ELEVEN star players have become the first to be inducted into the Hunters York and District Senior League's Hall of Fame.

They were honoured at an induction ceremony at Clifton Alliance Cricket Club and each of them received a trophy, certificate and a souvenir brochure.

They included Easingwold's batting star of the 1950s Val Toase, who, despite undergoing a knee operation only a week previously, was able to receive his honour personally.

He was joined by fellow batting hero Brian Flintoff who has a 62-year association with Sessay CC.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were made to Cliff Elliker in recognition of his 63 years service to Heworth CC, Dennis North who has been a staunch supporter and regular player with Stillington for 50 years and the league's current managing secretary, Albert Pattison.

The 11 to be inducted to the Hall of Fame were:

Alan Barker: Played for 35 years in the league, starting with Civil Service in 1955 before moving to Osbaldwick in 1972 and continuing until 1989. A pace bowler who captured around 900 wickets including a career best 9-38 v Tadcaster in 1965.

Brian Flintoff: Has devoted a massive total of 62 years to Sessay CC since starting his playing career in 1945. As well as playing virtually every Saturday for 42 years until hanging up his pads in 1990, he has held an official role at the club for 52 years. He took over as secretary in 1955 and served for 42 years and is still the groundsman. He made over 20,000 runs and scored 21 centuries.

Collis King: In his ten years in the league, the former West Indian star has hit 34 centuries and scored over 1,000 runs in six of the ten seasons. He became the first batsman in the League's history to hit two double hundreds when he added 212 last season to his 101no in 1998. His figures for Stillington and Dunnington show he has a batting average of 81.33 as well as taking 400 wickets.

Paul Mason: Over a period of 34 seasons, he has provided the backbone for the Ripon attack and has captured over 1,200 wickets at an average of 13.67. His best season was in 1982 when he captured 85 wickets and topped the first division bowling averages. He later sat proudly atop the averages twice more, in 1988 and then in 1990 in division two.

Mick Oldfield: The groundsman and chairman at Sheriff Hutton Bridge and league committee member, he was a shrewd captain and bowler who took almost 1,000 wickets. He was the only player to record three eight-wicket performances in a single season in the first division.

Ian Reed: Claimed in the region of 1,500 wickets during a career which started with Huntington in 1959 and ended tragically when he collapsed after bowling in the opening match of the 1989 season with Woodhouse Grange. He had moved to Heworth in 1968 where he skippered the side to success before moving to Woodhouse in 1987. He was the first bowler to record 100 maiden overs in a season in 1971. His award was collected by his widow, Val.

Duncan Steel: All rounder who started with Haxby in 1945 and when that club folded moved to Civil Service in 1962, continuing to 1983. He claimed over 1,000 wickets and took eight wickets in an innings no fewer than ten times.

Val Toase: He was regarded as the top batsman in the 1950s and 60s and is the only player to score the most runs in the first division for four consecutive seasons. He was the first player to score three centuries in a season and, in a career stretching from 1948 to 1984, scored over 16,000 runs in the first division for Easingwold.

Steve Whitaker: The York League's leading wicket taker of all time. He took 1,431 wickets for Dunnington in a period stretching from 1964 to 2004 but figures are missing for four seasons which would certainly put him over the 1,500 mark. He is the only bowler to record two nine-wicket hauls against the same opponents

Pat Wood: He played all his league cricket in the York League with Dunnington although he did play for Stamford Bridge in the Pennant Alliance and Farsley in the Bradford League. He made well over 10,000 runs in the York League and was the leading century maker, with 17 for a number of years. He has a record 12 first division centuries to his credit.

Des Wyrill: Started his long career in the York League with Sheriff Hutton Bridge in 1963 and is currently looking forward to this year's first division campaign with Thirsk. Despite spending 13 years in the Yorkshire and Bradford Leagues, he can boast over 17,000 runs in the York League and has hit 12 centuries. He was the first player to record the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in a season in 1968.

Updated: 08:53 Saturday, March 25, 2006