Hartlepool cricket club devastated by sudden death of beloved player Danny Shurmer

Hartlepool United fan Danny Shurmer has passed away after collapsing at home. He was 43.

Danny joined Hartlepool Cricket Club as a junior member aged 10 and went on represent both first and second teams.

Club chairman Alan Jackson said on Thursday that Danny had been “a fabulous cricketer, who captained the second team many times and was, in his younger days, a very good first team player”.

Hartlepool batsman Danny Shurmer playing for Hartlepool Cricket Club second team against Barnard Castle earlier this year.

"He really was a top notch lad that all the players respected,” said Alan.

"He knew his cricket inside and out and he had a wonderful, wonderful attitude towards his players.”

As well as a good on-pitch leader, Danny had been a talented player in his own right, with Alan adding: “He was a really good batsman – he had great vision and natural ability.

"He loved Hartlepool Cricket Club – he never let us down. He had a great number of friends at the club who loved him to bits.

“He was also a very, very funny lad – his humour was brilliant.

“It is quite a devastating thing that has happened.”

While Danny may have been a passionate cricketer, it was not his only sporting love.

"He was also a passionate Hartlepool United supporter and went with my son to a lot of games home and away over the years,” said Alan.

Danny had been looking forward to watching Pools take on Torquay United in this weekend’s National League play-off final at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate Stadium for the chance to return to the Football League.

"Danny was an absolutely fanatical fan of the team and he was going to drive us down to Bristol on Saturday, that’s how fanatical he was.” said Alan.

“We have booked a hotel and we were going to stay over, then go to the game on Sunday.

"He was really looking forward to it.”

Second team captain Peter Rhoden said his thoughts were with Danny’s family and he added: "I have played in cricket teams with Danny since I was a kid. He was a great player on the pitch, but an even greater bloke off it. He absolutely adored HCC.”

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