Harold Crozier, who made enormous contributions on and off the field to both cricket and baseball locally and has a football field named in his honour (Crozier Field) in Lismore, passed away on Saturday, July 6, at the age of 86.

Harold played representative cricket for NSW Country against South Africa in 1963 and England in 1966 and was selected for the All Australian baseball team as a second baseman in 1959.

However, perhaps his greatest sporting achievement was playing first grade cricket continuously for 40 years well into his 50s.

Harold Crozier (front row, second from the left) and Barry Wappett (back row, second from the left) with the Marist Brothers cricket team. PHOTO: Supplied/John McMahon.

Harold’s best mate for 68 years, Barry Wappett - they first met aged 16 and Mr Wappett was best man at Harold’s wedding to his lovely wife Nan - remembered him as a very strong competitor who “didn't give an inch”.

“When I first met Harold, I was the captain of the Marist Brothers cricket team,” Mr Wappett said. 

“We had a pretty good team and he only left us after we won three or four premierships in a row to strengthen up the eastern suburbs team.

Harold Crozier (front row, second from the left) with the Eastern Districts Cricket Club. PHOTO: Supplied.

“He  probably saw it as more of a challenge there rather than staying with a team that was pretty successful for three or four years at that stage.”

Harold went on to lead Eastern Districts as captain to 17 minor and major premierships between 1971 and 1988.

One of Mr Wappett’s fondest memories of Harold was when they went to the US to watch the Baseball World Series in 1975.

Harold Crozier (front, second from right) with the Marist Bros Old Boys' Baseball Club in 1955. PHOTO: Supplied.

“We were both keen on baseball and he had said why don't we go to the World Series and I said jokingly if you can get tickets to the world series I'll go with you,” Mr Wappett said.

“Harold being Harold, he rang the office of the commissioner for baseball in America and not only got tickets but got fantastic tickets for us."

“It was a fantastic trip. No doubt about it.”

Mr Wappett said he thought Harold loved cricket and baseball with equal passion.

Harold Crozier played representative cricket well into his 50s. PHOTO: Supplied.

“He was very keen for everyone to do the right thing,” he said. “He thought they should all be as serious about the games as he was.

“He was very involved in a big way and he umpired in both sports for many years.

“He didn't stop, he kept going virtually forever.”

Eastern Districts Cricket Club president Harold Crozier presents an award to the Foster Bros following the 1982-83 season. PHOTO: Supplied.

Fellow Lismore cricketing great Stan Gilchrist paid tribute to Harold as a fierce competitor and inspiration.

“I admired the man and he certainly made a huge contribution to the game that I love,” Mr Gilchrist said.

“He was one of those who certainly pushed Adam’s career - he got Adam his first trip to England.

“He claimed to have taught Adam everything he knew - but there’s a lot of people who would like to claim that.

“He was a tough, tough, tough player. A hard man to play against and a very conscientious umpire.”

Harold's daughter Jo Wilkinson said her father was a country boy through and through who grew up at Alstonville shooting rabbits with his air rifle and catching the milk truck to school three days a week.

“From the age of 14 he fell in love with sport,” she said.

“He played rugby league in the early days before he discovered cricket and baseball and he also played golf and lawn bowls in the end.

“Through those sporting skills he was able to express his love of competition.”

Off the field, she said he was gentle, determined and a “very clean living kind of guy” with strong moral values and a faith in the Anglican church.

“He loved following the rules, and he knew the rules - he SO knew the rules,” she said.

Harold Crozier passed away after a long period of declining health. PHOTO: Supplied.

While her father’s sporting achievements were “amazing”, his family knew him best as a devoted father and husband.

“We’ve just been blessed to have him in our lives for so long,” she said.

“He’s been absolutely wonderful.”

Harold is survived by his loving wife, Nan, three children, Lindy, Jo and David, six grandchildren and sisters, Margaret Gordon and Isabel Ford.

Family and friends are invited to attend celebration of Harold Crozier’s life at St Andrew’s Anglican Church on Thursday, 11th July at 10.30am.