A sporting all-rounder and former general secretary of the Bermuda Football Association worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the advancement of sport on the island.

Michael Glasford was also a respected cricket scorer who kept diligent records for international matches.

Mr Glasford’s job titles in sport included serving as an official at Devonshire Recreation Club and as an administrator for the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

He was a tenacious supporter of North Village Community Club and a former circulation manager at The Royal Gazette.

David Sabir, general secretary of the BFA, said: “I am sad to learn of Mr Glasford’s passing, as he was a champion administrator for the Bermuda Football Association.

“His name has always been held in high regard within the football family and he will be remembered as an excellent servant of the game by those who worked with and during his time at the BFA.”

Mr Sabir added that Mr Glasford’s active years with the BFA predated his time in the organisation.

However, he said that “the few occasions that our paths crossed showed me that football and sport generally meant so much to him, and that he was proud of his service to sport and that he made a significant contribution to Bermuda’s sporting landscape”.

“I remain forever grateful for the encouragement that he extended to me when I took up the post of general secretary.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends. His legacy will live on.”

An accomplished scorer, Mr Glasford headed overseas for events such as the 1999 Sharjah Cup in Toronto and the 2011 Pepsi International Cricket Council Americas Division Three Tournament in Costa Rica.

He scored for major international matches hosted by Bermuda.

Mr Glasford recalled getting involved in the mid-1960s when he was asked to fill in at Devonshire Recreation Club after arriving to watch a match against Southampton Rangers.

His knowledge of the sport’s history and its top players ran deep, and Mr Glasford was popular with sports reporters in assessing the state of play in Bermuda cricket.

He was also heavily involved in softball as a pitcher.

Shervin Dill, president of North Village, said Mr Glasford was a “trailblazer” for the club as well as sport in Bermuda.

He called Mr Glasford’s contributions to sport “priceless”.

He added: “First of all, on behalf of the club, we give our most sincere condolences to his family. Michael served North Village from back in the early 1970s.

“He was secretary for the club under president Harold ‘Doc’ Dowling, and Michael did an excellent job in bringing the club forward.

“He opened up the doors for the club to be competitive in sports such as softball and netball. He was a trailblazer.”

Mr Dill said Mr Glasford also coached the club’s junior football team and organised its Premier Division team in the mid-1970s, when it toured in New Jersey.

“I happened to be on that tour,” he added. “Michael did an excellent job.

“We are very grateful for the contributions he made to North Village as an administrator. He went on to serve on the Bermuda Football Association as well as the cricket board.

“He will be missed and remembered by us for his contributions to our growth.”

Mr Dill recalled Mr Glasford as a diligent man who preferred to work in the background.

“He did excellent work from behind the scenes and didn’t look for accolades. He was willing to give his all to any organisation he was involved in.

“He was a trailblazer to improving sport, particularly football and cricket.”

Mr Dill added that he checked in regularly on the status of the club in later years.

Lloyd Smith, president of the Bermuda Cricket Board, said Mr Glasford had excelled as a cricket scorer.

“He scored for Devonshire Recreation Club for many years and scored many international matches that came to Bermuda.

“I grew up with his scoring for Devonshire Rec, and he also travelled with Devonshire Rec as a scorer. He was probably the No 1 scorer in Bermuda when it came to scoring with books — nowadays it is done electronically.

“He was top of the game, knew his stuff and was very helpful.”

Mr Glasford was appointed to the Bermuda Cricket Board in 1999, with El James, then president, commending him as “a very capable individual who has worked with us for a long time behind the scenes, helping us with such things as the schedule and other related office matters, giving a lot of hours a week over the years”.

That same year, he was appointed manager of the Americas Select cricket squad, which headed to the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Mr James told The Royal Gazette he was “very meticulous and very detailed-orientated”.

In 2007, Mr Glasford was selected to attend the ICC Americas Regional Scoring Course in Toronto.

He is survived by his daughter, Tiffany Glasford.

• Michael Collin Glasford, a top cricket scorer, was born on December 22, 1949. He died in February 2024, aged 74