News Archive - January 2002

Yorkshire's former President and Chairman Sir Lawrence Byford who was taken ill on board ship last Sunday is now recovering well under expert care in a Cape Town hospital. Lady Muriel is with him and extends her thanks for the many messages of goodwill, which she has received.

Yorkshire's former President and Chairman, Sir Lawrence Byford was today well enough to phone Headingley with reassurance of his recovery following a heart attack on board ship in the South Atlantic. He was flown by air ambulance last week to the intensive care unit at the City Park Hospital in Cape Town where he is under the expert care of the world famous Groot Scuur heart specialists.

He now expects to be discharged within the next day or two and will convalesce in Cape Town for about a month before flying home. Lady Muriel is with him and thanks everyone for their support during this worrying time.

Yorkshire CCC has joined forces with Firstnet Services Ltd, an award winning* Internet and technology solutions provider to help catapult the Club into a high tech future unmatched anywhere in County Cricket.

Work is underway developing a next generation website which will allow users to buy tickets and merchandise on line, view photo and biographic information from library archives and learn more information about their favourite Yorkshire stars. Once the website goes live there will be future opportunities for Yorkshire Cricket supporters all over the world to listen to match commentary, witness the fall of wickets and playback highlights online which is an exciting new concept in the game of cricket.

Tony Panaro, Commercial Director of Yorkshire CCC comments, "We are very excited to be making this association with Firstnet. It is keeping with our tradition of dealing with Yorkshire based companies and will also put Yorkshire CCC on top as far as technology goes, complimenting their on field position. This new technology will enable Yorkshire fans far and wide to keep up with what is happening at Headingley".

Along side the Website Firstnet will also provide Yorkshire CCC with their administration requirements using "thin client technology" which means that all data is held off-site at a secure data-centre, ensuring that the club won�t have to worry about security and losing data and files.

Bryan Cobley, Development Director and Co-Founder of Firstnet says, "As a Yorkshire Company ourselves, Firstnet are proud to be able to bring to YCCC innovative solutions, products and services which will keep the Club and Cricket enthusiasts everywhere, ahead of the game".

Notes
*Firstnet Awards
Guardian Newspaper � Business ISP of the year 2000
Leeds and West Yorks Business Times � Millennium award for Internet Solutions

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has appointed an Operations Manager to assist with the new developments currently underway at Headingley Cricket Ground. Michael Dooley returns to Headingley where he had previously worked for 8 years as General Manager with Leeds C F & A. More recently Michael has worked in the football league and also on the Commonwealth Games and has a wealth of experience in professional sport.

He will work closely with Club Secretary David Ryder and is a valuable addition to the team at Yorkshire CCC.