Cricket
Former CBC Old Boys' Bloemfontein cricketer dies in England─── 05:57 Wed, 19 Jun 2013
Zena Hawley
Derby - Team-mates of a talented cricketer who died suddenly, aged 28, will form a guard of honour with their bats at his funeral tomorrow.
South African David Smyth made his home in Derbyshire in 2007 and had played for Stainsby Hall Cricket Club in Smalley ever since.
He played as recently as May 19 and afterwards complained of back pain but he was assured it was nothing serious.
Just a couple of weeks later, he became disorientated at his Alvaston home and was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
It was discovered he had cancer in his liver, brain and lungs. Within a week, David died in hospital after a third heart attack, having recovered from two previous heart attacks in that time.
His brother, Matthew, 25, also of Alvaston, said family and friends were devastated.
He said: "David was one of the fittest people I know and a real fighter. I know that if he had been
given the chance to battle the cancer he would have done.
"It's been a terrible shock for everyone. People can't believe what's happened.
David, who worked at Virgin Active as a personal trainer in Derby, came to Britain to find a cricket club. He had played for the CBC Old Boys and attended Grey College in Bloemfontein.
He initially went to Huddersfield, where he met his future wife, Megan, before a cricket agency put him in touch with Stainsby. Matthew said: "When he knew he had cancer, David never once complained or asked 'why me?'. He was so full of life."
David's funeral will be in English Martyrs' Catholic Church, Alvaston, where he married Megan almost six months ago. She is coming to terms with David's death and plans to enter Darley Park Race for Life next month in his memory.
John Wood, Stainsby club chairman, said it was likely a benevolent fund would be set up to raise money for a digital scoreboard.
He said: "David was a close friend and one of the best all-rounders we have ever had. He could have played at higher level cricket but he always said he wanted to stay here.
"It's been a massive shock so the players are keen to be at the funeral in their whites as a mark of respect."
David played 134 league and cup games for Stainsby's first team in Division One of the County League over six years. He scored 2,909 runs at an average of 27.7 and took 256 wickets at an average of 19.71.
In his last game, he scored 74 not out for a win over Aston-on-Trent in the first round of the Marston's Smooth Trophy.
The funeral is from 6.30pm, ahead of a private cremation, and will be followed by a gathering for everyone at Stainsby clubhouse from 8pm.
The family, which includes his mother and father who have flown over from South Africa, and two sisters in the USA, have requested that mourners should not wear black "because David would think it morbid".
- www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
Derby - Team-mates of a talented cricketer who died suddenly, aged 28, will form a guard of honour with their bats at his funeral tomorrow.
South African David Smyth made his home in Derbyshire in 2007 and had played for Stainsby Hall Cricket Club in Smalley ever since.
He played as recently as May 19 and afterwards complained of back pain but he was assured it was nothing serious.
Just a couple of weeks later, he became disorientated at his Alvaston home and was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
It was discovered he had cancer in his liver, brain and lungs. Within a week, David died in hospital after a third heart attack, having recovered from two previous heart attacks in that time.
His brother, Matthew, 25, also of Alvaston, said family and friends were devastated.
He said: "David was one of the fittest people I know and a real fighter. I know that if he had been
given the chance to battle the cancer he would have done.
"It's been a terrible shock for everyone. People can't believe what's happened.
David, who worked at Virgin Active as a personal trainer in Derby, came to Britain to find a cricket club. He had played for the CBC Old Boys and attended Grey College in Bloemfontein.
He initially went to Huddersfield, where he met his future wife, Megan, before a cricket agency put him in touch with Stainsby. Matthew said: "When he knew he had cancer, David never once complained or asked 'why me?'. He was so full of life."
David's funeral will be in English Martyrs' Catholic Church, Alvaston, where he married Megan almost six months ago. She is coming to terms with David's death and plans to enter Darley Park Race for Life next month in his memory.
John Wood, Stainsby club chairman, said it was likely a benevolent fund would be set up to raise money for a digital scoreboard.
He said: "David was a close friend and one of the best all-rounders we have ever had. He could have played at higher level cricket but he always said he wanted to stay here.
"It's been a massive shock so the players are keen to be at the funeral in their whites as a mark of respect."
David played 134 league and cup games for Stainsby's first team in Division One of the County League over six years. He scored 2,909 runs at an average of 27.7 and took 256 wickets at an average of 19.71.
In his last game, he scored 74 not out for a win over Aston-on-Trent in the first round of the Marston's Smooth Trophy.
The funeral is from 6.30pm, ahead of a private cremation, and will be followed by a gathering for everyone at Stainsby clubhouse from 8pm.
The family, which includes his mother and father who have flown over from South Africa, and two sisters in the USA, have requested that mourners should not wear black "because David would think it morbid".
- www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
