Peter Ferguson
Peter Ferguson has a long service to Cricket Illawarra and Sydney in a Playing, Coaching and Umpiring role over a period that spanned 45 years. He played in both Sydney & Illawarra Grades Competitions then began Umpiring in Illawarra after his retirement from playing at all levels.
Peter Ferguson’s History of Playing in Sydney Grade Competition and Representative Level for NSW
– Peter played for the Sydney Western Club for 16 years playing Senior as well as playing in the Green Shield Competition Grade.
– During this time he was in the great company of Alan Davison & Bob Simpson while playing at Wests.
– Wests won the 1972/1973 Premiership with a team that contained at 6 juniors.
– Peter played for 5 years from the age 11 to 15 years in the AW Green Shield, the last as Captain.
– Final 2years he was selected in the combined City side which played Combined Country at the SCG something that he was able to on 11 occasions throughout his Career.
– During those combined games he met and commenced a lifelong friendship with Kerry O’Keeffe.
– Peter’s call up to Sydney Grade was at the age of 14 years.
Playing Highlights at Sydney Western Club
– 10 for 27 – Best Bowling figure.
– 60 wickets for the season being the 4th Grade record.
– At the Age of 16 he was selected to play Colts from 2nd Grade.
– At Age 17 Peter received in the mail a selection note that he had been picked in 1st Grade where he played the next 10years.
– Played One Season in Perth.
Statistical Highlights.
- 60 wickets in a season.
Then
- -52 wickets in a Season.
Then
- -3 occasions over 40 wickets in a season.
– Captained as fill in for many occasions when Bob Simpson was unavailable as the Captain in 1974.
– Several matches for Sydney v Country including 1 year as Captain.
– 6 years in the NSW State Squad.
– Selection in the NSW 2nd Eleven.
– 2 Premierships with a number of One Day Trophies.
– Along with Dirk Welham, Peter was the only player to win the AK Davidson Medal ‘Player of the Year’ twice.
Playing and Coaching in the Illawarra
– Appointed Captain/Coach with Corrimal Cricket Club from 1976/77 Cricket Season continuing to play with Corrimal for four seasons finishing in 1979/80.
– Peter p;ayed with some great Corrimal players of that era – Ian Lewis, Dennis Martin, Phil Harmer, Steve Saye, Paul McCann and Wayne Masters won the Premiership in his 1st year at the Club.
– During the period with Corrimal he played Representative Cricket for Illawarra as Captain.
– A highlight of Illawarra/ACT verses Sydney South in the State Cup he took 7 wickets.
– Peter joined University Cricket Club in 1982/83 as Captain/Coach.
- Highlights with the University Cricket Club
- Won 2 First Grade Premierships
- Player of the Year
- Twice in the top 5 Illawarra batting & bowling averages.
- Finished 2nd to Neil Findlay in the District Bowling Averages.
- Selection in the University best ever team at 50 years Anniversary
– Played a number of seasons with Thirroul & Berkeley Cricket Club.
– His final Season at University under the captaincy of Peter Bailey.
– Peter accepted a coaching role at Wollongong Cricket Club for several years.
– He then moved to a Coaching role at Balgownie Cricket Club for many years a highlight being coaching Balgownie to a First Grade Premiership
– Peter had the pleasure of coaching top class Players at Balgownie, namely Chris Sheppard, Neil Coad, Glenn Smede, Paul Lynam, Dean & Damien Merola.
Illawarra Umpire History
– Wal Smith put Peter through for his Local Umpires examination and umpired for five Seasons.
– Join the Illawarra Cricket Umpires Association and has been a member for over 15years
– Peter passed his NSWCUSA Umpires Exam
– He gained his Level 2 Accreditation
– Peter held a position on the Umpires Technical Committee for four years.
-Umpired Senior Representative games played in Illawarra during this period.
– Peter umpired 165 Cricket Illawarra Senior games up till 2017/2018 Cricket Season.
– Peter for a number of years umpired U/16 to U/12 Age Groups in Juniors Finals.
-Was Appointed by Cricket Australia to the Australia Country Championship to Women’s T20 games played in Illawarra in 2017?
– Umpired the Special Olympics Australia matched in Wollongong in 2016/2017
– Peter was still a current active Umpire in Illawarra Cricket in 2017/2018
-Peter whilst in a wheelchair attended matches to inspect new and existing Umpires as a Umpire Observer doing this for 3 Season before his passing.
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Peter’s Senior Finals Appointments in Cricket Illawarra
One Day Finals
– First Grade – 1995/1996
– 3rd Grade – 1996/1997
– 3rd. Grade – 1997/1998
T20 Finals
– First Grade – 2012/2013
– Third Grade – 2013/2014
– Second Grade – 2014/2015
– Third Grade – 2015/2016
– Second Grade – 2016/2017
U/21 Finals
– U/21 Final – 2012/2013
Senior Competition Finals
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– Second Grade – 1995/1996
– Second Grade – 1996/1997
– Third Grade – 2013/2014
– Third Grade – 2014/2015
– Second Grade – 2015/2016
– Third Grade – 2016/2017