Sussex Cricket has announced the appointment of a number of new Vice-Presidents. Former Sussex players Mark Robinson, Matt Prior and Michael Yardy have all been appointed, along with Terence Burton, Peter Butter, Derek Linford, Hugh Milner and Hugh Thomas, following their outstanding contributions to Sussex Cricket.
Mark Robinson (pictured above), who left Sussex last November to become Head Coach of the England Women’s team, joined Sussex as a player in 1997, went into coaching at the club in 2003 and in his first season as Head Coach in 2006 Sussex achieved the double. Sussex retained the Championship in 2007, with Robinson then guiding the county to an unprecedented period of one-day success, winning the Pro40 leagues in both 2008 and 2009, and the Twenty20 Cup for the first time in 2009.
Matt Prior, regarded as one of England’s greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen, was a key member of England’s Ashes triumphs of 2009, 2010/11 and 2013, and was named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year in 2010. He was also named the England Cricketer of the Year in 2012/13, and has played over 150 times for his country across all three formats.
Mike Yardy, like Prior, was part of the Sussex squad that won the historic County Championship in 2003, which was the first time the County had been victorious in their 164-year history, and went on to become the club’s most successful captain in terms of trophies. He helped Sussex to the Championship and C&G Trophy double in 2006, and another Championship title in 2007. He captained the side between 2009 and 2012 during a stint littered with trophies; winning the Twenty20 Cup and the NatWest Pro40 in his first year at the helm. Both Prior and Yardy retired from the game in 2015.
In addition the following individuals have been appointed Vice-Presidents for their outstanding contributions as volunteers to the recreational game over many years; Terry Burton for women’s and girls’ cricket, Peter Butter for administration of the Sussex Cricket Premier League, Hugh Milner for coaching and developing cricket for older players, Derek Linford for many areas including youth coaching and working for Sussex Young Cricketers, and the development of the Blackstone ground, and Hugh Thomas for his influential contributions to officiating the Sussex Cricket Board and Sussex Cricket League.
Sussex’s Chairman Jim May said, “With the merger of the county club and the cricket board to form the new organisation of Sussex Cricket in November 2015, it is highly appropriate that we recognise these individuals, as they have all played exceptional roles in the development of Sussex Cricket.”
Report courtesy of Sussex Cricket
