Mince pies and Mars bars

Saturday 13 June

Bright sunshine at Emley v Almondbury. The yellow seats were glistening in the stand at the adjacent Welfare Ground, used now by a re-formed Emley Football Club. There were a smattering of spectators by the pavilion, including a lonesome Almondbury supporter who said his club had only a few fans. Tea was being prepared in the pavilion - a tea lady apparently on her first day on duty. Also, cuppas were 50p a time, as were Mars bars. The home side were batting and club chairman John Moors was circling the playing area in his handsome straw boater and bemoaning the cost of hiring professionals (his club made the decision not to have one this year). His wife, the club webmaster, or mistress, was also in attendance, watching from the boundary. John told me that you could see Matthew Wood's old house from the ground, and that during his last spell at the club he enjoyed playing cricket with his ex-school pals but that he was quite 'intense' in the way that he wanted the Emley 1st XI to prepare for games - training routines etc. Emley now have big plans for a new extended clubhouse, if they can raise the necessary finance.

Down the road, Flockton were entertaining Upper Hopton in the Huddersfield Central League. Tea had just been taken but there were still marshmallows, almond slices and, believe it or not, mince pies to be consumed! 'Mr Flockton' Harry Marsden was umpiring elsewhere but his right-hand lady Mavis Dobson was hard at work in the kitchen. The club's new tea room is now fully refurbished and looked fantastic: spacious and very homely, with the two scorers seated at the front. Just outside the building there is a little ramp with 'bats' and 'balls' built into the design of the railings. Very cute! The views out over to Emley Mast, from the far side of the ground, are magnificent. Upper Hopton seemed to be chasing down their target with little difficulty. It was now or never for the home side - resplendent in their bright red caps - but in the end they could not halt the victory charge.