Tommy's career started in the early 20th century when he captained a side at the age of 10. He played his first senior cricket with his father for Crockey Hill in the 1920s before joining York who he captained to victory in the East Yorkshire Cup in 1925. He later shared in an unbroken opening stand of 261 with Stanley Robinson to set a Yorkshire League record that stood for over fifty years. In the 1940s, he moved to the Bradford League and captained Eccleshill to Priestley Cup victory in 1947. He formed Woodhouse Grange in 1942 for his farm workers and the club entered the League in 1952. As captain, he led from the front and had scored 1,000 runs by the end of July as his side won the York Senior Charity Cup. He led them to their first League title in 1955 before retiring in 1959. He was League President from 1959 to 1975. During this time the League grew from two to five divisions and the foundations for future success were laid. He helped establish the Joe Lumb Competition and also promoted the formation of a York Umpires’ Association and the neutral panel. 

Claude’s early sporting life was as a successful footballer with South Bank and Bishopthorpe. Such was his ability that he was offered terms by both Darlington and York City, but he declined both. His soccer career was ended by injury so he turned to cricket, playing for New Central WMC and South Bank WMC. He then moved to Acomb and on to York where he kept wicket. He was famed for his long distance straight drives. He became groundsman at Ainsty Estates after the war and then moved on to Poppleton Sugar Factory where he was, at various times, groundsman, coach, secretary, treasurer and captain. Upon retiring he became a league umpire and served for many years as Secretary and Treasurer of the York Charity Cups Competition. He was elected to the League Committee 1960 and became Treasurer in 1963. He stood down 1988 and was elected President in 1992. 

George was a very good all round sportsman in his youth, playing football and cricket and also winning many trophies as a sprinter. His league cricket started with York Ramblers for whom he hit 101 no v Bolton Percy in 1963 and finished second in the averages. When the club dropped out of the league, he moved to Dringhouses where he was part of their title winning team in 1965. He led the top division batting averages in 1969 with an average of 50.71. His highest score was 146 in 1971 against Thirsk. He was always a strong supporter of the league and his company Robson & Cooper placed an advert in the handbook every year from 1958 until they closed in 2014 following George’s death. During his four years as President of the League, George proved to be one of it’s best ambassadors, making a point of visiting every ground during the season and attending every cup final, presentation evening and other league functions.