Tributes came from all over the world when the 88 year-old passed away three weeks ago. Looking back and you have to admire the dignified way this quiet unassuming East Belfastman faced adversity throughout his life, even although he fathered the greatest footballer that ever lived. Dickie must have endured many low spots throughout George’s turbulent life, as it was a tough cross to bear losing both his wife and his gifted son so tragically. But throughout it all he acted with great dignity, and he was not only an inspiration to his family, but to many people he would never ever meet.
Parents play important roles in the lives of their children and especially in their sporting careers. Wasn’t it great to see Barry McGuigan in the corner when his son Shane made his Ulster Championship boxing debut at the Belfast Dockers Club last month? Not many world champions would have rolled up their sleeves and gone back to their grass-roots like this proud dad, but then, there aren’t many sporting superstars like Barry McGuigan.
Last year at the Cricket World Cup I chatted to a nervous Chris Broad in the Media Centre at the Kensington Oval while his son Stuart slogged it out on the field for England. The affable Chris readily admitted it was worse watching his son play than when he opened the batting for England not so many years ago, but it was obvious there was immense pride in seeing his talented offspring emulate his own outstanding cricketing exploits.
Parents play leading roles in the development of young cricket talent and over the years they have traveled up and down the country in support of their sons, and in some cases to the other side of the world. Their presence and support has been exceptional, and if a few of the more energetic have crowded the dressing room on occasions, their enthusiasm should have been tactfully controlled rather than criticized. After all, they only want to see the boys perform better. Dads will be dads!
Gradually kids grow up and the visible support of parents, particularly fathers, tends to drift into the background, so when you see a cricketing father playing with his sons in the same team at the highest level it has to be something special. Not many senior cricketers have had the pleasure of playing with their ‘oul man’ but for those that have experienced it, then the pleasure must be boundless. In that vein I have the greatest respect for an old teammate Robin Haire, affectionately dubbed ‘Da Haire’ by everyone at North Down.
Robin has not only enjoyed a number of years playing senior cricket alongside sons Ryan and Andrew, he has played with them in cup and league winning sides. He’s certainly not there to make up the numbers either, and when the going gets tough, there are few better batsmen around Irish club cricket who can grind out a win like ‘Da Haire.’
Sporting fathers are not uncommon, but many who have made the grade and performed at the highest level are often content to take a back-seat when the next generation takes their place. It is rare to see a sporting father defy the test of time and hold centre stage long enough to not only retain their place, but to be a formidable asset and to be selected on merit.
Dickie Best, Barry McGuigan, Chris Broad and Robin Haire have each in their own way set high standards and proved themselves exceptional fathers to exceptional sporting sons.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
