Dickie Bird revels in Yorkshire's title triumph
By Callum Dent
Former international umpire Dickie Bird labelled Yorkshire as the “greatest club in the world” after seeing the White Rose win the LV= County Championship in his first year as the club’s president.
The 81-year-old, who officiated in 66 Tests before retiring in 1996, replaced ex-Yorkshire and England batsman Geoffrey Boycott in the role earlier this year.
And Bird was quick to praise the club after watching every game of the Tykes’ championship-winning campaign.
Bird, speaking to ecb.co.uk after the innings-victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, said:“I feel very, very humbled at this moment. I am so proud to be president of this great club. Yorkshire County Cricket Club, the greatest club in the world for me! It is a tremendous occasion.
“This Yorkshire side is a magnificent side and they deserve to win the championship this year.
“I’ve been to every match, home and away, in the County Championship and I haven’t seen a side touch them this year. They have deservedly won the championship.
“What a first year as president. It’s just amazing. It’s given me so much pleasure going round watching all the matches.”
Dickie Bird is a happy man! @Yorkshirecccpic.twitter.com/vt8ZAb3Sfh
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) September 12, 2014
Ten of the XI that featured in Nottingham played in the club’s academy.
And Bird believes the White Rose will continue to flourish due to the amount of youngsters coming through the ranks.
He added: “What has given me more pleasure than anything is seeing these outstanding youngsters that we have got playing.
“In the academy we have got so many fine young players. It is just like a conveyor belt with these youngsters coming through now.
“They could be a championship-winning side for years because they have so many outstanding young players.
“Our problem is that they are all going to be called up for England. That is going to be the trouble. You cannot stop young kids playing for their country, can you?
“While Yorkshire cricket is strong, England cricket will be strong as well!”