Vale Gerard Price: Burwood Briars legend passes away at 57

Sydney’s BBL players wore black armbands this week to pay their respects to an inner west cricket legend who died following a long battle with illness.

Gerard Price with his wife Jane and children Bethany, Erin, and Damian at his OAM ceremony. Picture: Supplied

Sydney’s cricketing community is in mourning this week after the tragic passing of Burwood Briars Cricket Club chairman Gerard Price after a long battle with illness.

Mr Price was 57 when he passed away on Sunday surrounded by his wife Jane and children Damian, Bethany, and Erin.

Gerard began his career with the Burwood Cricket Club in 1980 at the age of 16, and was part of the C-grade winning team that year along with his younger brother Paul.

Gerard Price will go down as one of the greatest Burwood Briars players of all time. Picture: Supplied

He was in first grade the following summer, and spent the best part of the next 20 years playing first-grade cricket with the Briars.

Gerard took over as the club’s chairman in 1989, and continued in that role until his death.

As a player he won premierships in every grade, and the club won a record 18 club championships and 39 total premierships under his leadership.

The club said Gerard’s success could never be measured by “premierships alone” in a tribute.

“More important was his ability to offer a stable, well-administered, and well-respected sport allowing many juniors and seniors the opportunity to play cricket,” a club spokesman said.

The Sydney Sixers wore black armbands during their match against the Melbourne Renegades. Picture: Sydney Sixers Twitter

The Sydney Thunder wore black armbands to honour Gerard Price in a match against the Brisbane Heat. Picture: Sydney Thunder Twitter

“It was Gerard’s unique ability to create such a culture within cricket that provided an environment that allowed cricket to grow and flourish under his watch.

“Through his efforts as chairman for over 30 years, Gerard was a true representation of what amateur sport is all about, and was a shining example within Briars and the wider cricket community through his work with Cricket NSW.”

Gerard scored 7453 runs across 467 innings with the Briars, and took a club-record 1168 wickets from 6479 overs while winning his eight premierships as a player.

Gerard Price receives his OAM earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

Gerard Price played several seasons with his son Damian. Picture: Supplied

He was granted a life membership of the club in 2009, was awarded the City of Canada Bay Sport Citizen of the Year in 2012, admitted to the Shires Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013, and was awarded an OAM in 2020.

“(Gerard) was the first person to contact and greet you when you started playing at the club and he always made you feel welcome either from day one or year 15,” the Briars spokesman said.

The Rivals Cricket Club pays tribute to Gerard Price on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

“He had the personality that was welcoming and engaging, the drive and motivation to make sure the job got done without fuss, and the spirit, respect, integrity and determination required to be the leader he was.

“All these characteristics came together to make him the person we all admired, loved, and will now miss so much.”