Shrewsbury's Steve Gale spent three seasons on the reserve umpires list

Shropshire umpire Steve Gale has been promoted to the first-class umpires list for the 2011 season.

Former Shrewsbury captain Gale, who played for Shropshire between 1975 and 1987, had been on the reserve panel for the last three seasons.

"I'm very proud and thoroughly looking forward to the challenge," Shrewsbury-based Gale told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I started five years ago doing Minor Counties games and got some good marks, so I ended up getting an interview."

Gale, who is joined by Steve O'Shaughnessy on the first-class list for 2011 following the retirements of Barry Dudleston and Vanburn Holder, was coached by Mervyn Kitchen and John Hampshire during his rise up the umpiring ladder.

His biggest match to date was in 2009 when he umpired England Lions against Australia at New Road in a warm-up match before the Ashes.

I'm too old to be considered for the elite Test panel, I'm just focusing on doing a good job on the county circuit Steve Gale

"I've played cricket for over 30 years with my local club Shrewsbury and I wanted to stay involved in the game," added Gale.

"I'm too old to be considered for the elite Test panel. I'm just focusing on doing a good job on the county circuit."

Gale is the first Shropshire umpire to stand in first-class cricket since Clive Smith, who did two seasons on the reserve list in the early 1980s.

And, having stood in many games involving Gale as a player Smith, now 75, was thrilled by his appointment.

"It's a good time for Steve to be going into it as there was a time when you had to have played first-class cricket to get a chance," said Smith.

"But I'm sure he'll do well. He knows his cricket. And I hope he gets as much enjoyment out of it as I did."

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