Huddersfield sport is losing one of its most loyal servants in Howard Moxon.
The 62-year-old is standing down as secretary and league representative of Denby Cricket Club at the end of this year for personal reasons.
Moxon has also had a remarkable career in football and is a life member and vice-president of the Huddersfield and District FA.
Denby CC – who now play in the Drakes Huddersfield League after moving from the Cental League in 2013 – will never quite be the same again, however, as Moxon has been pretty much part of the fixtures and fittings for six decades.
His first match was with Denby Seconds on May 7, 1966, when he was just 13 years old.
He played with Cumberworth Juniors the following summer and then, in 1967, played his first match for Denby’s first team at Holmbridge, taking one for 17.
In 1970 Moxon was captain of the successful Denby Juniors side which won the Walker Cup, Armitage Cup and Section E of the League – winning 22 of their 23 matches and tieing the other!
From 1971 to 1974, he played for Penistone CC and was in their team for the 1974 Allsop Cup final against Cawthorne.
Moxon rejoined Denby in 1975 and has played there ever since.
His appearance against Marsden in the Earnshaw Cup on Bank Holiday Monday took his record to 655 matches in which he has scored 5,709 runs, taken 124 wickets and caught 205 catches.
His proudest moment was scoring 126 against Skelmanthorpe in the Huddersfield Central League Section A in 1986.
In addition to playing, Moxon has also umpired 178 matches, mainly in the Central League.
He became secretary at Denby in 1977, marking 38 years of service in both leagues, and has been the league representative for 24 years.
He was secretary of Denby Sports & Social Club from 1980 to 2013 and, in 2011, was awarded the Central League’s Fred Stallard Trophy for outstanding service.
Not surprisingly, as he has now been associated with cricket as a player, official, umpire and representative for 49 years.
He also has an outstanding CV for football, having been one of the lucky ones who saw England win the World Cup against West Germany at Wembley in 1966.
A supporter of Huddersfield Town since 1964, he has watched them on 90 former and current Football League grounds.
One of his favourite players was Tony Leighton, whom his eldest son is named after.
When Town play in London, Moxon combines his other passion of train spotting when making the trip.
From 1972 to 1988 he was secretary of Denby FC in the Huddersfield & District Sunday League, going on to be a vice-president and life member.
He played 513 matches in the Huddersfield Sunday and Sheffield Hatchard leagues, playing with Denby on Saturdays and Sundays, Penistone Church and Cumberworth FC. He was booked only once.
Moxon also refereed in the Huddersfield District Works and Junior leagues from 1987 to 2008, taking charge of 546 matches, including two finals.
He has completed 22 years service with the Huddersfield FA.
