Stalwart of cricket, Sandy Ross, passes away
It is with great sadness that Sussex Cricket has to announce the passing of Sandy Ross, who was a much loved and dedicated servant to cricket.
23rd July 2009
It is with great sadness that Sussex Cricket has to announce the passing of Sandy Ross, who was a much loved and dedicated servant to cricket.
Sandy had a heart attack whilst playing cricket for Sussex Martlets at St James Montefiore Cricket Club on Wednesday 22nd July and did not recover despite the best efforts of the medical services.
Sandy was a stalwart of cricket in Sussex at all levels and was the Chair of the Sussex Cricket Board Development Group and a member of the SCB Management Committee. He was dedicated to cricket and spent his life playing and coaching to bring the joys of the game to the younger generation. He was seen at almost every away venue around the country supporting his beloved county and has been supporting the club as long as anyone can remember.
Sandy played cricket for Horsham, Three Bridges and East Grinstead CCs in the Sussex Cricket league, once taking 10-26 for East Grinstead against Bognor. He was a long standing member of the MCC, for whom he was a tour manager on a number of occasions. He was well connected to the Sussex Martlets CC and Brighton Brunswick CC for many years and was a Committee member of the Chance to Shine scheme.
He was an avid Brighton & Hove Albion FC supporter and also travelled to many away matches, visiting every Football League ground in the process!
He was in charge of cricket at Caterham School in Surrey, for whom he had previously been the Bursar.
Our thoughts go to his family and many friends that he leaves behind
Feel free to leave your tributes below. Funeral arrangements will follow when known.
Comments
Register or login to post a comment
Sandy will be greatly missed by a vast number of club cricketers in Sussex, as an ex team friend at Horsham, Sussex Marlets and MCC cricket, he was a fantastic, positive individual with amazing enthusiasm. My thoughts are with his family and I can only say that with him dying on the cricket field, it most definately would have been his wish. Neil Trestrail
23rd July 2009 - 13:00 - Neil Trestrail
Sandy really deserved the word 'stalwart'. He was very supportive of young players and remained a very good cricketer himself, playing, it seemed, constantly during the season! He will be much missed and while dying on the field would perhaps have been his ideal way to go, it is far too soon.
23rd July 2009 - 13:15 - Peter Brown
Sandy was always a friendly face and would appear at grounds far away to support us. He was always around for a quick chat and he will be sadly missed at Sussex,Horsham and all around the country. My thoughts are with his family and we will always remember his warm manner and vast contribution to cricket. chris nash
23rd July 2009 - 15:43 - chris nash
Sandy will be missed by all of his friends in South Africa. The news was broken to me by Mark Rushmere, an ex East Grinstead and South African cricket player. Our memories of Sandy will never be forgotten, his passion for cricket started our friendship 1983/84. when Mark and I played for both Sussex and East Grinstead at the beginning of our cricket careers. Sandy's passion, dedication and enthusiasm for the game was a wonderful introduction to the game in the UK for both of us. On many of our visits to the UK we have had the pleasure of staying with Sandi and his family and we have enjoyed many hours talking about this wonderful game. Our thoughts are with Di, Emma, Lucy and William and we will always remember a wonderful person who would do anything for the game of cricket. Dave Callaghan
23rd July 2009 - 21:09 - Dave Callaghan
I am very saddened to hear of the passing of Sandy. A true lover and enthusiast of our great game, I like many young cricketers who played with him and for him remember Sandy fondly as a great captain, with endless passion and knowledge for the game of cricket. My condolences to his family as I echo the comments of others that his passing should occur playing the game he so obviously loved!
23rd July 2009 - 22:08 - Simon Collinge
MR ROSS WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY CATERHAM SCHOOL, FROM THE LUNCH TIME BATTING SESSIONS, TO THE WAY HE SAID CRICKET. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BRILLIANT ICON WILL BE SORLEY MISSED. IM SURE ALL THE BOYS FROM CATERHAM WILL REMEMBER HIM FONDLY AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY. ALEX BLAIR AND CATERHAM SCHOOL
23rd July 2009 - 22:08 - Alex Blair
R.I.P Sandy Ross.
23rd July 2009 - 22:17 - sean addley
Mr. Ross was an inspiration to me and Caterham Cricket. To me he was not just a coach but a friend as well. I learnt some of the best techniques and actions while under him. He was a teacher who taught the merits of sportsmanship as well and I will miss him dearly. He never had a bad word to say against anyone, he always found ways to improve people's game. Sandy, thank you for this and other things. I have not and will not forget anything you have taught me. My thoughts are with his family but we must remember him as one of the most enthusiastic and dedicated lovers of cricket that we have ever known. RIP Sandy Ross.
24th July 2009 - 04:55 - Chris Bishop
Sandy will be missed by all who ever met him. He loved the game tremendously and we will never forget his enthusiasm for the sport. We'll miss his cheerful face around the ground. I remember the passion he held when he was bowling (even in the nets) and the slightest mistake from the batsman would be greeted with passionate 'ooohhs' and 'aaaaahhs'!! My thoughts are with his family.
