Greater Newcastle Cricket has appointed Paul Wilson, known to many across the game as Blocker, as its inaugural Executive Officer.
The appointment marks a major milestone for GNC, which has spent the past two years bringing the Newcastle District Cricket Association and Newcastle Junior Cricket Association together under one banner for the first time in over 130 years.
Wilson is a Newcastle product through and through. He left the city in 1991 to chase a place at the Australian Cricket Academy, going on to a first class career as a right arm fast bowler with South Australia and later Western Australia, including a Test and 11 one day international appearances for Australia in 1997 to 98.
After retiring as a player, he built one of the most respected umpiring careers in the Australian game, officiating eight Tests, 43 ODIs and 26 T20 Internationals across 11 years on the ICC International Panel, along with more than 250 domestic fixtures. He retired from the Cricket Australia National Umpires Panel in 2024 before a short stint as umpire selector for Cricket Australia, and has since officiated in professional T20 leagues around the world, including in Belgium, the UAE and the United States. He is one of only six Australians, and just the second in the post war era after Paul Reiffel, to have both played and officiated Test cricket for his country.
Beyond the field, Wilson brings a strong background in sport administration, including as a Board Director with Grassroots Cricket, a former member of the Australian Cricket Council, and through his own consultancy delivering officiating, coaching and wellbeing services across the game.
The appointment follows a thorough recruitment process run independently on behalf of the GNC board. GNC would like to acknowledge the contribution of GWG Recruitment, and in particular Julie Gearie and Alan Kinder, who managed the process on a pro bono basis over the past twelve months. Their support, provided independently and at arm’s length from the NDCA and NJCA representatives on the GNC board, reflects the transparency GNC has been committed to throughout its establishment.
GNC Chairman Andrew Adam said the board was thrilled to have Wilson lead the organisation into its next phase.
“Paul brings a wealth of experience, from playing at the highest levels, to officiating and administration. Equally, he is a Novocastrian who knows the Newcastle and Hunter cricketing landscape well, and I have no doubt he is exactly the right person to lead this next chapter for our region,” Adam said.
“The board looks forward to working alongside Paul to deliver on our strategic goals over the coming years.”
Wilson said taking on the role felt like coming home.
“Cricket has shaped my entire career, and having grown up in this region, taking on the role of Executive Officer for Greater Newcastle Cricket feels like coming home. I’m excited to help build something special for players, clubs and communities across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens,” Wilson said.
“I’m excited to work alongside the NDCA and NJCA, as well as key stakeholders like Cricket NSW, to grow the game across the region, boost participation across all levels, modernise our facilities and infrastructure, and work towards bringing professional cricket back to the Greater Newcastle region where it belongs. Our community has the talent and the passion, now it’s about building the platform to match it.”
As Executive Officer, Wilson will drive GNC’s priorities across facilities, participation growth, pathways, governance and community engagement, with the aim of establishing GNC as the leading cricket association in Country New South Wales.
Greater Newcastle Cricket has been endorsed by the NDCA and NJCA to strategically oversee cricket competitions played within Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens, and is backed by Cricket NSW and Country Cricket NSW.
