Dickie Bird: A run and red wine to celebrate legendary umpire's 90th

"It's a landmark," says Dickie. “It’s not quite a century but it’s something to be celebrated. I’m not thinking about 100 yet. I’ll try to get to 95 and then we will see. One step at a time. That’s the way.”

Dickie, a cricketer who became the most famous umpire ever, says he rarely drinks but he feels he may have earned a tipple. “I like a Merlot,” he said.

“My doctors say it’s good for me but I don’t drink at home. I have red if I’m out. They say white wine blocks your arteries while red wine clears them.

Dickie. who lives in Staincross in Barnsley, says his health regime is keeping him fit and he will carry on for as long as he is able. If it’s fine, he runs. If it’s wet, he does exercises indoors.

“I have a corridor from my room to the bathroom and I run there if the weather’s not good. It sounds comical but I feel fit so it’s doing me some good.

“At the moment I’m just waiting for some good weather and for the cricket to start again. I think Yorkshire will have a good season. But I always think they will, so we will see.” He sidesteps questions about Yorkshire’s recent controversies preferring to concentrate on playing matters, singling out Harry Brook for particular praise.

“What a player! He’s got a good future ahead of him,” said Dickie of the 24-year-old batsman. “He’s got everything.”

A good cricketer in his day, Dickie was forced to retire at 31 due to injury but after a spell coaching he found his forte in umpiring.

And while umpires are usually anonymous figures, Dickie ranks as one of the most famous Yorkshiremen. His autobiography sold more than one million copies and he has a foundation in his name which helps young sports people.

Properly called Harold Dennis, he acquired the nickname Dickie at school and it stuck.

He says he can’t have a walk in Barnsley without stopping for numerous conversations. “They say I talk a lot, but it’s people who talk to me,” he chuckles.

After hanging up his cricket bat, he went on to umpire 66 Test matches and 69 one day internationals.

Of his age, he says: “I come from a good generation. We were all sporty. If it wasn’t cricket, it was football. We had the best days. There’s no doubt about that.”

Dickie will mark his birthday with a gala dinner at his beloved Headingley and a tribute from his childhood pal Sir Michael Parkinson.

“We will have a chat on stage, like the old Parkinson shows on the television. He will ask me some questions and we will go from there.”