CONROD Brown did not fulfil his mother’s dream of him playing international cricket but his involvement in the sport is significantly impacting members of his Parry Town Community in St Ann.

Brown said despite playing a lot of local cricket, his mother’s dream of him playing for Jamaica and then the West Indies never came true. But now, he uses his passion for the sport to serve young people in his community and across the country.

“I’m a lover of sports,” he told the Jamaica Observer North and East as he sat by the Parry Town playing field during a visit to the community recently.

“I started out volunteering about 25 years ago,” he said, admitting that it has “built” his life.

He explained that, following a conversation with then principal of Parry Town Primary School, AJ Brown, he was employed as a coach.

“They couldn’t pay me like how I should’ve been paid, but they started out with something,” Brown said.

He said results from his work at the school later gained him employment at two high schools, again coaching cricket.

It was also while at Parry Town Primary that he said he was inspired by Principal Brown to pursue studies at G C Foster College in St Catherine.

This caused him to leave the community for a short period but he eventually returned to his first love and, despite his many duties, he said he remains committed to the school which helped to develop his career.

He is now the second vice-president of the St Ann Cricket Association and manager of the Under-15 St Ann cricket team. Brown is also assistant coach of the senior team and manages the parish’s junior cup team.

The talented St Ann native also serves as an umpire.

“Throughout my career, I have helped to mould many talents,” he said, adding that his ultimate dream is to coach the regional cricket team.

“My dream is to coach the Jamaica and West Indies teams,” Brown, one of the selectors for Jamaica’s Under-15 cricket team, said.

At the same time, the father of two lamented the lack of support for rural sport, including cricket, and is urging members of the private sector to lend support.

“I’m disappointed that the business community does not sponsor more. St Ann has some of the most talented persons.

“They need to get on board,” he said.