Jeremy Schultz announces Sunshine Coast division one cricket retirement

A Sunshine Coast cricket legend is stepping away from the top competition after two decades but says his greatest on-field achievement is still to come.

Jeremy Schultz has called time on his impressive Sunshine Coast division one career.

Sunshine Coast cricket record holder and current Glasshouse president Jeremy Schultz has reflected on his division one career after announcing his retirement from the top flight.

Schultz, 40, who began playing for Glasshouse when he was 11, holds the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association record for most division one games – with 364 over 23 seasons – and is the second highest competition run scorer behind Nambour president Steven Ledger.

For Glasshouse he holds the record for runs, wickets and games played, and appears in the batting partnership records for the third, fourth, fifth and seventh wickets.

Schultz, who was named in the 2021/22 team of the season and voted into the top Sunshine Coast 11 since 2000, said the decision had been coming for a while.

“It’s been on my mind as we’ve had a lot of growth at our club and I didn’t want to step away at the wrong time and leave the top side in a struggle,” he said.

“They’ve really taken over now which is nice and we have a lot of good young talent coming through so I see it as the next step for me.”

Although he never managed a premiership win, he appeared in five grand finals and said his greatest memories were off the field.

“The grand finals are the key moments you remember and I’ve had some great seasons but some of my best mates have come from playing cricket and that’s what really stand out,” he said.

“I’ve scored plenty of centuries and taken plenty of wickets which is great but the most fun you have is off the field with your teammates and the opposition.”

Schultz said he looked forward to taking the field with his son Riley next season.

“It’ll be division two for me next year for sure, my son is coming through playing division two and three currently which is a massive driver for me being able to play with him,” he said.

“That will definitely be the highlight of my career no doubt.”

He said he would remain in his role as president next season.

“I don’t know why any sane person takes it on because it’s a lot of work but the rewards out of it and being able to provide the community with a strong sporting club is unreal,” he said.

“Over the past five seasons we’ve gone from one to seven junior sides, zero to three women’s teams along with our five senior men's teams.

“We’re doing some really good things at Glasshouse both on and off the field so by stepping away from the first team it allows me to focus more on the admin side.”