Former Yorkshire opening batsman and first-class umpire, Barrie Leadbeater, began his two-year term as president of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club Players’ Association on Friday, April 26.
He was installed at the Association’s annual general meeting at Emerald Headingley and his chain of office was handed to him by the retiring president, Howard Cooper, the former Yorkshire pace bowler who was a team-mate of Barrie’s.
One of Yorkshire’s most popular players, Barrie played in 144 first-class matches for his native county between 1966-1979, scoring 5,247 runs. He also featured in 105 List A matches, hitting 2,245 runs, and he was man-of-the-match in the 1969 Gillette Cup final against Derbyshire at Lord’s when he struck a match-winning 76 while batting with a broken finger.
The Association’s chairman, Neil Hartley, said he was delighted that Barrie had stepped in as president and he couldn’t think of a better man to do the job. He also thanked Howard Cooper for representing the Association so well over the past two years.
“You have been an absolute beauty and thank-you for your contribution,” he said, before handing him his President’s jewel.
Howard said that it was as great an honour as any player could have to become president of the Association. His words were echoed by Barrie who also thanked Bryan Stott and secretary Geoff Cope for having been instrumental in founding the Association.
In his Chairman’s report, Neil said that the regular social events had once again been very enjoyable, including the golf days and the York theatre visit in January. The Gibson Cup for Yorkshire players past and present had been well attended and director of professional cricket, Martyn Moxon, had emerged as winner.
The Phil Carrick Memorial golf tournament at Pannal and the Tony Nicholson Trophy at Ripon were as successful as ever.
Neil also thanked Yorkshire Chief Executive, Mark Arthur, for his keen interest in the Association, and for allowing them to bolster their funds through their involvement in the Club’s annual awards dinner. They remained extremely grateful to Mark for provided them with box facilities at the Emerald Headingley Test match.
Treasurer, David Ryder, said that there had been no suitable date on which to hold a summer lunch during a match day at Headingley last year but the Association was trying to sort something out for this season and a possible date was Sunday, July 14, the second day of the Championship clash with Somerset. Members would be informed in due course.
The provisional date of this year’s Gibson Cup at Wike Ridge is June 25 with the Phil Carrick Memorial at Pannal on October 2 and the Tony Nicholson Trophy at Ripon on October 9.
DAVID WARNER
