Simon Norvill: Old Boys gun recalls his idyllic childhood in Hillvue

It was there that he had countless backyard cricket duels in summer and front-yard rugby league battles in winter.

And it was there that he retreated during transitional periods in his life.

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The 34-year-old's parents, Steve and Cathy, still live in the home.

They raised three children, including Norvill's elder brother, Andrew, whom he played numerous backyard "Test matches" against.

"Mum's from a sporting family," Norvill said. "And I grew up around older cousins, and stuff like that, playing sport. So it was always in our family."

His parents' "level of commitment" to his sporting pursuits as a youngster was "unwavering", he said.

Old Boys' longtime destructive opener has a treasure trove of memories linked his childhood home. His earliest memory is of riding a bike in the backyard.

"I even spent a bit of time there as an adult as well," he said of the home, "when I was in between moving around places.

"Lots of nice memories there."

"I've been very lucky my whole life," he added, in reference to the stable and nurturing environment his parents provided him.

As a child, Norvill dreamed of becoming a professional cricketer. That was not to be.

He manages a Baiada poultry farm and was recently married.

Put on the spot, he said the three words that best described him were impatient, loyal and fun.

Ironically, he displayed plenty of patience in compiling a matching-winning 80 not out in Old Boys' grand final defeat of North Tamworth at No 1 Oval in March.

However, the innings was still peppered with his renowned brutalism: seven boundaries and two sixes in a 131-ball innings.

Norvill's patience has been tested this month, after the opening two rounds of the Tamworth cricket season were washed out.

The season launch had already been delayed due to the pandemic. The opening matches are slated to commence on Saturday, with Old Boys meeting South Tamworth at No 1 Oval.

Weather permitting, Norvill will go into the match in good form.

In two digs for the University of Newcastle this month, he made a 65-ball 60 and 28 opening the innings.

Playing for Tamworth in a Connolly Cup season opener against Central North under-18s at No 1 Oval on November 7, he posted a 75-ball 95.

The innings was dotted with 13 fours and two sixes.

Norvill has been named in the Bolters squad ahead of a Plan B Regional Bash opener in Ballina next month.

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