Died 13 February 2016 | ||
Michael Francis Shepherdson (10 December 1930 – 13 February 2016) was a Malaysian field hockey player, association football goalkeeper, and cricketer. He participated in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and twice in the Asian Games, in 1958 and 1962, where the Malaysian team won a bronze medal. At the 1956 Olympics he was selected to the World Xl hockey team, the first ever Malaysian representative. Later he became a goalkeeper for Selangor FA and was captain of the national cricket team. He was known for the distinction of being the only Malaysian who captained both national hockey and cricket teams "". In 2011 he was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) Hall of Fame for his sporting achievements.
In cricket he was credited as an early exponent of a specific technique for facing fast bowling, which was later successfully used by Australian captain Ian Chappell in the 1975-76 home Test series, against the fearsome West Indian pace attack. Dr. Harjit Singh, President of the Johor Cricket Council described Mike Shepherdson as "the finest batsman Malaysia ever produced, a gentleman, sportsman, a great friend and the finest example of a humble and caring personality.". His superb technique and timing were frequently extolled by national sports writers in both cricket and hockey.
Mike Shepherdson’s outstanding sporting achievements describe only part of this remarkable man. His family, sporting colleagues, and friends often commented on his qualities of humility, gentleness, commitment and passion, a true gentleman but who also expected the best from his team. He was able to balance his passion for sport, his love for his family, and his obligation to work, to an extent that very few people of his sporting prowess have been able to do. This combination of exceptional sporting success, a gentle and humble personality, and a deeply loved father and husband, represents his quite remarkable qualities and show why he should be regarded not just as an outstanding sportsman, but as an exceptional man, and the ultimate role model for all athletes. We can all learn from people such as Mike Shepherdson. There is no doubt that his passing is a great loss for Malaysian sport, however his life leaves us with a great legacy for reflection and inspiration.
Shepherdson died at the Pantai Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur in 2016, aged 85.