ALBERT Pattison was 'bowled over' after he received the York and District Sports Council's Service to Sport award last night.

At a special presentation, Pattison, the league secretary for the Hunters Estate Agents York and District Senior Cricket League, was presented with the award by the Lord Mayor, Coun Irene Waudby, and the chairman of the YDSC, Spen Allison.

After 37 years of hard work, Pattison has become as much an institution as the league itself.

As well as being the league secretary since 1986, Pattison has also been the fixture and results secretary since 1971, while he was assistant secretary between 1965-70.

Pattison, who was a batsman for Sheriff Hutton Bridge before joining Rowntrees, was last season a member of nine out of the ten sub-committee/working parties, as well as a delegate to the Yorkshire Cricket Association and the Yorkshire Cricket Board Umpires and Scorers Forum.

On top of this Pattison also acts as the league's press officer, supplying all the results and reports for each division, and helps with the comprehensive web-site.

"I knew this award was coming, I was told before Christmas," he said. "But I'd never really given it a thought.

"I was elected originally as the results secretary, and then after a couple of years the fixture secretary decided to pack it in so I took it over.

"Then in the mid-1980s the league secretary stepped down mid-way through the season, so I took over initially for the rest of the season, but I've been there ever since!"

Updated: 12:31 Friday, January 25, 2002