A loyal groundsman at a Yeadon cricket ground has been honoured for his dedication and long service.

Tommy Powell has played for Green Lane cricket club for 44 years and has been its groundsman for four decades.

Tommy, who has recently appealed to the public to help stop vandalism at the Yeadon ground, also looks after other grounds at Guiseley and Ilkley.

Now his dedication to the sport has been officially recognised, winning second place in the groundsmanship section of the Yorkshire Cricket Association awards.

In a citation the association says: “A groundsman who has given long-term service to groundsmanship and their club Tommy Powell has been a loyal member of Green Lane CC for 44 years and has been groundsman for the last 40 years as well as spells as both first X1 and second X1 captain. He is also a qualified coach with a lifetime of committee work.

“He is known throughout the league as a groundsman and works on a number of other grounds in the area which are all highly commended across the Aire-Wharfe League and has had a huge influence on the improvement of many grounds and squares.”

Tommy, 65, was surprised to find he had been put forward.

“I didn’t know about it,” he said.

“I feel quite honoured,” he added. “I have been there a lot of years now and I still get pleasure out of doing it, especially now there are a lot of kids involved in cricket.

“It is still something I enjoy, and something I hope to carry on doing for a lot of years.”

Tommy, who took early retirement from his job as a postman in order to concentrate on his work with the cricket clubs, said he was pleased to have got through to the final two in the awards. He lost out to a groundsman who had been doing the job for 60 years.

In recent months Tommy has been working with police, Leeds City Council and club officials in a bid to stop persistent vandalism which is plaguing the Yeadon club.

But despite all his work he said the “sickening” incidents were continuing, and they seemed to just be part of life now.

Tommy also appealed to dog owners to do their bit to help by keeping their animals off the cricket pitch, which is used by children.