George Reah

GEORGE Robinson Reah, who was influential in Yorkshire league cricket administration for more than half a century, has died aged 94.

In his younger days, he played cricket, but it was with his organisational abilities that he made his mark in the game, encouraging juniors at his local club in Leeds and rewriting the club and league constitutions

Mr Reah was born in Manchester and played the game from an early age with Urmston, which now plays in the Cheshire League, and in leagues in North Wales.

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During the Second World War his administrative skills were recognised by Lancashire County Cricket Club who appointed him as acting secretary.

In the early 1950s when he moved to Leeds with his job as a commercial manager for Yorkshire Electricity Board, he and his family settled in Roundhay.

Mr Reah soon became involved with North Leeds Cricket Club, playing for six seasons with the Second XI as a spin bowler and stubborn batsman.

When he retired from playing, he then established the club's junior section in 1959 and, 50 years later, North Leeds has one of the strongest junior cricket clubs in the city, with nine teams of different age ranges.

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He also had two stints as the club secretary, and was secretary of the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League between 1961 and 1971 and its president from 1976 to 1980. He was also secretary of the Yorkshire Cricket Association from 1978 to 1984 and was honorary life member and vice president of all three bodies.

His role as secretary of the three organisations and his administrative skills in writing the constitutions of them all laid the foundations for the success they enjoy today.

In 1982, Mr Reah was named Leeds Sportsman of the Year for his dedication to cricket in the city.

The chief executive of the Yorkshire Cricket Board, Ian Chappell, said: "I think it is fair to say that at one time he was the most influential administrator in Yorkshire cricket. He will be best remembered for how efficient he was. He always got things organised properly.

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"His lasting legacy will be the junior section at North Leeds, and the constitutions he revised on his own for the club, the Aire and Wharfedale league and the Yorkshire Cricket Association.

"They have all gone on to better things after he established a clear framework in which they could improve over the years.

"When he first became involved with the league it was not particularly held in high regard. But by the time he retired it contained players which made it capable of winning the Yorkshire leagues knock-out competition."

Mr Reah is survived by his wife Ivy, daughter Jean, son George, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

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