26 April 2013 – American Cricket Federation regrets to announce the passing of a New York cricket icon Roy Sweeney earlier yesterday in Florida. Mr. Sweeney was a visionary and an American cricket pioneer who got things done with as much passion as he played the game in his earlier years while growing up in his native Jamaica, before migrating to the US.
The late Roy Sweeney.
As president of USA Cricket Promoters Association, Inc., Roy Sweeney was instrumental in bringing a West Indies XI dba as Caribbean All-Stars to New York in 2006. It was a star-studded XI that included Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Ronnie Sarwan among others, playing on the West Indies team at that time. The Caribbean All-Stars engaged a New York XI led by Steve Massiah at the Floyd Bennet Field.
In addition to promoting such classic cricket treats in Brooklyn and Yonkers, NY, Roy Sweeney served in various administrative capacities in cricket. He knew politicians who could make things happen such as the purpose-build cricket fields at Canarsie and Erskine Fields in Brooklyn. He connected politicians with the needs of their cricketing constituents and brought cricketers together to be part of his vision for the growth and development of cricket in the US.
An inductee of the Cricket Hall of Fame in Hartford, CT and a 2010 ICC Centenary medal recipient, Roy Sweeney was 78 years old and had suffered a number of health setbacks in recent years, leading to his ultimate demise this week. He is survived by his wife Ola, sons Rasheen and Tony, and daughter Audrey.
American Cricket Federation, on behalf of all of its members wishes to express its sincere condolences to the Sweeney family on the passing of Roy Sweeney.
Roy Sweeney will surely be missed.
