THE last playing link with Durham’s original first-class squad in 1992 has been severed by the retirement of Neil Killeen.

At 34, the seam bowler from Annfield Plain bade an emotional farewell on Saturday, when he bowed out with figures of three for 24 in the CB 40 League match against Kent.

The Durham members gave him a standing ovation as he led the team off and coach Geoff Cook led the tributes, saying: “I’ve enjoyed watching Neil play cricket throughout his career.

“For him to retire as the leading wicket taker for Durham in one-day cricket is certainly an accolade that is much deserved.

He has worked extremely hard to give his best to the team and the club.”

Chief executive David Harker said: “Neil’s contribution to Durham has been one of real dedication, on and off the field.

We have been lucky to have him in our set-up and while it’s sad to see him retiring, we’re pleased he will maintain his links with the club.”

Killeen already has a well-established coaching business, which he runs in partnership with former team-mate Martin Speight, and will continue to do some coaching within the county club.

Killeen was 16 when he was taken out of Greencroft School to go on Durham’s tour to Zimbabwe as a late replacement for the injured John Wood in February, 1992.

That was Durham’s final preparation for first-class cricket and Killeen made his firstclass debut in 1995, going on to play in 101 games, taking 262 wickets at 30.99.

Only Simon Brown and Steve Harmison have taken more first-class wickets for Durham and Killeen leads the way in limited-overs cricket. In the one-day league he finished with 209 wickets.

He was part of the team that secured Durham’s first silverware, the Friends Provident Trophy, in 2007, when they beat Hampshire Hawks in the final at Lord’s.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time with Durham and that Lord’s final was the absolute highlight of my career.

“It was great seeing the hard work of so many people coming to fruition.

“It was a massive achievement for the team and that weekend is something I will always remember.

“It was a tough decision to call time on my career but I’m incredibly excited about the opportunities ahead, especially those that will see me continue to work alongside some of the quality talent we have at Durham.”

Killeen’s best season was in 1999, when he was intially behind Brown, Harmison, Wood and Melvyn Betts in the pecking order of seamers.

It was the final year before the championship was split into two divisions and Killeen played a big part in getting Durham into the inaugural division one.

Harmison played in all 17 matches that season, taking 64 wickets, and Brown had 63 from 15 games. But Killeen, who broke into the side after four games following an injury to Betts, topped the averages with 58 wickets at 18.44.

He took seven for 85 in the final match at Leicester, figures which he improved once, with seven for 70 at home to Hampshire in 2003.

The intervening years, however, had been marred by injury and he increasingly became a one-day specialist. His last championship appearance was in the first game of 2008.

Durham awarded him a benefit year in 2006, and it seemed on Saturday that the script writers might come up with a fairytale finish which involved him scoring the winning runs.

But after cracking the first ball he faced for four, he departed for six when he drove a low catch to extra cover.

He was the last man out and stood his ground for a few seconds.

Perhaps he wasn’t sure the catch had carried, or more probably he was merely reluctant to accept that it was finally all over.