Veteran sport-alcoholic Denis Emery has stepped into the breach to become the Hampshire Cricket League’s new chairman.
The position has remained empty since March 2015 when Ian Millington stepped down.
A retired policeman, Emery is well known in local sport, having played cricket for many years as a seam bowler for Ampfield, alongside several other clubs in the Romsey area.
He has been a lead umpire for the past 21 years, officiating in Hampshire Second XI games, but more specifically in the Southern Premier League, where he is appointments secretary.
Equally active in soccer circles, Emery has been Sydenhams Football League Registration Secretary for the past 20 years.
Emery says: “My immediate aim is to work alongside the hard working Hampshire League Committee that has run the biggest weekend recreational league in the country (probably the world) and give them as much help and support as they require, at the same time using my experience of many years being involved in sport and administration.
“I’m equally anxious to get more people interested in playing cricket - numbers are falling every year – and want to try and increase the number of competent club umpires for all the divisions as the games would be more enjoyable.
“I had a lot of enjoyment playing HL cricket and I’m keen to give something back.
The position has remained empty since March 2015 when Ian Millington stepped down.
A retired policeman, Emery is well known in local sport, having played cricket for many years as a seam bowler for Ampfield, alongside several other clubs in the Romsey area.
He has been a lead umpire for the past 21 years, officiating in Hampshire Second XI games, but more specifically in the Southern Premier League, where he is appointments secretary.
Equally active in soccer circles, Emery has been Sydenhams Football League Registration Secretary for the past 20 years.
Emery says: “My immediate aim is to work alongside the hard working Hampshire League Committee that has run the biggest weekend recreational league in the country (probably the world) and give them as much help and support as they require, at the same time using my experience of many years being involved in sport and administration.
“I’m equally anxious to get more people interested in playing cricket - numbers are falling every year – and want to try and increase the number of competent club umpires for all the divisions as the games would be more enjoyable.
“I had a lot of enjoyment playing HL cricket and I’m keen to give something back.
