100 Years ago this summer J.H.Ross captained YMCA and it would be true to state that he was one of the most 'colourful' players ever to grace Claremont Road down through the years.
He was "Mr.Cricket" in every meaning of that word. His playing career with YMCA spanned 50 years starting as far back as 1906.

His ability and shrewdness as a Captain brought many successes to the YM team. He was captain in 1914, 1922, 1936, 1942, 1943 & 1944.
His skill as a medium pace right arm bowler with deft off breaks made him one of the most successful club bowlers in Leinster Cricket at that period. He topped the YM bowling analysis for many years.
From 1934 (when YM entered senior cricket) - 1948 he played 125 matches, taking 170 wickets at an average of 21.21, with 5 wkts in a match 8 times. Perhaps his particular ball known as "BIG BERTHA" bowled well behind the popping crease was his trade mark. The name Big Bertha was synonymous with the name of John Ross.

His touring teams to Collatin and other country sides was a feature of John Ross's love of cricket.

His black van known affectionately as the "Black Maria" travelled the country roads not only selling coats and frocks but also selling cricket as only John H.Ross could with enthusiasm, recounting names of cricketers and their exploits.

J.H. as he was known to his friends proved not only to be a good enthusiastic player but his "committee" ability and the various administrative positions he held for many years, marked him as an outstanding administrator. John Ross was a man of many parts and spread his talents widely. He was conductor of the choir at George's Hall, South Great George's Street for many years and was highly commended for their public performances.

He sat on both the Management Committee & the Recreation Committee of the Governing Body of the City of Dublin YMCA at Lower Abbey Street and held executive posts on these administrative bodies.

He also held the top positions in the Irish Hockey Union and was a valuable and wise counsellor in its affairs. He was Hon.Treasurer of the IHU for 24 years and Patron of the Union.

In his company John Ross had all the time in the world to recount cricket story after cricket story and as one was about to leave, further experiences would be related in inimitable fashion by this raconteur of cricket history.

J.H.Ross had a lot of time for young players and his words of encouragement backed by demonstration was a feature of the man. If a player was experiencing a bad patch he did not criticise but encouraged.

J.H.Ross was without doubt one of the Club's great characters but above all we salute John Hay Ross "The Cricketing Gentleman".