Memorial game planned for tragic cricketer Jack Glenn

Jack, who was 23 and played for Bready, Glendermott and Creevedonnell, entered the river near Londonderry on February 2.

His remains were formally identified yesterday.

Brian Dougherty, who helped bring Jack to Creevedonnell, said a fundraising cricket match or tournament would enable Jack’s memory to live on.

“There has been a phenomenal response since Jack died, from right across the community, and people in cricket want to remember him,” said Brian.

“It could be a match or a tournament in his memory, something that we could use to raise money and give him a legacy.”

Brian, who said the discovery of Jack’s body would begin the process of closure for the Glenn family, described the impact Jack had on Creevedonnell Cricket Club.

“He was very likeable young fella and we were all delighted when he came to Creevedonnell, it was a real coup for us when we signed him,” he said. “Even when we were relegated from the senior league he stayed with us, and gave another couple of years, he was a big and popular presence in the dressing room. He was always first at practice, never let us down and always gave 100%, on and off the field. He was very popular.

“His whole family really took an active part in the club, they came to social and fundraising events, and Jack was always there himself, which says a lot for him.”

A representative cricketer as a teenager, Jack was sadly never to fulfil his considerable cricketing potential. Brian insists Jack “didn’t realise how good he actually was”.

He continued: “He was a very good sportsman, when he was younger he was a very good slow bowler, he scored big runs and was always a fantastic fielder, just a fantastic athlete full stop. He was good at everything he turned his hand to. If he had taken cricket more seriously he could have gone much further in the game. By the time he came to us he was really playing more for the enjoyment of the game.”

Brian said the North West cricket community had been left “devastated” by his passing.

“On the surface Jack was such a buoyant, vibrant person, I was talking to him a few weeks before he died and he was full of chat and looking forward to the cricket season.”