The official unveiling of the Dickie Bird Players’ Balcony at Headingley Cricket Ground will take place on Monday during the interval of the Royal London One-Day Cup match between Yorkshire Vikings and Leicestershire.Dickie Bird OBE, currently serving his second term in office as Club president, has funded the project to the tune of £125,000 and thanks to his generosity the players will now benefit from being outside watching play rather than being behind glass in the current viewing area. It will also enhance the Carnegie Pavilion and create a focal point at that side of the ground.

Dickie will officially cut the ribbon alongside director of cricket Martyn Moxon, captain Andrew Gale and chief executive Mark Arthur.

“This is going to be one of the proudest days of my life,” said Bird, the former international umpire and leading sports biographer, who played for both Yorkshire and Leicestershire over an eight year period in First-class cricket. “Yorkshire cricket is my life. I watch every match and the team gives me so much pleasure. It is going to be wonderful seeing the players using the new balcony and enhancing their experience of watching the game.

“I do hope my little bit of giving something back will increase their chances of winning back-to-back County Championships and the possibility of progressing in the 50-over competition.”

The balcony, built by construction company BAM who also constructed the iconic Carnegie Pavilion, has been developed above the sightscreen at the Kirkstall Lane end of the ground directly behind the bowlers arm offering an impeccable vantage point of the playing area.