Britain’s oldest Cricket umpire Returns to the crease for his 71st season

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Keith Dibb, 86, is the oldest umpire in the country and has taken charge of around 1,000 matches – but he says he has no plans to hang up his coat

In his white jacket and cap, Britain’s oldest Cricket umpire was back on the field for his 71st season this weekend.

Keith Dibb, 86, began officiating in 1952 and has taken charge of around 1,000 matches since them.

But the grandad of four has no plans to declare his retirement despite having to stand at the stumps for up to six hours.

Not even two shoulder operations and a knee replacement could stop him.

Widower Keith, a Retired salesman, is 6ft 4in tall and says he was often mistaken for a police officer by Cricketers.

He said, “I never corrected them. I thought ‘let them think that, they’ll not answer me back’. “

Keith caught the Cricket bug as a 13-year-old when they joined North Rigton CC in North Yorkshire.

He began umpiring two years later as he was “not very good” as a player.

On Saturday, he officiated the match between Rodley’s third team and Baildon’s fourth XI.

Keith, of Leeds, said: “It’s the friendship and comradeship that I enjoy the most.”

Keith’s wife of 59 years, Margaret, made teas at Hawksworth Cricket Club, where she was a founding member, but died of Covid in 2020.

Their son Nigel, 56, and daughter Wendy, 54, both grew up playing the game.

Wendy moved to New Zealand and when Keith went to visit her in 2008 they ended up umpiring there.

He also umpired a Yorkshire County Cricket Charity match at Headingley organized by pal Dickie Bird.

He said, “It’s the Mecca of Cricket, it was such an honor.”