Coaches and finals

Posted by Peter Davies

First up Barkisland v Birstall and then Stones v Sowerby Bridge. It was chilly at Scammonden Road, with a group of women on the boundary's edge all wearing blankets and lots of layers. The kitchen was doing a good trade under the watchful eye of its South African head tea lady. You couldn't eat what the players would be eating until after tea - but until then there were rolls and even hot sandwiches and chips on sale. Many home supporters were wearing club tracksuits; likewise the Birstall players wandering round the ground. Barkisland are proud of the fact that they installed the first electronic scorebox in Calderdale many years ago - and the yellow numbers were gleaming in the gloom. In front of the church the group of female supporters were drinking lager in their deckchairs and speaking of the family spirit at the club. One of their number was a specialist girls cricket coach - with 16 or so youngsters under her wing at Barkisland.

At Stones - not too far away but much higher - the Halifax League Sunday Section game was nearing tea. Stones were batting and the newly-extended clubhouse was looking majestic. The club is building up to hosting the Crossley Shield final in August - a massive coup for them. Hence the creation of a special sub-committee to organise things. There were cheese and egg sandwiches in the tea room - and also mini-scotch eggs, some gorgeous cheese quiche and some adorable little chocolate cakes. The tea lady on duty - also the club secretary - said she had instigated fruit today and was pleased that only three out of 22 apples had not been eaten. Success, she thought. On the boundary's edge, club stalwart Malcolm Ellis was remembering his early days as the club groundsman and some interesting players' nicknames. When you're at Stones you feel on top of the world - so high is the ground. There's only rugged moorland round about, plus the very high stretch of the M62 straight in front of you as you look out from the pavilion. There was an impromptu game of football at tea - with some young spectators using one of the sightscreens as the net.