In a posting I made in 2011 I remarked on the profusion of cricket clubs in York. With a lot of travelling ahead of me this week and heavy showers forecast I decided that yesterday I would make the short journey to the city and visit four grounds where I had not previously seen cricket.
First stop was for a York Senior League game in Division 4 between Civil Service and Patrington, very much an East Yorkshire club with a Hull postcode who joined the league in 2012 and gained promotion at the first attempt. Civil Service were founded in 1952 and play at the Heslington Sports Ground near to York University. The address for the ground in the excellent league handbook is incorrect. What is the difference between 'Outgang Lane' and 'The Outgang'? About two miles. When I arrived the visitors were batting and progress was slow although the tempo increased while I watched. The ground is on the very edge of York and the playing area is of a decent size, but there is not much to get dewy eyed about. Last week's trip to Hovingham has rather spoilt me. Although the Knavesmire, the home of York races, is about two miles away the sounds of racegoers cheering home the winner of the 2:05 could be heard in the distance.
After twelve overs the players were driven from the field by a heavy shower accompanied by thunder. I took this opportunity to drive the short distance to Fulford and a York Vale league match between Fulfordgate and North Cave within the Fulford Parish Council playing field. It is somewhere in this area that York City FC played before moving to Bootham Crescent in 1932: the ground was known as Fulfordgate. More than 80 years on the Minstermen are about to move to the outskirts of the city again: this time to a community stadium close to the Monk's Cross shopping precinct. I understand the resident newts are now comfortable in their new environment and development has commenced.
When I arrived at the somewhat featureless ground with its local youth proof pavilion play was just resuming after the shower and North Cave were batting. Another East Yorkshire club, 'Cave' were champions of Division 1 last season, and unusually these days Division 1 is the top division, and before yesterday's game were joint leaders with Ovington. They were not having things all their own way yesterday, however, and while I was there lost two wickets to some lively pace bowling. I fell into conversation with a veteran Fulfordgate supporter who explained that this was their first season in the top division and that they were doing better than he had expected with a couple of wins under their belts. Promotion had necessitated investment in two canvas sight screens which have to be erected before each match and taken down at stumps to guard against the local hobbledehoys who have left their mark with spray paint on the equipment shed. For a small club North Cave have an excellent website and this morning has a report of yesterday's game showing that the champions suffered their first defeat of the season.
From Fulfordgate there is easy access to the A19 and then to Naburn Lane which took me to my third ground of the afternoon at Stillingfleet. On the ten minute or so drive one passes from the administration of York into the hands of North Yorkshire and the ground is close to the road side about half a mile before the village of Stillingfleet. This is much more like village cricket with a small playing area adjacent to parkland. I asked third man which team was batting and, after a surprisingly long pause, he said that it was the home side.Their opponents were Melbourne who top Division 3. The wicket looked an interesting colour and I noted that Underwood had taken three wickets. How much the other Underwood would have enjoyed bowling here. Things were proving tricky for the batting side and they were struggling to bat out their 45 overs.
To reach my last ground of the day I drove back to the outer ring road and round to the south west corner and to another Div 1 match. This time in the grounds of Askham Bryan College. Visitors Stockton and Hopgrove had made the 180 degree journey round the ring road and, third before yesterday's games, they were rather in charge against bottom of the table Askham Bryan, who like Stillingfleet were relying on their tailenders to see out the overs. By now the afternoon had turned pleasantly warm and I enjoyed 45 minutes or so at this attractive ground before making my way home. By the time I arrived there the weather had shown its capricious side with a shower blown on a strong wind.
A busy week ahead for me with a trip to Giggleswick tomorrow and listed matches at Old Trafford and Derby on Thursday/Friday. On top of this championship leaders Yorkshire welcome winless Surrey to Headingley, Decisions, decisions.
ps we've passed the 40000 hits.
Photograph is the pavilion at Fulfordgate.
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