first six years of the 1960s – when he was true to his motto of ‘attack being the best form of defence’ providing the ‘Cumbos’ with many an explosive start - winning himself a reputation in 1st grade circles as a dangerous opponent. His best season was 1963/64 when he pillaged 579 runs @ 38.60. At various stages in the 1960s ‘H.G.’ captained the 1st grade team.
A dyed-in-the-wool Parramatta man Harold was a Life Member and had served the club in all Executive Administration roles. After a 16-year hiatus during which he pursued a successful business career, he returned to the club as a long-term A.W. Green Shield Coach / Manager (1993 – 2002) and followed this up as Poidevin-Gray Shield Manager (2005 – 2009) – in these roles he proved a fine mentor to the youngsters in his charge. In 2015 Harold Goodwin was also chosen in the Parramatta District Cricket Club’s Team of the 1960s.
The undoubted highlight of Harold’s Administration career occurred under his Presidency in the 1973/74 season – when CCDCC won its second Club Championship after winning the Premierships in 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade, and 1st grade taking out the subsidiary NSWCA’s Encouragement Award. A brief precis of his main Administration activities with the Club reads:
· Secretary – 1958/59 – 1964/65
· President – 1972/73 – 1973/74 and again 1976/77 – 1977/78
· Deputy President – 2002/03 – 2006/07
Until his passing in 2016 Harold maintained a keen interest in the club, popping up to view matches at Old Kings Oval, and operating as an ‘Elder Statesman’.
Harold Goodwin (first on the left back row) was a key member of the club’s 1964/65 Belvidere Cup winning team.
[By Tom Wood – Parramatta District Cricket Club Historian)
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