Video exclusive: Behind the scenes at Yorkshire's new cricket museum

But while many clubs have long had libraries and museums, enabling fans to see priceless artefacts, Yorkshire has never had a focal point for its own memorabilia.

Until now . . .

Thanks to the unstinting efforts of club's archives committee, a new 300,000 museum will open its doors at Headingley in March. It will include memorabilia dating from the club's inception in 1863 and enthral and educate in equal measure.

Having been afforded a sneak preview of the plush new facility, the Yorkshire Post can reveal it is a worthy tribute to Yorkshire's rich heritage.

From the actual minute book detailing the club's formation in 1863 to items of contemporary vintage, such as the kit worn by Darren Lehmann when the Australian batsman scored 339 against Durham in 2006, the highest-ever individual innings at Headingley, there is a veritable array of fascinating material.

The museum is located on the site of the old club offices in the East Stand and decorated outside with action images of the club's great players.

David Allan, chairman of the archives committee, believes it will be warmly welcomed by members and supporters. "The museum is long overdue and I'm sure it will go down tremendously well with everyone who holds Yorkshire cricket dear," he said.

"It is very important to finally have something like this, and I'm sure it will bring a lot of people pleasure.

"A huge amount of credit must go to David Hall, my predecessor as chairman, because he worked his socks off to get this up and running.

"It is testimony to David's hard work and perseverance that the club now has a wonderful facility to celebrate its past."

The project was generously funded by The Emerald Foundation and designed by Mather and Co, which was responsible for the Lawn Tennis Museum at Wimbledon and the Arsenal and Manchester City football museums.

The Yorkshire Cricket Museum features memorabilia previously held in storage in Morley, near Leeds – much of it collated by Chris Hassell, a former Yorkshire CCC chief executive.

The museum consists of eight themed areas – The Grounds (a roll-call of Yorkshire's venues from Hull to Huddersfield); Lord Hawke (one of the club's most prominent personalities); Bat & Ball (a collection of famous equipment); The Early Years (an exploration of the club's origins); Golden Eras (decades such as the Thirties and Sixties when Yorkshire were dominant); Great Games (selections of memorable matches); Wars Of The Roses (a commemoration of Yorkshire's rivalry against Lancashire) and Yorkshire Legends (a celebration of the club's immortals).

There is also a small cinema enabling people to relive some of Yorkshire's magic moments through archive footage and television newsreel, plus plasma screens and touch-screen facilities offering access to material such as scorecards.

"The museum is not just about celebrating some of the club's most important memorabilia and artefacts," added Mr Allan, "it's also a great way to teach people about the club's history.

"There are various screens containing a wide variety of facts and information and potted biographies of the famous players. "It will be a particularly valuable resource for schoolchildren and hopefully increase their interest in Yorkshire County Cricket Club. "There is so much to learn and so much to see."

Members will be able to visit the museum for free but there will be a small charge for non-members. More details will be announced nearer the opening.

For further information on the Yorkshire Cricket Museum, contact the club on 0871 971 1222.

[email protected]

Take an exclusive tour of the new museum online at yorkshirepost.co.uk/video

Highlights of the museum

A cricket bat belonging to Lord Hawke, Yorkshire's captain from 1883-1910 and club president for 40 years.

The bat with which Geoffrey Boycott scored his 100th first-class century for England against Australia at Headingley in 1977.

The pads and cap worn by Darren Lehmann when he scored 339 for Yorkshire against Durham in 2006, the highest individual innings in Headingley's history.

The scorebook detailing a then world record partnership of 555 between Yorkshire's Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe against Essex at Leyton in 1932.