For all of his efforts with countless cricketing and sporting teams, clubs and associations, Orange sporting legend Carl Sharpe bled bottle green and white, the colours of Orange City Cricket Club.

Sharpe was a steadfast fixture of the Orange District Cricket Association, Mitchell Cricket Council, Western Zone and NSW Country Cricket along with his associations with countless other sports, but through all of that his heart remained with Orange City, a club he helped found in 1967.

Sharpe, along with Ray Windus, Geoff Neal, David Allen, Don Neal, Steve Bernard, Denis Hair, Darrell Hair, Keith Maiden, Ron Neal, John Rozentals, Peter Quinlan, Peter Tom, Bob Milne, Dick Agland, Norm Isbister, Selwyn Croker, Graham Milne, Noel Hurford, Jeff Culverson, Doug Rodwell, Barry Tate and John Rodis, oversaw the amalgamation of Booms and Waratahs in 1967 - the birth of Orange City, a club now on the brink of its 50th season.

He played for the club - he was a member of the undefeated first grade title-winning side in 1971-72 - and served on the committee as secretary, treasurer and president at different times and worked tirelessly to keep the club afloat on more than one occasion.

Simply, he was the heart and soul of the club.

Now that he’s gone, having passed away on Tuesday morning, all the work he did for the club isn’t lost on those currently in charge.

“Carl Sharpe can never be replaced at Orange City, nor will his impact on the club ever be matched,” Orange City president Ian Findlay said.

“I have no doubt that without Carl there would be no Orange City Cricket Club, he was the lifeblood of the inception of the club and I suspect at times the driving force in its continuation . 

“Carl had an incredible influence on so many young men and women over the last 49 years, the depth of that influence cannot be measured. 

“His drive and love for the game was something that was embraced by all . The range of emotions shown by the Orange City faithful and by the sporting community as a whole is testament to his contribution to the great game.

“It will be very surreal to be at an Orange City game from now on and not have that very familiar figure in the background. 

“We at the club are all devastated by his passing, he will be sorely missed, and we send our love and condolences to the entire Sharpe family.”