VISITING ALL ESKDALE CRICKET LEAGUE

By Brian Sanderson,

After reading Tony Hutton visit to the above League some years ago,it has been my wish to visit the grounds.To-day I set-off at 8.30A.M and picked you the two Ronnies to visit all the grounds.Ron Deaton had done extensive research to find where the grounds were and the fixtures.In the Whitby Gazette for Friday , it gave the League table.The winner was Fryup and Mulgrave second.

The first ground we visited was Goatland which is situated behind a pub near a garage which is featured in T.V. show Heartbeat.They were playing Sleights this afternoon.

Second ground was Glaisdale were they were having yearly fare on the cricket ground.It is situated behind some houses and the ground can be entered by a gate next to a house garden.I parked the car next to the local shop and near the train station.

Third ground was Lealholm which entered through a lane opposite a small car park and next to bed and breakfast house.There were some train seats out side the pavilion and Ron Stansfield said they were very comfortable.

Fourth ground was Fryup.There is no village of this name put is found in the Great Fryup valley.The ground has excellent views but a poor pavilion.We found a stone roller with Fryup C.C. dated 1930.However they won the league.Where do the players come from?.

Fifth ground was Mulgrave which is situated in the village of Lyth.It is a new pavilion and we decided to have our sandwichs there.When we were eating the groundsman arrived and shown us in side the pavilion.It was built for £7000,000 and was money well spent.Most of the money came from the Football fund.

Sixth ground was Sleights who were playing Goatland who were bottom of the league.The ground is situated next to the river and has another new pavilion.We spoke to the Goatland opening bowler.His comment was that cricket was rubbish and football was his game.Good start talking to the players.

Seventh ground was Grosmont which is situated next to the railway station.They were playing Mulgrave and we meet their groundsman again.They lost seven wickets while we were there with two excellent catches.

Eight ground was Danby who were playing Lealholm who were batting.The ground is situated at the end of a country lane and one of the tea ladies said they did not get many visitors.No wonder if you did not know were the ground was you would not find it.

Ninth ground was Castleton who were down to play Fryup however the fixture was cancelled.Fryup had already won the League.

Tenth and last ground of the League was Westerdale who were playing Glaisdale.The home side had scored over 200 in the forty overs and tea was just finishing.The rain started to fall but they still carried on playing while we had tea including chocolate cake.After tea we decided to move on to a drier ground.

After passing through heavy rain and low clound we arrived at Pickering who were playing Hornsea.It was dark but no rain yet.The ground is next to the football pitch just off the main Malton road.After about fifteen minutes it started to rain.So ended our trip.

Mick Bourne and Brian Senior went last week when all the fixtures were rained off.
He telephoned me last Monday night and advised me not to go because of the difficulty finding the grounds.However Ron Deaton did a find job and sat-nev us to all the grounds.

Arrived home at 8.00P.M after a excellent day and a wish come true to visit all the Eskdale grounds.