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Weekly UpdatesByline: PETER TAYLOR
A CRICKET umpire has declared the end of an innings running into nearly six decades.
The contribution of 73-year-old Mick McLean to his beloved sport was recognised last week when he was awarded a NatWest OSCA
Mick, of Maple Street, Ashington, reluctantly decided it was time to leave the crease for health reasons.
He started playing as a schoolboy and his first game with a local team was at the age of 14 for West Sleekburn in 1950.
His batting days ended in 1973 after 316 games for Ashington in which he scored 4,601 runs.
But from there Mick moved in to umpiring, becoming a familiar face at Minor Counties grounds up and down the country.
He rubbed shoulders with cricketing icons such as Ian Botham when he umpired top clashes, including England v The Rest of the World.
And he can also claim to have officiated at the only floodlit match played at Jesmond in 1983 when Northumberland met Somerset.
Mick, who has decided that from now on he will be just another spectator, said: "I just love the game of cricket. I loved batting and fielding and I started umpiring and took to it. I liked it.
"I took my exams for the Minor Counties and passed them and I enjoyed getting out and about.
"My first game in the Minor Counties was in Northumberland.
"I also did a lot of school cricket and am pretty well known on cricket fields all over Northumberland. "I don't know who put me forward for the award but it came as a total surprise.
"I was gobsmacked. It was something which I never expected."
Mick said that he would have been unable to complete his long innings without the support of his wife Doreen. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last year.
The NatWest OSCAs (Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards) are aimed at recognising volunteers who give so much of their time to cricket.
Winners were last month invited to be corporate hospitality guests at Durham's Nat West Pro40 match against Hampshire, where they were presented with their certificates. They will also be invited to attend the National NatWest OSCAs at Lord's in London on October 5.
CAPTION(S):
as an umpire; below , Mick with Ian Botham in the 1980s
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