Moss becomes first person to win Bradford League honour twice

The Pudsey St Lawrence veteran, who also won the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy in 1999, was handed the award by comedian and Moss’ good friend Kevin Connolly at the twice-postponed league dinner at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds.

“I am overwhelmed. It is wonderful,” said 87-year-old Moss upon receiving the award for a second time. “I never thought about it in my wildest dreams and it has been a great evening.

“I started cricket administration 72 years ago as secretary of Fulneck Cricket Club when I was still at Pudsey Grammar School, and I even ran the camp cricket team when I was in the army (1952-54), and the rest is history!

“Some young people are reluctant to get involved in things like administration, but I have enjoyed it and it has been my life.”

It is particularly fitting that Moss, who was awarded the MBE in 2010 for services to cricket, has won the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy twice.

The former England skipper was his cricketing hero, and until the Covid pandemic he arranged an annual lunch in Sir Len’s memory, aptly named 364 after Hutton’s then Test-record score.

It was also announced earlier in the evening that Moss was stepping down as league president after an 18-year stint that began when he succeeded the late Albert Smith in 2004.

Explaining his decision, Moss said: “My health is not as good after I had my stroke. I do struggle a little bit and I think that other people are coming on, but I will still be around and will continue as much as I can.”

Moss added: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement at all the different levels of the game, I guess there cannot be many people who reach 70 years in cricket administration, so it is something I feel proud of.”

It was on January 6, 1950, that Moss, then a young bowler who was studying for his school certificate, began his secretaryship at Fulneck CC, who were in the Pudsey & District League.

That kick-started a long journey that included him serving as chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club for five years.

After 25 years with Fulneck, Keith was persuaded to join Pudsey St Lawrence in 1976.

“I was doing a lot of work in the Middle East at the time,” he recalls. “During a visit to Nicosia, I found myself staying in the same hotel as St Lawrence stalwart, Roland Parker.

“He was very persuasive and urged me to join their committee in 1976. I accepted his invitation. I served as cricket chairman, club chairman and president, sometimes combining two roles at the same time.”

It was perhaps no surprise that he should join St Lawrence. His grandfather was one of the trustees when the club purchased their Tofts Road ground in the 1930s, while his father played for the club.

The Moss family link is being continued by Keith’s son Anthony, who has succeeded his dad as club president.

Keith is now president emeritus as the Tofts Road club heads for its 175th anniversary year.

He was responsible for attracting a number of big-name players to St Lawrence, with Test stars John Snow, Mark Greatbatch and Martin Crowe heading the list.

“They all enhanced the standing of the club and the league,” he said proudly. “I also believe Greatbatch was part of our best-ever side in 1984. We had players of the quality of Mike Bailey, Peter Graham, Steve Rhodes and Keith Smith. They were a match for anybody.”

After being elected to the Yorkshire CCC committee as the representative for Bradford in 1991, he became chairman of finance the following year.

In 1998 he succeeded Sir Lawrence Byford as club chairman, a post he held for five years. During that time he saw Yorkshire win the County Championship in 2001 and oversaw the start of the redevelopment of Headingley with the replacement of the old West and East terraces.

Just one year after relinquishing the reins at Yorkshire, Keith was invited to become president of the Bradford League.

Much has changed during Keith’s 70 years in cricket. “These are challenging times for us now,” he observed. “Every facet of life has changed and gone are the days when players would readily play every Saturday and Sunday.

“I hear worrying stories of clubs struggling to field second teams. I am also concerned when clubs are unable to balance their finances due to spending too much on their teams. Prudence and careful management is important.

“I also believe that despite these changes, the Bradford Premier League remains a strong and highly-respected competition.”

Until 2020 when Covid-19 intervened, Keith organised the popular 364 Lunch every June as a tribute to his great friend Sir Leonard Hutton.

He has attracted a succession of star names, including Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir John Major, Sir Tim Rice, Jeffrey Archer and Mike Brearley to speak at the Headingley event.

“The money we have raised has been used to help clubs across Yorkshire. It has been such a good way to honour the memory of a great cricketer and outstanding man. I will keep organising the event as long as I am able,” he said.