SYD Marsden, who was made a life member of the West Riding County Amateur League in 1991 after serving as a vice-president and club representative for Salts, has died aged 82.

A half-back or full back for that locally famous club for many years, where he eventually became chairman, he also played Sunday football for Baildon pub Shoulder of Mutton.

He was a familiar figure at all of the County Amateur's League Cup semi-finals and dinals during his active time with the league.

Syd was also prominent in cricket for the Yorkshire Electricity Board, for whom he worked at their Canal Road and Parry Lane sites before retiring aged 55.

He joined Shipley Providence Cricket Club in 1966, becoming their secretary the following year - a position that he held for 50 years - and he was elected club president at last November's annual meeting.

Syd also worked hard as their groundsman, both at their old ground and new ground (at Salts) to which they moved in 2006.

An opening bat and wicket-keeper - he was left handed and therefore little went past him down the leg-side - he continued playing until he was 74, but only bowled once, memorably bagging at least five wickets with his dibbly-dobblers in a spell that lasted no more than seven overs.

Syd also played Bradford League table tennis for Polonia and also took part in darts, dominoes, and snooker in a local games league.

He and his great friend Colin White, secretary of the Dales Council League Umpires' Association and fellow Shipley Providence member, were once nicknamed Waldorf and Statler, and the affectionate term stuck!