EXPLANATION of an umpire...

He is a man who, for five months of the year, devotes his leisure time to enabling 22 other men to enjoy themselves.

He is a man who, on the hottest of summer days, becomes a human clothes stand, while on cold April evenings thankfully moves from square leg to the bowler's end wicket to keep his circulation going.

He is a man who knows from the time he walks out on the field of play that he is sure to displease someone. But he bravely walks on. An umpire endures the scowls and curses of those he has dedicated himself to serve with great self control.

An umpire must have a thorough understanding of every law of the game of Cricket, acting as jury and judge for both the prosecution and the defence, passing sentence in approximately three seconds.

An umpire is expected to be an authority on meteorology, mathematics, optics, timekeeping and drainage.

He has to be impartial and independent, yet friendly to all.

An umpire is unobtrusive, yet, at the same time, all-important to the game of cricket.

An umpire is, in fact, a man without whom the game of cricket would be hard-pressed to survive.

Anyone who would enjoy the challenge, anyone who would care to dispute the task of an umpire, anyone who cares to simply get out of the house once a well for an fascinating couple of hours will be made welcome at Standish Cricket Club in Green Lane, Standish.

They are hosting a cricket course from October 15 (7-9.30pm) at a modest charge of £10 for the full 12 weeks.

Players, ex-players, umpires, potential umpires and cricket loves welcome!

Call David Rigby on 01257-400339 for full details.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.