CHRIS Houseman, known to everyone at York Cricket and Rugby Club as ‘Mr Clifton Park’, is to be remembered with the establishment of a new club.

The Houseman Club aims to help to “pay the debt” the Shipton Road-based sports centre owe to their late chief and realise his wish to “ensure that sport is available to the next generation at the Clifton Park club”.

Houseman had a lifelong association with the club, where he was heavily involved as a player, an official with York RUFC and as chairman of York Cricket Club.

He died in January 2008, aged 70, after battling against leukaemia for several years.

The Houseman Club aims to raise funds to support the development of the cricket club on all levels and will launched with a dinner on Saturday, October 30.

The ex-Australian test bowler Rodney Hogg, who took 123 wickets in 38 Tests for the Wallabies, will be the guest speaker and Bob Procter, who is behind the establishment of The Houseman Club, hopes the new venture will prove a success.

“It is important that we respect what Chris stood for and what he wanted to happen after he unfortunately departed,” he said. “I think this will be an amazing tribute to him.

“If it is successful the cricket club will benefit and it will ensure Chris Houseman will always have a place down at Clifton Park. That’s very important.

“It is important new people coming in should know about the contribution he made.”

Malcolm Huntington, former Press sports editor and a close friend of Houseman, said: “He did a momentous amount of work for York Cricket Club over many years.

“His passing is still sorely felt because he got involved in coaching, playing, umpiring and administrative work, as well as helping to organise the annual sportsman’s dinner.

“I think this would have meant a tremendous amount to him.”

To book tickets for the dinner, priced at £35 per person, or £350 for a table of ten, contact Procter on cricketbp@googlemail.com or phone 07740 620696.