Cricket: Former Yorkshire and England off-spinner Geoff Cope is to make a bid to be elected to the Yorkshire committee in Central District, which includes the Bradford area.

Cope will have to beat York-shire's marketing and membership chairman David Storr, who is seeking re-election, plus any other candidate who puts in his or her nomination before noon on New Year's Eve.

Cope played in 230 first-class matches for the county between 1966-80, capturing 630 wickets at 24.80 runs apiece. He played in three Test matches for England on their 1977-78 tour of Pakistan, and claimed eight wickets.

Cope would have enjoyed a more outstanding record had he twice not been banned for what was officially judged to be an illegal delivery action, and when suspicion fell on him for a third time he decided to bring his career to a premature end.

Cope, 51, who lives at Tranmere Park, Guiseley, has maintained a close interest in Yorkshire's affairs, and in recent years has been a Sunday summariser with BBC Radio Leeds. He has worked in the paper trade for 34 years and is Leeds branch manager of Mo-Do.

"I feel I can make a valuable contribution to Yorkshire cricket. The reason I have not stood for the committee previously is that, out of loyalty, I did not wish to oppose my former captain Brian Close," said Cope.

Close was unseated at this year's elections by Tony Vann, leaving only two former first- class cricketers on the general committee - cricket chairman Bob Platt and ex England batsman Phil Sharpe.

Since his retirement from the first-class game, Cope has had a close involvement with Brad-ford League club Yeadon as player, captain, club chairman and, this year, president.

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