WORCESTERSHIRE CCC have confirmed former player Paul Pridgeon has accepted a role to become the club’s new president.
Pridgeon takes over from Phillip Neale OBE for a two-year term as Pears president.
The club will confirm Pridgeon in the role at the club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) later this month (Thursday, March 26), subject to the approval of members.
Pridgeon’s association with Worcestershire spans more than half a century as a player, vice-president and honorary life member.
Pridgeon said: “It is a massive honour to take the role as club president.
“As a young boy from the Black Country, until accepting this role, over 50 years have passed, but my feelings towards the club haven’t changed at all.
“My first game watching Worcestershire was at Dudley as a 10-year-old, which was 62 years ago now.
“I came on the playing staff at 17, in 1972, and enjoyed playing here for 18 years, where I had some incredible moments on the pitch.
“When I retired, I moved to work at Shrewsbury School, to try and continue passing on my knowledge and helping the next generation of players who held potential to possibly play for Worcestershire.
“I always wanted to help out and give back in any way I could, which then led me to join the board in 2013 in an advisory role, maintaining the link between the schools and the club, before I became vice-chair until 2022.
“Phil’s contribution during his tenure has made it a hard act to follow.
“He threw himself right into everything and added a vast amount of experience and knowledge from his position.
“I know Phil very well from my playing days, he was my captain for a long period of time, and just as I did back then, I’ll be picking his brains over the coming months.
“The club is in a very exciting place, the best it’s been in for some time I believe.
“Financially, commercially and most importantly on the field, the culture and people around the whole organisation make it what it is.
“There are plenty of reasons to be excited and optimistic.
“Whether I am needed to sit down with the senior figures from the cricket side, or from a business perspective, like Ashley Giles, then I want to talk to them and see where and how I can make a difference.”
He joined the Pears as a player at the age of 17-years-old following a successful trial period.
And he went on to enjoy a stellar playing career at New Road, winning three County Championship titles with the club in 1974, 1988 and 1989.
Pridgeon also lifted two Sunday League titles in 1987 and 1988.
The seam bowler retired from professional cricket in 1989 with 530 first-class and 219 List A wickets to his name.
He later helped develop the next generation of talent at Worcestershire and played a role in fast-tracking the likes of Joe Leach, Adam Finch, Jack Home and Harry Darley into the side.
Pridgeon served as a Worcestershire board member for the maximum nine-year period, vice-chair for four years and had a spell as acting chair.
