Time to celebrate a momentous victory

Sep 29 2008 by Peter Leathley, The Journal

DURHAM cricket fans today have their first and possibly only chance to celebrate the club’s momentous County Championship victory with their heroes.

The players and coaching staff will gather at the Riverside ground from 5pm-6.15pm to show off their trophy and start their end-of-season party, before the team go their separate ways for the winter.

Yesterday chief executive David Harker said he was still coming to terms with the victory, which saw Durham win the league less than 17 years after the county was granted first-class status.

Earlier this month Durham unveiled plans for a £45m expansion of the Riverside, that will see the ground’s capacity rise to 20,000 and also include a new gateway entrance, permanent floodlights and a 150-bed hotel.

Two trophies in two years mean Durham are now established as a major player in the cricket world, and Mr Harker said he hoped those plans would mean the North East never again misses out on an Ashes test.

Yesterday he told The Journal: “It’s still sinking in. I’ve an awful lot of pride and pleasure for the people involved with the club. It’s a vindication for the journey we’ve been on.

“Even people who don’t follow cricket but take pride in the region will hopefully recognise that what we’ve achieved is of significance.”

Mr Harker singled out coach Geoff Cook for praise and spoke of his pride in the local players who have risen through the ranks for Durham.

He said: “Steve (Harmison) was overwhelmed. I don’t think you can over- estimate how much it means to him personally and professionally. He’s taken a fair amount of stick from the national media and he’s proved he knew what he was doing.

“If I was going to single one person out it would be Geoff. He is the father of the club. From being there in the first season he has established the most successful cricket academy in the country and to win two trophies in two seasons is an incredible performance.

“Geoff represents everything that is good about the club – the North East roots, his honesty, hard work, and ambition.” He added: “I’d love to see an Ashes Test in the North East.

“That is the big one, and the one now I think we’ll begin to focus on. I can’t see why that won’t happen and we richly deserve it.”