Former country teammates have honoured Phillip Hughes by dedicating the hill at their home ground at Sawtell to the late Test cricketer.
The many people flying to Coffs Harbour for Hughes' funeral at his nearby home town of Macksville on Wednesday will be able to see "RIP 408" at "Phil's Hill" if they look east out the window shortly before landing.
Hughes and his older brother Jason helped Sawtell win the 2004-05 Coffs Harbour District first grade premiership.
"Phil wasn't a Sawtell boy, so we certainly don't want to claim him from Macksville, but we were fortunate enough to 'borrow' Phil and Jason for a season," ex-teammate Matt Bailey told AAP.
Hughes was only 15 at the time but, even then, Bailey said his talent was obvious.
"He scored a neat 50 for us in the grand final against West Coffs," Bailey said.
"He didn't play a lot of games for us because he was often playing rep cricket.
"In age divisions, he dominated and always scored big hundreds."
Former teammates and opponents from the area gathered at Sawtell Hotel on Saturday to remember Hughes.
"Just to help with the grieving process," Bailey said.
"There were lots of people from the cricket community there. We thought about getting together at Richardson Park, Sawtell's home ground where we won the grand final.
"But we thought that wouldn't be right. He was a Macksville boy through and through."
But Bailey said Hughes' death hit his club hard.
"When he was first injured, we were all hoping for the best - just like the rest of Australia," he said.
"Then when the news came through last Thursday, there were lots of phone calls and lots of tears.
"I haven't spoken to Phil for nine years. He moved on to bigger and better things, which was great.
"But he gave all of us someone to follow, which was amazing."
Hughes batted in the middle order for Sawtell, with Bailey opening with Kelvin McMillan.
"That was always our claim to fame," Bailey joked.
"He couldn't remove the old blokes from his opening spot. We were the only blokes to ever keep him down the order.
"But, seriously, we all knew he was going to be a star and we were very lucky to borrow him.
"Even then, he always had that cheeky grin. From the Australian captain down, everyone says it.
"He was only a kid and was playing with adults so he didn't talk much.
"But he always had this grin on his face."
Share
