Durham scorer awarded testimonial

Brian Hunt began scoring for Durham back in 1975

Durham have taken the unusual step of awarding a testimonial to their scorer - after a petition was raised by fans.

Brian Hunt is the only person to score at every minor county and first class ground, as well as in Scotland, Ireland and Holland.

The 61-year-old said: "I heard a rumour a petition was being put together to try and get me a testimonial but I ignored it.

"David Harker [Durham chief executive] called me to tell me they wanted to grant me the year.

"I was told to grab it with both hands because there will be a queue in the future so I have to say it is an honour."

The highlight for Brian came this year when Durham won the County Championship for the first time.

There has also been a recent trip to Buckingham Palace to meet The Duke of Edinburgh and scoring at Lord's as Durham won the Friends Provident Trophy in 2007.

He said: "I would say every match is a highlight. Once a game finishes I am always looking forward to the next match.

"Winning the Minor Counties Championship a few years ago was a major highlight. Back then I never thought the things that followed would come along. You have to remember when I first started this job I was in my 20s and had a young family."

Durham chief executive, David Harker said: "Brian's contribution should not be underestimated and we are delighted to agree to a testimonial to recognise his work, as our scorer and as our archivist."

Brian Hunt (behind The Duke of Edinburgh) at Buckingham Palace

The club made the job a year-round affair four years ago, instead of just a summer job allowing him to concentrate on his archives and records during the winter in.

BBC Radio Newcastle's cricket reporter Martin Emmerson recalls: "After Durham won their final match of the 2008 season at Kent and went onto win the championship, there were emotional scenes.

I bumped into Brian and thought he would be a great person to interview.

Brian Hunt highlights

He was the scorer as Brian Lara made his record 501 for Warwickshire v Durham in 1994

He witnessed Ottis Gibson take all 10 Hampshire wickets in an innings at The Riverside in 2007

He has scored at every county in minor and first class cricket

The job of scorer was computerised in 1993

He fulfilled a dream as Durham won the 2008 LV County Championship

"However he was too emotional to speak. He was on the verge of tears because the events he'd just witnessed meant so much to him."

Brian says he will be sharing his year with Yorkshire's benefit recipient Anthony McGrath.

"At the beginning of the 2008 season we were at Headingley and it was raining. I had a cuppa with Anthony and he said I had been around that long they should give me a benefit year.

"Because I am not a player it is classed as a testimonial. But because I have been awarded a year I had to go to a meeting at Lord's with the other recipients.

"When Anthony walked in he burst out laughing. He did not know I was getting this when we had our conversation but it will be nice to share the year with him."