Meltham in the sun

Posted by Peter Davies

Meltham v Elland in the Sykes Cup. A glorious Sunday afternoon with the home side struggling to reach 100 in their innings. The Ellanders were out in force either side of the scoreboard, with 'Mr Elland' - Derek Gledhill - in a deckchair on the right. Ex-Yorkshire and Lancashire pace bowler Stuart Fletcher was pounding in from the bottom end, with the very vocal Elland fielders exhorting him at regular intervals. ECC official Adrian Finn was circling the ground and, he said, he was beginning to think ahead to the club's 150th anniversary in 2010. A centenary brochure or DVD? That was the question. In the clubhouse the main bar area was cordoned off so a private party could go ahead, with the cricket fans consigned to the window area nearest the playing area. Still, they weren't happy - they said they didn't appreciate the fact that folk fetching and carrying drinks were constantly obscuring their view on the veranda. The tea room was doing good business: cheese and tuna sandwiches and also salad, cheese and onion pastries and a variety of cakes. Ex-Yorkshire and Warwickshire spinner Paul Booth was in attendance as was his dad - who talked to me about his pride at watching his son's career develop. Paul has now given up cricket to concentrate on his golf! He lives in Brighouse. His dad was a two-time Sykes Cup winner with Meltham and told me they were two of the proudest days of his life. He described himself as an ultra-patient and dedicated opening batsman.