Shades of Jacko

Posted by Peter Davies

Old Almondburians v Green Moor on a sunny afternoon...but with a gorgeous shaded area on the boundary under the tall trees. Teatime had been and gone, and the home side were now chasing a gettable target. The Arkenley Lane ground is adjacent to some very large houses in a very plush part of Almondbury. It is also one of the few grounds at which you can sit in front of the pavilion, look out on the cricket, and see no other buildings (except the odd house roof or two). On the boundary OA veteran Steve Slack - also tea lady for the day - was reminiscing about his 33 years at the club and how teachers at the nearby school used to utilise pupils on detention to help mow the wicket! Other club stalwarts were also pottering about in front of the outdoor scoring table. Green Moor are from the outskirts of Sheffield. Their home ground is allegedly one of the most undulating in the area, so they would have felt at home given the not insubstantial undulations at Arkenley Lane. OA take part in an annual 20/20 competition with the other two Almondbury clubs - and that was one topic of conversation on the sidelines. By the distinctive green pavilion, there were sun-bathing cricket-watchers aplenty. For my part, I was engrossed in my Observer special supplement on Michael Jackson's death - RIP the King of Pop.