All the President's Men - Yorkshire's old players unite under Jimmy Binks

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Chain of office: former wicket-keeper Jimmy Binks is installed in 2006 as president of Yorkshire County Cricket Club Players' Association by chairman Bryan Stott, left, and secretary Geoff Cope at their first annual general meeting in the Headingley Long Room.

The association also agreed to nominate former Yorkshire and England captain Brian Close as president-elect. Jimmy said he was proud to be the association's first president, and he thanked Bryan Stott and secretary Geoff Cope for all their hard work in getting the association off the ground.

Jimmy appealed to Yorkshire's present players and the younger ex-players to join the association. He appreciated that some of the ex-players had left Yorkshire with bad feeling, but the association was all about the players, not about the Club itself.

It was agreed that the rules should be changed to allow Second XI capped players to become associate members. An appeal was made for all Second XI capped players to contact the association because no official register of them exists.

David Ryder (treasurer) and David Warner (Press officer) were elected honorary members of the association, and former batsmen John Hampshire (who also captained Yorkshire) and Andrew Dalton were elected to the management committee.

Former left-arm opening bowler Mike Cowan said funds could be raised for the association if a company was willing to sponsor a dinner at which several ex-players would be sitting at the various tables.

It was agreed that the officers should keep in touch with Mike about this.

The association is to hold a lunch at Headingley for members and wives on Sunday, May 21, when Yorkshire play Warwickshire in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, and a golf tournament in memory of former captain and left-arm spinner Phil Carrick is scheduled for Wednesday, October 6, at Pannal Golf Club.

The only qualification for membership is to have played in at least one First Class match for Yorkshire. Any player who qualifies can contact Geoff Cope at Headingley.