THE only player to have ever won hat-tricks of Bradford League titles and Priestley Cups is to retire at the end of the season.

Andrew Bairstow is to hang up his bat after a 30-year career which has seen him feature in a staggering 22 trophy wins.

He started playing as an 11-year-old in Drighlington’s second team and will finish with the club he has won 16 trophies with, Pudsey Congs.

An attacking left-hand batsman, Bairstow has scored more than 11,000 league runs in first team cricket in spells with Undercliffe, Cleckheaton, East Bierley and for the last 15 years, Pudsey Congs.

Just like his father David, the former Yorkshire and England wicketkeeper, and his younger brother Jonny- who is currently enjoying a stellar career with Yorkshire and England – he is a whole-hearted cricketer who loves to put bat to ball.

Few who were at the 2008 Priestley Cup final between Pudsey Congs and Woodlands at Bradford & Bingley will ever forget the brilliant 121 he made that day.

Bairstow, who plays in his last Pudsey derby on Saturday against St Lawrence at Tofts Road, has carved a niche in Bradford League history and it is probably fair to say that no player has ever featured in so many trophy wins.

He helped East Bierley win the Priestley Cup in 1998, 1999 and 2000, before joining Congs in 2002 and winning the league in each of his first three seasons.

It is a record to be proud of and throughout the 30 years he has been playing he admits: “The league has changed massively, every game is more competitive. You can’t predict who will beat who.”

Never has that been more aptly demonstrated in his team’s last two matches when they followed defeat to bottom team Scholes with victory over table-topping Hanging Heaton.

As he bows out two of his cricketing hopes are set to be unfulfilled. He had wanted to reach 12,000 career runs – he currently has 11,564 – and despite brother Jonny signing for Congs last year, they have never played on the same side though Andrew did play against him twice for the MCC when Jonny was at St Peter’s School, York.

“I have always enjoyed my cricket but the time is right for me to retire. I have a busy home life and it is time for me to step back, to spend time with family and friends.” said Bairstow.

“I still turn up each week wanting to score runs and despite my experience I still get the rush of blood whilst batting. I would have loved to reach 12,000 league runs, but unless I have a great finish to the season I will fall short.

“I have no regrets. I will continue to watch cricket and take the chance to go and see Jonny play.

“ I am proud of what I have done and I have many happy memories.”