Players from across the globe have been contacted to help Yeadon Cricket Club celebrate their 150th anniversary next year.

Second-team captain Andrew Pickering has been co-ordinating the search for former players and is currently trying to locate former Kiwi Test star Mark Greatbatch, who was a great favourite at the Bradford League club.

Pickering said: “We have an e-mail address for him and we are hopeful that he will be able to join in our celebrations.

“So far we have written to more than 150 former players and many have indicated that they will be coming to the reunion on Saturday, July 18, which will coincide with our JCT600 Bradford League game with Bradford & Bingley.

“It has been a big job tracking down former players, but it has also been rewarding too.”

Among the overseas players also expected to attend is popular New Zealander Cameron Guthrie who played for the club in 1992 and 1993.

Closer to home, other notables hoping to attend are former Yorkshire and England captain Brian Close, who launched his career at Yeadon, and former Yorkshire and England off-spinner Geoff Cope, who was one of the driving forces behind the building of the club’s current pavilion.

In addition, former Yorkshire batsman Bryan Stott, who still lives in Yeadon, has been invited, as have current first-class umpires Barrie Leadbeater – another Yorkshire batsman – and Richard Illingworth, who played for Worcestershire and England.

The club are planning to erect a marquee on their White Hart Ground to help accommodate the guests.

Pickering said: “We feel it is a very special celebration. We are one of the oldest cricket clubs in Yorkshire and we want to mark the occasion.”

Yeadon are planning a number of other events to mark the anniversary.

The first is a sportsmans’ dinner on February 6.

Meanwhile, on March 15 three teams of cyclists from the club are to take part in a sponsored relay ride to all 25 JCT600 Bradford League grounds.

A golf day at Cookridge Golf Club is planned for July 17 with a dinner at the cricket club in the evening, and there will be a match against the MCC in August.

Former players wanting to attend the reunion should contact Pickering on 07747 183253 or by e-mail to andypick76@hotmail.com.

League representative Les Wood is also contactable on 0113-2506809.