Take a bow, Sir Fortescue
Mike Harrison has retired from the Zululand Observer after 44 years of service
THE time has come for Michael Fortescue (Mike) Harrison (78) to hang up his pen after 44 years of sport journalism at the Zululand Observer.
Mike started his sport reporting career way back in 1969 at the time when the ZO was launched.
‘I noticed the ZO had just opened up, so I went and spoke to Editor and owner Reg Anthony to volunteer my services. I was asked to produce an article for consideration and the rest is history,’ says Harrison.
Mike juggled two jobs for 44 years, one being a sugar cane farmer and the other being a sport writer.
For the first two years of is writing career, he covered all sporting codes.
Ever since then, he became the cricket and rugby ‘specialist’, only covering these two sporting codes.
Obviously when one does such an exciting job for 44 years, there must be highlights that come to mind.
Chris Edwards becoming the KZNRU President and the Empangeni Rugby Football Club being promoted to the Premier Division were huge highlights, as were
meeting Derek Watts and playing cricket against Berea Rovers (Roy Mclean and company). The death of Mick Kelly was one of the sas moments in his career.
‘Having been doing this sort of work for so long, helps one build up many relationships within the local community,’ says Mike.
He not only covered sport, he was also an avid sportsman, excelling in cricket and rugby.
He played flyhalf for Empangeni Rugby Club from 1958-1961, but it was cricket that he really loved.
He represented the Empangeni, Zululand, KZN Country Districts and SA Country Districts cricket sides as a top class legbreak bowler.
He played cricket from 1957-1991, before officially retiring from all sports.
But one could never keep Mike away from action and therefore he compnsated by serving on executive committees.
He has served on the rugby executive committee for 45 years as secretary and eventually as Honorary Vice President.
He also served on the Zululand cricket committee for 52 years, where he acted as Secretary, Vice President and President.
So what is his retirement plans?
‘I am going to be a couch potato. But you will always see me next to the rugby and cricket fields getting behind our local lads.
‘One thing I will miss the most about the ZO is being able to come in and sit down for a chat.’
