My favourite Trueman story as related by my late father-in-law who could never finish the story as laughter always took him before the punchline!

Fred was opening the bowling at an Old Trafford Roses match in the late 50's. The Lancashire umpire standing at the bowler's end was renowned for his impartiality apart from hating all things Yorkshire!

First ball Fred steamed down,the batsman plays forward, definite snick, major appeal from 1st slip who held the catch, umpire shakes his head.

Second ball, batsman plays blindly forward, ball strikes front pad, plumb LBW, huge appeal, umpire shakes his head.

Fred calmly walks back to his mark moves it a couple of paces back and once again steams in, batsman hears it as the ball goes between bat and pad and is then deafened by the sound of his wicket exploding, middle stump over the keeper's head, bails on the pavilion steps!

Accompanied by a very old fashioned look to the umpire Fred adds another killer delivery,

"Aye lad, I nearly got the bugger that time tha' knows!

Safe home Fred, safe home.