MOVING ON: Richard Davidson has called time on his career as the South Canterbury Cricket development officer after a decade in the job.
South Canterbury Cricket development officer Richard Davidson has pulled up stumps after 10 years in the job.
Davidson resigned to take up the opportunity to be a self-employed business owner and will announce his plans soon.
He was sad to be moving on but believed the time was right.
“I made one of the hardest decisions I have made for some time but will be moving on to a new and exciting chapter in my life.”
Davidson leaves the job with many fond memories, good mates and some advice for his employers: “I think the job needs to go to a young guy with coaching aspirations to set the thing on fire.”
Davidson arrived with plenty of passion a decade ago, but realises one can stay in a job too long.
“The job needs to be turned over, or else you can hit a brick wall.”
The development officer believes he leaves with South Canterbury’s junior cricket in very good heart but would like to see all those playing senior cricket make themselves available for the representative side.
Davidson said he would also like to see those who had moved out of the province, especially for higher education, support the province by making themselves available for South Canterbury.
“There needs to be competition for places, people need to be there on merit and earn their place, then we will improve.”
Highlights of his time in the job include watching young players develop and go on to achieve higher honours.
“Watching the likes of Hamish Bennett and Tom Walsh go from schoolboys with talent to mature cricketers was great and shows what can be done from here,” he said.
Davidson said he could not leave without mentioning some of those he became involved with and close to.
“Harvey [King] was inspirational, Graeme Broker is a good mate and all those volunteers in age-group cricket giving their time was superb, I made some good friends.”
South Canterbury Cricket president Andrew McRae said Davidson’s contribution to South Canterbury Cricket had been significant over the past 10 years.
“His commitment to the South Canterbury cause, his enthusiasm for the game of cricket and his hard work ethic will certainly be missed.
“He has identified and assisted some of South Canterbury’s elite cricketers over the years and the association owes a huge debt of gratitude for his contribution.
“The association will certainly miss Richard’s skills, expertise and institutional knowledge but we wish Richard all the best in his future endeavours.”