GEORGE Revely may have been giving batsmen out for the past 50 seasons, but the Easingwold umpire is still going strong.

From his first tentative steps when he was thrust out into the middle back in 1953, Revely has become a familiar face around the local cricketing scene - from the numerous evening leagues to the highs of the Yorkshire League and back to the York and District set-up.

And in his 50th season, the 71-year-old now acts as umpire for Easingwold II in the fourth division of the Hunters York and District Senior League.

"I'm still going, but I don't know how long for," Revely told the Evening Press. "There is a lot of pressure on the back and calves, as well as the eyesight, when you are stood out in the middle for five, six hours.

"But a lot of people won't do it as it is a lot time to devote.

"You have to enjoy doing it and I have, it gets me out and about although I'm not always thanked for doing it."

Revely only took up donning the white overcoat and cap by chance, and after a less than auspicious start he has grown into the role.

"I suppose I took it up as I didn't get into the team and there was no-one to umpire the match," he said. "I realised I was making a few mistakes, so I thought if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it properly. I got the rules of the game and studied them."

The crash course paid off for Revely and by 1966 he was umpiring in the prestigious Yorkshire League, with former England players Arnie Sidebottom and Martyn Moxon among those who have had their scoring fates in his hands.

Revely went on to umpire two Joe Lumb finals in the mid-1970s, while he was also out in the middle for the Middlesex Colts v a Joe Lumb side at Barnsley.

The man in white also lays claim to a record of 113 matches in 93 days in his prime and even managed to squeeze three fixtures in on one day.

"I went to Headingley to find the game was off, so I went to another game and that was over by tea. I then found a third match and stepped in to help out," he explained.

But it is now batsmen in the fourth division of the York and District League who fear the sight of Revely's finger.

Updated: 12:02 Friday, August 02, 2002