The innings of one of the truly great servants of local sport, Clifford Gill, has ended shortly before his 90th birthday.

Clifford’s mighty contributions included more than 75 years’ service at his beloved Sutton Cricket Club where he had figured as first team captain, second team captain, secretary, treasurer, president, juniors coach and ground maintenance man.

Born in Sutton, Clifford embraced the sporting ethos from an early age and his participation also extended to him playing for Sutton United football team, which flourished in the immediate post-war years.

He was also an accomplished self-taught pianist, entertaining in local pubs, for the elderly in local care homes and also at the village’s St Thomas Hall.

His only spell away from the local community was when serving his country in the RAF, including frontline action in Palestine.

A devoted family man, Clifford had been married for 61 years and lost his wife, Mary, just over a month ago. The couple are survived by two sons, two daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Clifford and Mary – a former Keighley Gala Queen – met at the local Bairstows Mill where Clifford was an overlooker.

He was educated at Sutton County Primary School and Keighley Secondary Technical College.

A funeral service was held at Skipton Crematorium last week.