Yusof Brown – A Bona Fide Loyal Clubman
Parramatta District Cricket Club | November 02, 2025
The continued existence of each NSW Premier Cricket Club is integrally linked to the strength and depth of the club’s ‘Lower Grades’ – 2nd down to 5th grade. The viability of cricket as a major summer sport in 21st century depends upon the premier clubs being able to attract youngsters to the game, and in turn groom those players for advancement to cricket’s upper reaches - 1st grade and then for the ‘extra gifted’ first-class and international representation. Vibrant lower grades are therefore the ‘lifeblood’ of the grade cricket scene, the nurseries – they create club spirit, build the environment and set the standards for young players to thrive in – they’re cricket’s ‘bread and butter.’
An essential element to clubs fostering the atmosphere of player development, is the role that experienced grade cricket veterans or ‘old hard heads’ perform in assisting budding youngsters in their climb through the various grades. These older hands advise, cajole, mentor, and coach the young colts into becoming more proficient cricketers, the Parramatta District Cricket Club is fortunate to have in its ranks one such person in Yosuf Brown (4th grade captain).
Yusof Brown is somewhat of an ‘unsung hero’, a bona fide loyal clubman who captained the Parramatta 4th grade team, that contained some of the club’s most promising youngsters, to the NSW Premier Cricket’s 4th grade Grand Final in successive seasons 2021/22 and 2022/23), and to the Semi-Final in 2024/25. His calm and encouraging leadership have greatly aided the grade cricket education of his young charges and the Parramatta club will reap future benefits from Yusof’s efforts.
He started his own cricketing journey playing in all the junior age groups with the Kings Langley Club as a tearaway pace bowler nicknamed ‘Rocket’ by his teammates, the highlight was spearheading Kings Langley to victory in the under 16/1 premiership final by claiming 6/7 against a Baulkham Hills team that included future P.D.C.C. 1st grader Luke Dempsey.
Yusof kicked his NSW Premier Cricket career off with Parramatta in the 2010/11 season (although he played one match as a fill-in 2006/07).
Up to the close of the 2024/25 season he has forged a long and productive career as an attacking right-handed batsman and versatile fieldsman – in all grades Yusof has struck up 4,075 runs @ 25.00 (H.S. – 131*) and snapped up 58 catches. He never played 1st grade but played successfully in 2nd grade especially, in the 2014/15 season when he batted brightly to register 393 runs @ 49.13 (H.S. – 93*) that brought him close to selection in the 1st grade team.
Parramatta playing highlights:
· Leading 4th grade to back-to-back Grand Finals (2021/22 and 22022/23).
· Career best batting performance aggregating 502 runs @ 41.83 (H.S. – 131*) in 4th grade in 2023/24.
· Two centuries – 131* v. Gordon – 4th grade 2023/24; 100* v. North Sydney in 3rd grade in 2019/20.
Clubmen like Yusof are a major asset and it is hoped he continues to don the two-blue bumble-bee cap for many seasons to come.
By Tom Wood – Parramatta District Cricket Club Historian
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