The Victorian Turf Cricket Association is mourning the shock death of president Steve McNamara.
McNamara, who had been president of the association for nearly 10 years, died on Saturday.
He had been an influential figure in the local cricket for a number of years.
The VTCA division 2 competition is named after McNamara, along with that grade’s best and fairest award.
VTCA secretary and good friend Deanne Trewin said that McNamara was one of a kind.
“It come as a shock,” she said.
“Steve is the one who puts together the fixtures which is a nightmare of a job. He implemented so many things, like we’ve got the game of the round now streamed.
“There’s so many things he has done as president of the competition. He tried to move us forward and make us a better competition.”
Trewin said she had been friends with Steve and his wife Josie for 15 years.
She said that they don’t think they will ever find someone who can fill his shoes.
“He had a huge heart,” she said. ” He was a true gentleman and was someone who was there when you needed a shoulder to cry on.
“He loved his family especially his two beautiful grand children.
“He was one of a kind.”
The association will have an emergency meeting this week to put things in place for the rest of the season.
Trewin said McNamara would have wanted them to get on with playing cricket.
Local cricket clubs took to social media paying tribute to McNamara, including Hoppers Crossing where he was previously club president.
Hoppers Crossing president Jake Porter told Star Weekly that McNamara had played such an important role at the club for a long time.
“He was president the last time that we won a first XI premiership,” he said.
“He was a volunteer, a junior and senior coach and president for six years. Him and his entire family had an impact on the club.
“It is a shock to lose him.”
Porter said the club would wear black arms this weekend in honour of McNamara. He said that McNamara’s influence on cricket as a whole in Melbourne’s north-west can’t be underestimated.
Sydenham-Hillside on its Facebook page said McNamara was an extremely dedicated and supportive cricket administrator and was particularly helpful to the club in its early years on turf.
Sunshine United and Sunshine YCW are among the other clubs to pay tribute to McNamara.
McNamara leaves behind his wife Josie and children John and Daniel.