24th July 2009 - 10:10 - Tim Jarvis
Having spent 5 years watching my son Robert play for Caterham School under the directorship of Sandy I know we have all lost a very good friend. Sandy was everything that sport should be, fun, fair and with a twist of very British competitive spirit. But for me it was his love of developing talent in the young lads at school, truly fabulous. Robert and I will miss him dearly. Our thoughts are with his family. Robert and Jeremy Willson
24th July 2009 - 11:06 - Jeremy Willson
I was lucky enough to be on the 1999 MCC California Tour that Sandy managed, it was brilliant, I can remember every day like it was yesterday. He made it so much fun. I also played in the reunion match that Sandy organised in 2003 at Caterham School, very impressive. I stayed with Sandy and Di at their house, probably the largest cricket library outside NW8. His enthusiasm for cricket was legendary, my thoughts are with you Di, Emma, Lucy and William. Sussex cricket is going to miss you.
24th July 2009 - 14:50 - David Lees
Hearing that Sandy passed away on a cricket field is the only bit of comfort I can take from this terribly sad news.I had the privilege to Captain the MCC team that Sandy managed to Greece and Corfu in 2003 and to serve as his tour Captain.It was an immense pleasure and one I will remember for a long time.His selfless dedication to the tour, the MCC and the game of cricket, Sussex CCC and Brighton FC was infectious.He will be sadly missed by all.A complete Gentleman.
24th July 2009 - 19:31 - Roland Horridge
I first met Sandy in the mid '70's when I was captain of Felbridge CC and he of East Grinstead CC. Since then we played many times together, either for the MCC or Sussex Marlets. Sandy was indeed "Mr. Cricket", and a superb ambassador for the game. But there was more to Sandy than cricket. He had a great zest for life, people and all things good in the world. I remember some years ago travelling to Seaford College with him to play for the MCC in his first game back after his heart by-pass operation, and how he marvelled at the wonder of the Sussex countryside, and how positive he felt. Always cheerful and an infectious laugh. "What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?", a phrase penned by C.L.R. James, could easily be answered by Sandy.
27th July 2009 - 12:47 - Graham Radford
Astounded to hear the sad news from all the miles away in Aus...but something curiously satisfying knowing that the great man passed away on the field. I was too late to see Rossco in full flight with the ball, but didn;t need to imagine much what a handful it would have been facing him in full cry. An immaculate seam, a bit this way, a bit that way and then that canny cricketing brain, exploring, working out the angles, a friendly bit of banter and those huge hands at slip or gully to complete the package. Oh, and the big booming laugh. An absolute joy playing MCC cricket with or for Rossco and something calming about knowing we were batting and Rossco in his cords reaching for the paper ready for a long rest. And also stumping him with a soccer question once......now that was something to be proud of.....farewell Rossco....the memories will live with me forever...a gentle giant in all senses of the word and such a nice man ! From Sydney Paul Hillier, MCC and ex-Chichester CC
29th July 2009 - 09:29 - Paul Hillier
Our contact with Sandy was not through the cricketing fraternity but rather when he was a Colleague during our time at Selfridges in London. Our fond memories are of a guy who was as professional as he was positive and good fun, with that infectious laugh.A real Gentleman, well described by others as "stalwart". Our thoughts are with Diana and his Family. Vivien & Robin Arbenz.
29th July 2009 - 14:11 - Robin Arbenz
I feel a tremendous amount of sadness on hearing of the passing of Sandy Ross. I played with Sandy for Horsham and against him a few times while he was at East Grinstead. Such a lovely lovely man for whom I had never heard a bad word spoken. There are many people in the world of cricket that will be deeply saddened by this news. Goodbye Sandy and thanks for the memories. Dinghy
02nd August 2009 - 00:37 - Anthony Aduhene
Sandy - if my memory serves me right, I must have known you nearly 20 years. I well recall being asked to look after you on your first day at Selfridges. Little did I know that I was sitting with a mind of amazing sporting memories, a man that visited more football league grounds than most journalists, a man who drove up to Murrayfield on more than one occasion, a man who was never happier than talking about his family and his love of cricket. You did me the great service of agreeing to be Jessica's Godfather 13 years ago. As a family we have so many happy memories of you. I can remember to this day how you could sit in a meeting with your famous yellow highlighter pen making notes and your famous postits. I swear to this day that you were making notes about cricket as opposed to staffing levels and productivity levels in your restaurants. In all the years that I knew you you never aged, you were still a smiling, happy person at Twickenham last year and so proud of Will. Sadly I didn't see you after the game but knowing you you would still be smiling despite a record defeat. My family thoughts are with your family.
04th August 2009 - 17:04 - Peter Mallinson
14th August 2009 - 12:07 - Gregg van Molendorff