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Brian Close the jewel in Yorkshire players' crown

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Former Yorkshire and England (and Somerset) captain Brian Close was invested as President of Yorkshire County Cricket Club Players' Association at their 2007 annual meeting at Headingley Carnegie.

Brian received the President's jewel from association chairman Bryan Stott, who said that retiring president Jimmy Binks, who lives in America, was unable to attend, but he sent his best wishes to everyone, particularly his successor.

Bryan said he had known Brian almost all his life, and it was in recognition of the affection and esteem in which Brian was held that he was being invested as the association's president for the coming year.

Brian said he looked round at all the great names of Yorkshire cricket who were present, and it was a very nice honour to receive. He would do his best to uphold the office of president.

He was delighted to see former players like Bill Foord and Eric Fisk, whom he had played alongside well over 50 years ago, and it was good to see some of the more recent players as well. Former Yorkshire and England left-arm spinner Don Wilson was unanimously voted in as president-elect.

Bryan paid a warm welcome to Yorkshire's new Director of Professional Cricket, Martyn Moxon, on behalf of the association, and wished him and the team every success in the coming season.

He assured Martyn that association members would be thrilled to lend a hand if there was anything they could do for the team. He was delighted that all 23 contracted players had agreed to subscribe to the association, and Treasurer David Ryder said total membership now stood at 81.

Secretary Geoff Cope highlighted golf events that had been held over the past year, and made particular mention of the Gibson Cup, which had been staged at Bradford Golf Club and had included a wonderful mix of present and former players.

Members agreed to look into the possibility of holding a get-together at North Marine Road on a day when Yorkshire would be playing at Scarborough, and the management committee will further discuss plans for a major fund-raising event at some future date.

The players stood in memory of Fred Trueman and Chris Wood, who had died during the past year.

DAVID WARNER