Keith Moss

Keith Moss, president of the JCT 600 Bradford League, has been awarded an MBE for his "voluntary contribution to cricket" in the New Year's Honours List.

The award comes as he is about to celebrate 60 years in cricket administration, at club, league and county level.

The citation pays particular tribute to his work for Pudsey St Lawrence and the JCT 600 Bradford Cricket League.

Mr Moss, 75, learned of his honour six weeks ago but like all other recipients, he was prevented from telling anybody about it until now.

He said: "I am absolutely chuffed. It is a wonderful accolade and feel it is recognition not just for me as an individual, but for the Bradford League and for Pudsey St Lawrence too.

"I thank those people who nominated me for the honour. I am immensely proud."

Bradford League chairman Graham Reid led the congratulations. He said: "I am absolutely delighted for him. It is a reflection of the tremendous contribution he has made on cricket at local and Yorkshire level.

"On behalf of the Management Board I would like to extend our congratulations to Keith. It is wonderful to see somebody who has played such a key role in our league receiving an honour."

Keith Moss was born in Fulneck and played his early cricket with the village club. He was an off spin bowler and took on his first administrative role when he was elected as club secretary as a 15-year-old on January 6, 1950.

Apart from when he was doing his National Service, he filled that role and others until 1973 when he joined Pudsey St Lawrence.

At Tofts Road he has served as cricket chairman, club chairman and president - a role he still holds.

In 1991 he was elected to the General Committee of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club and served for 12 years - the last six as chairman when he oversaw the redevelopment of the east and west stands at Headingley.

In 2004 he was elected president of the JCT 600 Bradford League and was responsible for drafting the proposals for the creation of the Management Board.

He was also responsible in 2003 for launching the 364 Club in honour of the great Yorkshire and England cricketer Sir Leonard Hutton. Every summer he organises a fund raising dinner at Headingley with the profits going to cricketing causes.

Looking back on his 60 years in cricket administration, Mr Moss has no doubt about his best memories. "That has to be putting together the Pudsey St Lawrence teams of 1984 and 1985," he said.

St Lawrence were runners up in 1984 and champions in 1985. Mr Moss added: "We had some wonderful players at that time, men like Colin Johnson, Mark Greatbatch, Steven Rhodes, Keith Smith, Peter Graham and Mike Bailey.

"That side was capable of beating anybody. They were great times for the club and a particularly memorable period for me."

Mr Moss is the third person connected with the league to receive an MBE in recent years. In 2007 Jack Tordoff, chairman of league sponsors JCT 600, was honoured for his contribution to sport, and last year Woodlands secretary Brian Pearson was honoured for his service to the Department of Work and Pensions.