BRIAN Pearson says he is ‘humbled and honoured to have received the Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League’s most prestigious award - the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy.

Pearson is not the only man to have driven Woodlands from being a yo-yo member of the Bradford Central League to become one of the powerhouse clubs in the North of England - but he is probably the most important.

Along with Phil Godfrey, who died last spring, Pearson, who has clocked up 46 years with the club, was instrumental off the pitch in the Oakenshaw club’s rise.

He joined the committee at the Albert Terrace club in 1981 and became chairman two years later, packing more into that three-year stint than seemed possible.

A capable wicket-keeper, his economical style with the bat was in stark contrast to what he did off the field, motivating and cajoling others into doing things in what became a very organised club.

Pearson’s main achievement was undoubtedly organising the MSC (Manpower Services Commission) project’s second and third phase of the building development.

It was almost a full-time job but he harried and threatened and cajoled the unemployed workers to get the jobs done on the tea room, changing rooms and scorebox.

Working full-time himself as a civil servant, he stood back from administrative work at Woodlands in 1985, re-joining the general committee in 1990 and, in 1995 went onto the cricket committee with his best pal, Phil Godfrey.

That was the year that Woodlands left the Bradford Central League to join the Central Yorkshire League, and in 1999 Pearson was elected club secretary - a role he has held ever since.

Woodlands joined the Bradford League in 2001, winning promotion from Division Two in their inaugural season, and they have stayed in the top flight ever since, winning nine league titles, four Priestley Cups, two Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions’ Trophies, three Heavy Woollen Cups and, just two months ago, the Yorkshire Premier League play-off final at Headingley.

The second team are also important at Albert Terrace and they have won four league titles, four Priestley Shields and three Crowther Cups for an incredible total club haul of 30 trophies.

‘Uncle Brian’, as many players call him - and not just his nephews Elliot and Scott Richardson - was awarded life membership of Woodlands in 2003, but has also been on the Bradford League’s management board for 10 years, chairing the disciplinary committee and helping clubs with signing overseas players - an area of speciality for Pearson.

In addition, he also runs Woodlands’ sports hall - a key source of revenue for the club - and has become adept at securing grants for things such as the club’s outdoor nets (2011), the re-laying of the square (2015), the re-laying of the outfield (2020) and new covers.

The latest project is to improve the club’s bar area and kitchen.

The sports hall is used by clubs, schools and local associations, while the clubhouse have hosted an old folks’ day centre and pre-and-post school club.

Made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List in 2009 for services to the Civil Service and the local community, Pearson, with volunteers even harder to find these days, is often found running the club bar, scoring or umpiring, cleaning out the changing rooms or tidying up the clubhouse.

It is not surprising therefore that two of the club’s captains were keen to pay tribute to him.

Tim Orrell was playing for Saltaire when he was sold the vision of Woodlands by Pearson, but still took a bit of persuading.

Orrell recalled: “I told him I wasn’t going to join Woodlands, but Brent Shackleton, who had connections with both clubs, insisted I should listen to what Woodlands were saying.

“A year later I was approached again and the rest is history, The vision that was laid out to me materialised.

“I soon realised that I was playing for a man who was a great judge of players, very astute, and had the knack of signing good players who fitted the Woodlands mould and made a great team.

“It was easy for me as captain when I had at my disposal a bowling attack featuring Sarfraz Ahmed, Pieter Swanepoel, Richard Spittlehouse, Richard Pyrah, Tosh Baker and Chris Brice.

“One of the keys to the club’s success is that he has always had respect and trust for his players, and I can honestly say that in15 years at the club we never had a cross word.

“We still speak regularly, and his passion and desire remain undimmed despite all the success the club has had.”

Only two hours after making 200 not out for Central Stags against North Districts in New Zealand’s Plunket Shield, current Woodlands skipper Brad Schmulian said: “I am sure that I speak on behalf of everyone at Woodlands CC and within the Bradford League that it is no surprise that Brian Pearson is receiving this award.

“His unwavering dedication and passion to cricket is something that I have not witnessed before. He is a tremendous asset to the Bradford League and his beloved Woodlands. I have seen him perform every job you can think of, apart from getting the whites on himself.”

Schmulian, who won the Sir Learie Constantine All Rounder of the Year award, added: “Congratulations Brian on your award and thank you for your decades of dedication.”

Pearson admitted: “I am humbled and honoured to receive this accolade which recognises a life-time’s contribution to cricket.

“However, I also acknowledge that this is shared with all the people connected with Woodlands - past and present players, committee colleagues and members over the years, spectators and, of course, my wife Pam.

“It completes what has been a wonderful year for the club.”

Pearson received his award at the league’s annual dinner at the Queens’s Hotel in Leeds, and admitted: “I didn’t know about it. It was lovely afterwards that people came up and congratulated me and people were still ringing up and sending me messages 48 hours later.”