Sunday 16 May 1999
Sipping tea with umpiring legend Dickie Bird
Yorkshire cricket is renowned for the Headingley cricket ground, Sir Len
Hutton, Geoffrey Boycott, Freddy Trueman, Darren Gough and cricket icon
and umpiring superstar Dickie Bird. I say superstar because his recent
autobiography has sold over a million copies, the highest selling sports
autobiography in British history. No one less than a superstar could
boast to have achieved these sort of numbers, a mighty indication of the
incredible influence he has had on the game of cricket since taking up
umpiring.
After retiring from the first-class umpiring ranks at the end of last
summer, Dickie is now concentrating on a few media commitments between
regular spectating at Yorkshire's home games. This morning I had a cup
of tea with this fantastic, cricket-loving man who is genuinely missing
his involvement in the game.
"You know it is the first time in fifty years that I haven't been
involved first-hand in this truly brilliant game," he told me in his
broad northern accent. "Fifty years ago I walked into this ground to try
out for the under-13 Yorkshire team and I have been back every single
year since. It feels very strange starting a season without being
involved. I miss it more than you could believe lad, I love this game
and I have many fond memories as you can imagine lad, it is going to be
hard lad, it is already hard lad."
After a cup of Yorkshire tea and a few funny stories I left this little
champion to get on with watching the game he loves. Although he won't be
seeing any more balls delivered from his favourite position behind the
stumps, I am sure he will have just as much fun from behind the bowler's
arm in various committee rooms around the world. As an umpire he was
always in the contest, controlling proceedings with the command of any
respected general, and as a gentleman he is a wonderful fellow to have
as an official or even just as a tea-drinking partner.
Salute Dickie Bird, a fine Yorkshire gentleman and cricket icon who put
international umpires on the map in the modern game.
From Leeds, JL
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