23/06/2026
DAVE KINSELLA
The club is sad to report that another one of our great club legends has passed away in the last few days . Dave Kinsella was a hugely influential club man as both a player and committee member over a very successful period for the club in the 1950s through until the early 70s when he moved to Palmerston North to further his teaching career .
Dave joined the club in 1955 out of NPBHS and went on to become a match winning fast bowler dominating opposition batting lineups over a number of years . One season that stands out in 1958-59 he took 73 wickets for the Senior A team which is still the most in a season in the history of the club . He also took a further 32 wickets for Taranaki that season taking his season total to an incredible 105 wickets . In the late 50s and early 60s the club made four successive TCA finals winning 3 of them which was an incredible achievement at that time . Dave went on to represent both Taranaki where he became the first bowler to take 100 wickets for the province , and also Central Districts where he took 72 wickets over a 28 game career between 1961-66 . He then took up umpiring after his playing days and reached international level umpiring 3 test matches and 6 one day internationals in the early 1980s.
Dave also served on the clubs committee holding the roles of club captain and chairman, and was a great mentor to a young Ali Jordan who had joined the club in the mid 60s , Ali going on to be the clubs greatest ever player .
Dave was named in the NPOBCC team of the century at the clubs centennial dinner in 2020.
It has been a tough few years with the club losing a number of our most outstanding men in recent times who have paved the way for so many to be able to enjoy being part of a great and successful club, and Dave was certainly another who contributed greatly to this legacy. Our thoughts are with Dave’s family and friends .
OBF 🖤💛🏏
