LEAGUE umpire Martin Kellaway will take charge of two big matches in two days this weekend. He has been selected to officiate at both the Yorkshire Premier League Play-Off and Vitality Club T20 finals.

The appointments come at the end of a season that has seen the 52-year-old former Hampshire cricketer also take charge of both the Gordon Rigg Priestley Cup and Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup finals.

On Saturday he will be at New Farnley for the Yorkshire Premier League Play-Off clash between Woodlands and Sheffield Collegiate before heading to Derby for the T20 encounter between Sandiacre and Wimbledon.

Kellaway is hoping his performances will help him earn promotion to the National Panel which would put him one step away from his ambition of being selected for the First-Class Panel.

“It is an honour to be chosen to umpire four finals this season,” said Kellaway who has made rapid progress since taking up umpiring in 2020.

“After finishing playing, I tried coaching and club administration and I found they weren’t for me, so I decided to try umpiring. My father-in-law Steve Malone had been trying to persuade me to give it a go and I am glad I did.

“I quickly found that I enjoyed it and each year I have been able to build up my experience. This season I have done some great games, gained County Second XI experience, multi-day representative fixtures and been fortunate to receive games in national club cup competitions, plus benefiting from some high profile games through the Premier League umpire exchange programme.

"This weekend I have two big appointments and I am looking forward to both games. It is a real honour to finish the season with county and national finals.”

After the match at Derby, Kellaway will face an anxious wait before hearing if he is to be promoted to the National Panel which would see him officiate in National Counties fixtures and County Second XI matches from next season.

“There are currently more than 600 Premier League umpires nationally but there are just 35 places on the National Panel, so there is plenty of competition. I must just wait and hope my performances this year get me chosen.”