Pavilion unveiled in Collingwood’s honour

Emirates Riverside’s South West Terrace has been officially renamed the Paul Collingwood Pavilion after the official unveiling today.

The renaming ceremony took place 23 years after Paul’s association with DCCC began following his arrival in 1995.

Accompanied by his family, teammates and DCCC Chairman Sir Ian Botham, the 41-year-old was honoured for his exceptional service to the club.

“I’m extremely proud to be recognised by Durham in this way,” said Collingwood.

“This is a club that means so much to me and one that has given me support, opportunities and the pathway to grow as a person and a cricketer.

“I would like to thank the countless people who have contributed to Durham either through their ability as cricketers, their passion as supporters or their commitment and ambition as owners and administrators.

“I’m delighted if people think I have played a part in the success of Durham County Cricket Club and I hope that anyone sitting in the ‘Paul Collingwood Pavilion’ derive as much enjoyment from watching Durham and international cricket fixtures as I have had from playing in them.”

Currently the Club’s first-class captain, the pavilion re-naming will honour the most successful player to ever have played for Durham.

With 11,777 first-class runs, Collingwood is the leading first-class run-scorer in our history & has appeared in 218 first-class matches, more than anyone else.

He lifted the 2013 County Championship title & also played a significant role in the Royal London One-Day Cup victory at Lord’s a year later.

Collingwood played 68 Test matches for England, scoring 4,259 runs at an average of over 40 and produced a number of outstanding performances, scoring a memorable double century during the 2006/07 Ashes series in Australia – the first English batsman to score a double ton in Australia for 78 years.

Durham County Cricket Club chairman Sir Ian Botham, said: “We all know as one of the finest cricketers in Durham’s history, Paul will be uncomfortable with the individual attention that he is receiving but given his outstanding contribution to the club it is wholly merited.

“We’re delighted to name our South West Terrace after Paul and believe that it pays tribute in a manner which involves the supporters; something we were extremely keen to do given the joy he has brought to them during his time at the club.