James Aitken – UTS North Sydney’s 47th Life Member

In the UTS North Sydney Bears’ 2021 AGM, James Aitken was elected as the club’s 47th Life Member, a testament to nearly 20 years of loyal service to the club – which was risen to 24 years at the time of publication ahead of the 2026/27 season. Here we reproduce Patrick Lindsay’s AGM speech recommending James for life membership.

James is unquestionably one of the all-time great Bears. Sitting fifth on the club’s all-time First Grade run-scorers’ list is reason enough. Since joining the Bears in the 2002/03 season and claiming cap 569, James has amassed over 8,050 runs at 27.47 for the club. 6,449 of those runs have been scored in the top grade. He has scored 7 centuries and 47 fifties for the Bears, with his top score of 142 coming in a victory over an Easts side boasting internationals David Warner, Peter Nevill and Will Somerville.

For the majority of James’ career he was seen as a top order batsman, however, in recent years James has added seam bowling to his repertoire. He has taken 125 wickets for the club at 25 with one 5-for and has taken 58 of those wickets in First Grade.   

I’ve played quite a bit of cricket with James over the years and can confirm is one of the best teammates you can ask for. Experienced, focussed, determined, committed are words that spring to mind. Delivers a great appeal as well!

I recall James took the catch for my first wicket in first grade at Sydney Uni. A long hop hit very hard to him in the box on the on side. I’m not sure how it didn’t break his hand! I also claim some credit for James’ development into a seamer having asked him to bowl in a trial game on the central coast many moons ago. This was after he snicked me off on multiple occasions in preseason nets – not too difficult I know! James took a couple of wickets in that trial and I remember Mike Lloyd bowling him in a 2s one-dayer at Raby. We were defending 164 and James nearly got us over the line taking 5/23 off 7 overs.

James celebrates his 300th First Grade appearance, at North Sydney Oval in 2019/20

James has been playing First Grade for 22 seasons and grade cricket for even longer. He has been a tremendous servant, not only for North Sydney, but grade cricket in Sydney. Cricket is a great game and James plays it the right way. Hard and fair. All players can learn a lot from James’ dedication to cricket and respect he clearly has for Sydney Grade Cricket and First Grade. Playing First Grade at any club is a serious achievement and James (and his brothers) have borne this out over their careers.

James (left) with his brothers, Robbie (centre) and Glenn (right) after winning the 2012/13 First Grade One Day Premiership

Finally, tonight is by no means a valedictory. We hope to see James continue to take the field for Bears and add to what has been an all-time Bears’ career. It gives me great pleasure to formally recommend Mr James Aitken as life member of the North Sydney District Cricket Club.