New Life Members Geoff Hanson, Brian Clough and Michael Hope all of Bowling Old Lane.

The Management Board have awarded Life Membership to the living past winners of the Sir Leonard Hutton Award

And they have also agreed that all future winners will also become Life Members in recognition of their outstanding service.

The decision means that 16 new life members members have been created. They are Jack Emsley (Keighley), Harry Broomhead (Brighouse), Paul Meredith (Bradford & Bingley), Donald Ledgard (East Bierley), Michael Hope (Bowling Old Lane), Bob Shackleton, Graham Reid, Keith Moss, Derek Shuttleworth, Gordon Binns (Windhill), Geoff Hanson (Bowling Old Lane), Keith Johnstone (Cleckheaton), Jeff Driver (Saltaire), Brian Clough (Bowling Old Lane), Rodney Heyhoe (Lightcliffe) and Raymond Illingworth CBE (Farsley)

They join former league officials Bruce Moss, Tommy Mathers and John France who were previously made life members in recognition for their outstanding service to the league.

Media and Marketing Officer Alan Birkinshaw said: "We wanted to ensure that these outstanding servants to our league received the accolade, because there is a danger that you leave these decisions too late and the chance to award Life Membership is lost. Now we have a mechanism which ensures it goes hand in hand with winning the coveted award."

He added: "The four past winners of the Sir Leonard Hutton Award on the Management Board did not take part in the debate, but like the other winners of the league's top awards, deserve life membership and were thrilled when the honour was bestowed on them."

The Management Board is looking to arrange an event for the new Life Members during the season.