BANKFOOT'S Richard Peel has become the first person to win the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League's top two honours.

The recipient of the Unsung Hero award in 2011, he picked up the major honour of the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy for outstanding service to the league at their annual dinner at Headingley.

"What do I say? I am delighted and it is very humbling," admitted a surprised Peel after receiving the trophy from the league's chairman David Young.

"I have been at the club for 56 years now, having followed my dad (Russell) up there."

Peel, who took over from his dad as scorer in 1972, with Russell becoming the 'oldest' tin boy in the league at 37, has even talked about retirement from Bankfoot, but all that will probably mean is that he will take on slightly less jobs than he already does!

The official citation, which was read out by the league's cricket development officer Alan Birkinshaw, stated: "He lives a six hit from his club, which is advantage for such a tireless worker who has been a big hit in every sense of the word in an association with his club which spans 50 years.

"Our winner has been an outstanding player, captain, official, scorer, teas person and decorator at his club, as well as chairman, secretary, league representative.

"It is fair to say he loves his club, and everybody who plays for them has the very greatest respect and affection for him.

"Quite simply, his club may not have survived without his hard work and at times his readiness to pay for things from his own pocket so not to put a strain on the coffers has been done without ever seeking praise or recompense.

"Even when he has suffered from ill health, he has battled on, never wavering in devotion to his duties.

"He is a true giant of his club. A man with a kind heart and someone who deserves to have his name engraved alongside so many great servants of our league.

"In recent years our winner's son has served as club scorer, which enabled him to get on with the job of making teas – one of the many tasks he is happy to take on, like being woken up at 4am to go to the club when the burglar alarm goes off.

"Our winner scored 7,515 first-team runs and was a big-hitting batsman capable of tearing into any attack and turning a game.

"He twice won the league's fastest 50 trophy in 1992, when he played just two first-team games, hammering 50 in 20 minutes. In 1997, he won it again with 50 from just 16 balls.

"Although he never had the good fortune to play in a Division One championship-winning team or a Priestley Cup-winning side, he did feature in successful sides.

"In 1990, he was in a promotion-winning team alongside the former England and Kent spin bowler Derek Underwood, and in 1991 he featured alongside a promising 15-year old who went on to captain Yorkshire and play for England – Anthony McGrath.

"In 1992, he was captain of a Priestley Shield-winning team, but even in his playing days he was already a key worker for his clubs

"He also served the league management committee as a records secretary, but it his contribution to his club – one of the founder members of the league from 1903 – that makes him so special.

"He has been the club's league representative for more than 20 years and held a number of key positions at his club, including secretary and chairman. There isn't anything he wouldn't do for his club.

"He has at times almost single-handedly steered his club away from choppy waters.

"It is a mark of the respect in which he is held that his club honoured his service with a benefit match which saw Yorkshire and England bowler Ryan Sidebottom join a star-studded line-up of former Bradford League players who wanted to say a big thank you to the man they owe so much to.

"When he won the league's Unsung Hero award in 2011, he said 'I don't do things to win awards like this and I could name some people at my club who are equally worthy.'

"And tellingly he added: 'It is my club, and if Bankfoot Cricket Club went out of existence I don't know what I would do with myself.'