Jim’s a living legend

Four of the league's most successful players and five stalwarts who have spent a combined total of more than 250 years devotion to their clubs, the league and cricket in general were inducted at a meeting at Stamford Bridge CC.

The league also made its first appointment to the Hall of Fame's new category - League Legend' Jim Collis being the first man to achieve that honour.

Collis, a pace bowler who moved the ball both ways and thrived on long spells of bowling, played for Rowntrees, Huntington, Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Heworth.

League secretary Albert Pattison said: "He fits perfectly into the legendary requirements of leaving a lasting impression on both team-mates and opponents and is justifiably remembered as a character."

Collis grabbed all ten wickets against York Railway Institute in 1969 with figures of 10-18 which remains the best bowling figures in the top four divisions.

He recorded a further three eight-wicket hauls and his seasonal best of 78 wickets enabled him to reach second place in the second division averages in 1969 while playing for Huntington.

In recent years Collis built a fine reputation as a non-League football manager with Rowntrees and Tadcaster Albion before ill-health forced him to stand down.

Bowler Fred Mason has been a stalwart of the Woodhouse Grange club since 1959 both on the field as an extremely effective bowler and off the field apart from a spell with York in the early 1980s and two years at Rowntrees.

His stint at Rowntrees in 1994-5 enabled him to extend his successful playing career in the lower divisions before returning to Grange.

Mason qualified for the bowling averages in 26 seasons and captured over 1,122 wickets. He topped the first division averages in 1973, had a best haul of 68 wickets in 1975 and helped Grange lift the League Championship in 1972. He has recently taken the umpire's course and assists with the coaching of his club's juniors Colin Pringle's connections with Thirsk go back to before 1957 when league records were established and he remains involved with the club.

He merited entry in 31 seasons as a batsman between 1957 and 1993 and four times as a bowler. His most prolific season was 1982 when he made 615 runs in the old division one while the highest of his two centuries saw him make 115 no against York RI in division one in 1964 with an unbeaten 103 against Tadcaster 15 years later Sheriff Hutton Bridge wicketkeeper-batsman Brian Shirley was widely regarded as one of the best keepers outside the first class game.

After making his mark in the York Senior League he achieved great things in both the Yorkshire and Bradford Leagues before returning to Bridge.

As a batsman, he twice topped 500 runs in the first division and made two centuries, his best being 112 against Bolton Percy when he returned to the York League in 1984 and came third in the first division batting averages.

Wicketkeeping records are only available from 1988 but he was leading keeper in all four seasons until his retirement in 1991 and his 20 stumpings in 1988 remains as an all division record. After ending his playing days, Shirley became, and remains, an umpire and is entering his 14th season as a league committee member.

Tadcaster all-rounder Eric Wallis has a valid claim to being the league's best all-rounder.

League handbooks show him making 13,072 runs and taking 810 wickets.

He dually qualified for the averages in both batting and bowling in 23 seasons with his highest aggregate being his 689 runs at an average of 53.00 when he topped the second division batting averages in 1971.

He also topped the second division averages in 1965 and 1973 and hit top spot in the first division in 1979 when he was also in fourth place in the bowling averages. He had a golden year in 1965 when he hit his best score of 135no against Bolton Percy, added a further 119no against the same opposition and then made 104no v Acomb. He made a total of eight centuries and had best bowling figures of 9-50 against Bedale in 1984, two years prior to his best wicket haul of 52 in 1986.

Lifetime achievement award winners

FOUR of the five people receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards also have sound playing records.

Bill Carter is a one club man, having joined Acomb 50 years ago.

He was a wicketkeeper and a resolute batsman but his entry into the Hall of Fame is to reflect his long dedication to his club which he has served in a number of roles and also to the league where he has 17 years service as a committee member.

Carter has been a committed member of the neutral umpire panel and has won the award for the best marked umpire for the past three seasons.

After playing his early cricket in Lincolnshire, Tony Frith became captain of Tadcaster where he had strong sense of sportsmanship and a willingness to give youth a chance.

He joined the league committee in 1980, became assistant secretary in 1983 before embarking on a record 16-year stint as league chairman which saw him preside over the league's expansion from 35 clubs and 60 teams to 45 clubs fielding 70 teams.

Frith played a major role in the creation of the premier league and was league president and is now a life vice-president.

His service on the Yorkshire Cricket Association put the York Senior League firmly on the map and he became the first York member of the Yorkshire Cricket Board, eventually being made a life-member. He is also a life member of the league.

Osbaldwick were elected to the York League for the 1972 season when their secretary was Dave Rippon, 36 years later he still holds the post.

Not only is he the administrative kingpin, he is also the club's groundsman and maintains one of the best playing surfaces in the area.

He was an effective wicketkeeper and late order batsman. He was also club captain and served for nine years as assistant league secretary with the specific role of representative team manager and was made a vice-president of the league two years ago.

Alistair Swann, of Woodhouse Grange, has been with the club since 1951.

In 1958, he averaged 30.75 in the first division. He went on to score three first division centuries with a best of 119 against Easingwold in 1965. His best aggregate was in 1962 when he made 600 first division runs.

His main contribution was as A wicketkeeper and an exceptional captain whose leadership brought much success to Grange.

Having played his first game for Woodhouse Grange in 1951 he made his last appearance as a player IN 1995 and remains at the centre of the club's success. He has been a member of his club's executive committee for 52 years.

David Worsnop's inclusion recognises his long service to the Thirsk club which he joined in 1967.

He qualified for the bowling averages in 19 seasons. He was club secretary for 15 years and served on the league committee for 25 years. During this period he was assistant secretary responsible for discipline, grounds and facilities for 13 years and vice-chairman for four years.

After retiring from playing in 1995, he became one of the top panel umpires and was treasurer of the York and Scarborough Area Cricket Council. He was made a life vice-president of the league last year.