Bryan Rouse standing in his last BCF League Game Photo © ECC

Umpire Bryan Rouse officiated his last match in the Belgian league, when Mechelen Eagles recently took on Antwerp CC at the Vrijbroekpark in Mechelen.

He has, however, assured the BCF that he will assist with the organization of next year's Indoor Tournament, which will be hosted by Belgium.

Bryan has done a tremendous amount of work off the field for the BCF, as well as being an excellent umpire - he got the BLACU (Belgian Luxembourg Association of Cricket Umpires) going and organised Sunday afternoon training courses to build a panel of qualified umpires, with quite a few locals amongst them. He was also instrumental in inviting ECC umpires to Belgium & Luxembourg to hold weekend refresher courses, which were always well attended.

Eagles v Antwerp, 2 Sep 2001 Photo © ECC

During the tea interval, Bryan was presented with a beautiful basket filled with a choice of outstanding goodies from the local brewery Het Anker. Please note that, as a proof of the local club's famous sportsmanship, Rodney Benn, Eagles' skipper, is still smiling even though Bryan had given him out LBW first ball 30 minutes earlier...