FORMER Dunnington cricketer Chris Dillon is prepared to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights after being suspended from playing cricket at any club in the country.

Dillon's ban is in place until further notice and arose after he declined to attend a club disciplinary hearing, which was imposed on Dunnington by the York and District Senior League.

The hearing was called to discuss remarks, made by Dillon in a letter to the Evening Press, that were deemed to contravene the league's code of conduct rules.

In his letter, published on December 8, Dillon expressed his "amazement" at a previous statement from Kevin Hollinrake, of league sponsors Hunters Estate Agents, in reference to comments by Hemingbrough officials concerning the club's expulsion from the league for disciplinary and administration matters.

In an earlier Evening Press article, Hemingbrough had cited racism as a possible reason for their removal.

Such allegations have remained unproven although, when Hollinrake said he could not recall a previous problem with racism, Dillon wrote to remind Evening Press readers of the Joseph Grant investigation, which was carried out by the Commission for Racial Equality in 1999.

Dillon, who has no grievance with his former club Dunnington, also insisted that the league had previously failed to act on two written complaints from himself, regarding racial abuse directed by one club at Grant and then fellow-team-mate Steve Linton.

He claims, furthermore, that the league believed there was insufficient evidence to pursue the matter despite a letter of apology from the club involved, who disciplined the offender.

As a result of the letter to the Evening Press, the league called on Dunnington to hold a disciplinary hearing even though Dillon last played for the three-time Premier Division winners four years ago.

Dillon was charged with three offences in a letter to Dunnington's club secretary Cliff Johnson from league secretary Albert Pattison, finding his published comments in breach of disciplinary rules because of unsuitable and derogatory remarks towards the league and its sponsors, as well as prejudicing the good name of cricket and acting in an un-gentlemanly way.

Dillon, 43, refutes the charges and felt it unnecessary to attend a hearing at his former club, leaving Dunnington under pressure to sanction a ban in order to escape being penalised themselves.

Since leaving Dunnington, he has also retired from playing the game, but still resents the impact on his freedom the current ban would exercise.

Dillon said: "I will not let this matter lie. I feel that being banned from playing cricket for any affiliated club is infringing my civil and human rights and I am seeking legal advice from a solicitor I work with who has a successful background in European law.

"I might be retired but I still like to play a couple of games a year. If the league believes I was being derogatory, they can come into the public domain and challenge my remarks because everything in the letter was factual.

"I said no to a disciplinary hearing because what did it have to do with Dunnington? They might still hold my registration as my last club in York but I haven't played there for four years.

"I feel the league are using Dunnington and their handbook of rules and regulations because it's the only way they can deal with the matter but things won't work that way with me. I don't want Dunnington to get in any problems and I feel the league are threatening a club that I am no longer associated with.

"If what I said in my letter to the Evening Press is termed derogatory then I think the country has gone to pieces. What about freedom of speech?

"In terms of being derogatory to the league sponsor, I have known Kevin Hollinrake for a long time. There was no malice intended at all towards Kevin and I can only imagine he has been misinformed."

In his letter to Dunnington secretary Johnson, Pattison advised the club to avoid incurring Merit Table penalty points by holding a disciplinary hearing and, 'assuming that the case was proved, impose appropriate penalties in line with the League's Schedule of Disciplinary Penalties.'

The letter suggested a two-to-ten week suspension and a fine, which would be returned to the club on completion of the ban.

But by not attending the hearing, Dillon is now suspended until further notice.

Pattison's letter added: "The league committee accepts that Dunnington CC had no advance knowledge of the article and were powerless to prevent its publication. Furthermore, your chairman has indicated that Dunnington CC do not support the published comments in any way.

"In view of this, the league committee wish to ensure the club is not penalised in any way. I think this is an unfortunate incident which is an embarrassment to both Dunnington CC and the league.

"It is imperative that we do not allow it to sully the good relations between your club and the league."

Updated: 09:33 Saturday, January 28, 2006