Life Memberships Awarded to Tony Sidwell
Lifetime club membership was awarded to Tony Sidwell at the Signing On Night on Saturday 13th April.
Approximately 50 people were in attendance to see Tony be presented with his award by Chris Farrell.
Chris lived on the Newby Hall estate in the late 1960s and early 1970s and played a leading role in the resurrection of the club in 1971 and its subsequent entry into the Nidderdale League in 1976, making him the perfect person to present the award.
Chris noted that Tony
Joined the club in c. 1995 from Sharow
Was originally a medium-paced bowler and aggressive lower-order batsman and has played a mixture of first and second XI cricket for the club over his 30 years of playing for the club.
Joined the committee soon after coming to the club and has been a constant committee member ever since.
He has held and excelled in major committee roles for a large part of his time at the club, most notably as Chairman for 14 years up to 2023. Tony has also had spells as Treasurer and Bar Chairman, has hosted overseas players and was the main club sponsor in 2021/22.
He has also been a constant presence at the club over the last 30 years whenever anything needed doing and at social events, and is a real advocate for everything the club stands for.
Tony’s life membership is the first such award since c. 2014, indicating how rare it is for the club to grant this award.
Chairman Steve Potter noted that Tony clearly deserved to be recognised by the club for the huge contribution he has made, and admitted that if it were not for Tony being Chairman for so long he would likely have got the award sooner – on the basis that it is difficult for a Chairman to award it to themselves!
The Committee and Members, past and present, would like to thank Tony for his contribution and congratulate him on his life membership.
Tony Sidwell, 14 Apr 2024, with his Life Membership Award
Tony Sidwell, 2006 Wath Cup Final
Tony Sidwell, 2006 Wath Cup Final