TWO of the most recognisable figures in Huddersfield cricket have been honoured for a lifetime's service in the game.
Golcar stalwart David Law and Scholes player-chairman Mel Booth have been awarded the Drakes League's Lady Sykes Candlesticks.
Nominated by their clubs for 'outstanding service to their clubs and the game of cricket', they will receive the prized awards at the League's glittering presentation dinner next month at the Cedar Court Hotel.
Law - the White Rose Under 21 team supremo - is undoubtedly one of the best-known and popular players in Huddersfield sport, having started his career at Birchencliffe, Bradley Mills and Meltham, before becoming part of the fixtures and fittings at Golcar, whom he has served for 21 years both on and off the field in many different guises.
A tenacious slow bowler and one-time early-order batsman, Law won great respect as a player both at junior and senior level and captained Golcar's first team for four years, He also served as vice-captain for several seasons.
In 1998, Law was an organiser and player in the Swallow Lane club's six-a-side team who reached the finals of the National Indoor Knockouts, where they represented the Huddersfield League at Lord's.
As well as still playing for the club, where he is now one of the elder statesmen, he has also served them as committeeman for 16 years, been treasurer (three years) and represented Golcar on the League's council for 11 years. He now serves on the League's Executive.
In the late 1990s, Law - known in his wide circle of friends as Den (for obvious reasons) - took over the League's Under 21 side in the White Rose Trophy (he once skippered them to victory as a player).
And he quickly established himself as the most successful and popular manager in the history of the Huddersfield side, inspiring his young charges to win the competition twice, in 1999 and 2004, as well as reaching the final in both 2000 and 2002.
A keen golfer and member at Elland - he was runner-up in this year's Examiner Overseas Golf Challenge in Portugal - Law has helped organise many functions for Golcar, and for several years with his great friend and former Swallow Laner Chris Holmes has arranged a biennial cricket tour to Barbados.
One-club man Booth is another instantly recognisable figure, not just through his work as Examiner sports editor and formerly chief football correspondent, but through his love of the summer game.
Booth was at Scholes as a junior and captained the youth team from 1974 to 1976.
A swashbuckling batsman and swing bowler, he took on the role of first-team skipper from 1983 to 1986, while the Chapelgate club were still members of the Huddersfield Central League.
Twice a winner of the first-team batting prize and a former player of the year, he skippered the club on their entry into the Drakes League in 1988.
After being part of the team which earned promotion to Section A in 1993 (they have never been relegated) he became a familiar figure (and at one time captain) in the club's second team, enjoying huge success with no fewer than six appearances in the Paddock Shield final, winning three, as well as being an important member of four Championship-winning sides.
Along the way he has helped coach the club's juniors, served on various committees - including the development of the ground (he is now helping oversee with the re-building of a new clubhouse at Chapelgate) - been the League rep and he is now chairman of a club he has served as a committeeman for 32 years.
