Vale CV Life Member George Murray

George Murray was an accomplished cricketer in his own right, playing 160 District matches for St Kilda, Melbourne Uni and Footscray between 1947-48 and 1960-61, scoring 4,496 runs at an average of 26.76, with 5 centuries and 23 half-centuries. In his first game for Melbourne Uni, George Murray and George Thoms added 298 for the first wicket partnership (still a club record) against Essendon in 1949-50. He was good enough to play three Victorian 2nd XI matches in 1949-50, but it was off-field that George left the biggest impression.

George taught at University High School from 1950 to 1978, coaching the senior cricket and football teams for the majority of this time and was considered the doyen of schoolboy coaches. He oversaw the schoolboy careers of dozens of VFL footballers including John Coleman, Allen Aylett and Brent Crosswell and many Test and state cricketers including Ray Bright, Jack Potter, Gary Cosier and John Scholes. He was later principal of Glen Waverley High and Vermont High.

George was an original member of the Victorian Schools Cricket Association in 1967 and served that organisation as vice president, as well as serving as a Victorian Youth Selector, on the VCA Coaching Committee and on the VYC & CC (Victorian Youth Cricket & Coaching Committee). George coached and managed numerous VCA and VSCA Youth teams through the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1983 Australian U19 Tour of England. He became a VCA Delegate for Fitzroy (1978-79 to 1990-91), served on the CV Pennant Committee (1980-81 to 1990-91) and was awarded Life Membership upon his retirement after the 1990-91 season.

George was thrilled to be inducted into the CV 200 Club in 2014-15, when games as non-playing coach of Fitzroy in the 1960s and 1970s were finally recognised.

Cricket Victoria extends its deepest sympathies to the Murray family and all the clubs which George served with distinction.

GJ (George) Murray

Born: 12 November 1925

Died: 25 December 2017