Pilmoor Evening Cricket League

Posted by John Winn

Pilmoor is probably better known to rail rather than cricket enthusiasts for it was from Pilmoor, on the main line from York to Darlington, that a branch line ran to Boroughbridge from 1847. The passenger service was withdrawn in September 1950, long before Beeching, and final closure came in 1964. The word Pilmoor can still be found on maps and it serves appropriately to describe an evening league covering clubs quite closely distributed within the area between Thirsk and York.
Fixtures for 2011 start on Wednesday May 4th with, in Divison One, home fixtures at Clifton Alliance, Crayke, Helperby and Sheriff Hutton Bridge. In a second division extended to ten clubs this year the first set of fixtures are at Alne, Civil Service, Huby, Rowntrees and Raskelf.
Some of thse grounds are very attractive, none more so than Newburgh Priory, described justifiably by Tony in 'Off the beaten track' as 'a magical place'. I have been unlucky with this ground having turned up there on a beautiful evening last year expecting to see Newburgh play Acomb (I think) only to find the ground deserted. Several phone calls failed to fully explain why this was so. I shall be trying again this year.
There is coverage of the PECL in 'The Press', the York daily paper, but via the internet details are rather sketchy.
For newcomers to this league it involves little travelling to vist three or four grounds in one evening and there are some pleasant pubs in the area offering refreshment. After my disappointment last year I sought solace in the seventeenth century Fauconberg Arms in nearby Coxwold. (Other pubs are available)