Now some of those he influenced will pay tribute to the colourful sporting personality, who died in his sleep late last month, in the way he would love best – on the cricket field.

Mullard’s son Andrew, nephew Kirk and son-in-law Paul Brownlee have organised two charity Twenty20 cricket matches to be played in his memory at Robins Oval on November 29.

Mullard was heavily involved in the City United Cricket Club, where Andrew and Brownlee play, as a curator, umpire and canteen operator.

He was also a life member of the Maitland and District Junior Cricket Association – and it will be the city’s next generation of cricketers who will kick off the tribute at 9.30am with a match between City’s 2008-2009 premiership-winning under-16s team and a Maitland under-16s team.

“Cricket was his life, everything he did revolved around cricket,” Brownlee said.

“Northern was a life member of the junior association and was heavily involved with Andrew when he went through the juniors.

“More recently he was heavily involved with City’s juniors, there wasn’t a junior who didn’t know who he was.”

Brownlee said they were keen to hear from junior cricketers who were interested in playing in the curtain raiser, with spots still available in the Maitland under-16s team.

Following that clash a City “All Stars” line-up will meet a Maitland Invitational XI in the main Twenty20 at 2pm.

The teams will be captained by Andrew and Kirk respectively.

Brownlee said the players in the senior match were ones who were coached, managed or influenced by Mullard throughout his life as an administrator.

Each match will be played for a perpetual Jeff “Northern” Mullard Twenty20 Tribute Shield, with organisers hoping to make it an annual event.

“Initially it’s a celebration of what (Mullard) has done through cricket and a way to remember him,” Brownlee said.

“But we hope it will grow into something bigger, an annual event that may even involve more matches on more grounds.”

A raffle featuring memorabilia from West Indies cricketer Richie Richardson, Australia’s Shaun Tait and former Newcastle paceman Burt Cockley, whose star is fast on the rise on the national cricket scene, will also be drawn on the day.

Proceeds will go to Movember, with a site dedicated to the cause http://au.movember.com/mospace/44 6862

Anyone wanting more information or to play in the under-16s match should contact Paul Brownlee on 0419 294 033.