From Shelley to Skelmanthorpe

Posted by Peter Davies

A Huddersfield League tour on the first day of the Drakes season. The sun was shining on Westerley Lane, Shelley at 12 noon. Kids were playing soccer on the outfield and club officials were working hard at both ends of the field as the afternoon's encounter against Clayton West was being anticipated. I took some photos and moved on to Kirkburton where club official Steve Ireland was working behind the bar and sorting out the club noticeboard.

Again, perfect conditions - sunny but also cool. We ordered a cup of tea - price 50p - and took a perch by the garage at the pavilion end of the ground. The scene was very beautiful - what a great start to the summer of 2010. 'Burton were entertaining Elland in Premiership 2 and there was a good smattering of spectators. The raffle man came round and in an early-season bout of generosity I bought FIVE at £1 each. Surely a personal record. Picked up a Kirkburton CC newsletter and also studied some plans and drawings on the wall for a new pavilion.

Next stop Lascelles Hall where Paddock were the visitors. It was mid-afternoon and the ladies in the tea room didn't seem to think there would be any teas available for spectators, which was a blow. They were even unsure if they could make us a brew. So we found a bench at deep long-on and stopped for almost an hour. I had a book on Indian cricket and a music magazine on the go - Sachin Tendulkar and Paul Weller at the same time! The cup of tea eventually emerged and I sprawled out on the glass - so fantastic was the weather. Dad went to tidy his car which he had parked near the scorebox. I said hi to Paddock's Australian all-rounder Steve Abbott, who I'd met in 2009.

At Kirkheaton, Delph & Dobcross were the visitors. Because Hill Top is so high, the views are always incredible and it is possible to feel as though you are somewhere quite remote. More bad timing, with no food available except three different flavours of crisps. So we ordered yet more tea at 30p each. Delph had just scraped over 100 in their innings and the home side were 10-1 as we arrived. Quite a few people in the bar.

Finally, to Skelmanthorpe where Honley were the away team. Lidgett Lane was packed, with supporters lining the boundary edge. It almost had the feel of an outground county match - really impressive in all respects. Maybe 150-200 people in the crowd, according to one bloke who hazarded a guess. This included league chairman Roger France and his wife Judith, Honley groundsman and ex-player Peter Green, and Riaz - a former teammate of mine at Birkby Nuffield CC who now owns a newsagents in Skelmanthorpe.

Honley had scored over 300 but as we sat down, Wasim Jaffer - the home side's new pro - was setting about the bowlers after a watchful start. There was a real sense of expectation that he might take his side to victory but he holed out to deep long-on when a sizeable innings was looming. The temperature was falling. It was now actually quite cold after being quite warm when we walked in. I said hello to club chairman Margaret Dollive and ordered a pint of lemonade and a bag of mini-cheddars.