At the age of 76 Ken Teasdale has mapped out a sporting career spanning a lifetime ...and he's not about to hang up his boots yet.

Mr Teasdale played soccer and cricket in his prime and has chalked up 50 years as a referee in local football leagues. And he's still going strong as a cricket umpire.

As a seven-year-old he watched his first match at Valley Parade and fulfilled a childhood dream when he played for the club as a teenager during the war. He is still an avid Bantams supporter.

He was City's regular goalkeeper between 1943 and 1946 in the war time league and he also had a season as a part-time professional with Accrington Stanley in 1947-8 playing in the reserves.

He took up refereeing after leaving Accrington, but has just given it up after completing 50 years as a referee in the local leagues and has received a long service award from the Bradford Sunday Alliance.

He has happy memories of playing for City against big-time clubs and especially recalls important cup matches.

Mr Teasdale of Allerton, Bradford, said: "I worked at the post office and played part-time for Accrington.

"The problem was I had to do my deliveries in Bradford before dashing over to Accrington on my motorbike. I also had to go Accrington for training during the week and the travelling become too much.

"After leaving Accrington I started refereeing in the old Bradford Amateur League which became part of the Sunday Alliance, while continuing to play for the Post Office team in the Bradford Half Holiday League as a permit player. I later refereed in the Half Holiday League.

Mr Teasdale's association with the Bradford Central League goes back to 1943. He began as a player and continued as an umpire.

He still umpires in the league and has been made a life member of the league and the umpires association.

He also umpires in the West Riding Sunday Cricket Council and has been secretary for 49 years.

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