Elland and Eminem

Posted by Peter Davies

To Elland for the Anthony McGrath 20/20 testimonial year bonanza - or what we thought would be the Anthony McGrath 20/20 testimonial year bonanza! A notice greeted all those entering the Hullen Edge ground to the effect that McGrath's Yorkshire team had given backword and there was now no charge for the day's cricket - which would now comprise a 40- (not 20-) over game between the Huddersfield and Halifax leagues. Poor do! The McGrath event had been advertised widely and the Elland club felt very let down. Word had come through at 8.40pm the night before to the effect that McGrath and his boys wouldn't be showing up. Club officials looked very embarrassed with Stuart Fletcher trying to explain the situation to disgruntled folk. Elland had produced a nice programme, lots of food, and the no-show had inconvenienced them massively. The event was supposed to be raising money for McGrath's benefit year. 'He must already have enough money!' sighed various spectators near the clubhouse. McGrath and Co. had claimed that they needed some extra rest after consecutive days' county cricket and were fearful of players getting injured in a benefit game with the county struggling on the relegation front. But this explanation hadn't gone down very well. Elland had also hired a huge sound system which was churning out Eminem and Stereophonics every time there was a boundary or a wicket. It was far too loud! We stayed until tea, sampled some pasta twirls and yummy pizza - and then left.

At Hanging Heaton the Crowther Cup final was being played out in front of a good crowd in fine weather: Woodlands v Barnsley. The Bradford side chalked up 160 - and the South Yorkshire side reached their target in pretty comfortable fashion. Bennett Lane is one of my favourite grounds on account of the excellent facilities and the 22 tall, handsome trees at the far end of the ground. A great sight - and I love the fact that there are exactly 22, as if the cricketing gods decreed it! The food is also excellent. The club have a huge kitchen and dispense a variety of meals. My dad says it's the only place in the area where you are guaranteed to be able to order a good, hot square meal - seemingly at any time in the day. Today we had steak and onion pie, chips and peas, and for the rest of the day I could hardly walk it was that filling! Heaton also possess wonderful club stalwarts in Nat Lawrence and Mel Dearden - always very friendly and very chatty. Many Heavy Woollen League and Bradford League VIPs were in attendance and a very vocal set of Barnsley fans. A good stumping was executed by the Woodlands keeper and a few lusty blows by the middle-order Barnsley batters. One of the umpires, I overheard, lives in a house about 20 yards away from Barnsley's football ground. Headingley-based Professional Cricket Watcher Brian Sanderson was at the game - he had watched Scholes-Golcar on Saturday and was enjoying the Batley sun. He was sat, studiously, behind the bowler's arm at the pavilion end like the connoisseur of the game that he is.