A family celebration at Barlborough in Derbyshire yesterday gave me the opportunity to explore new territory in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. First stop was Cuckney CC, members of the Notts Premier League and with facilities to match. The first team have had success in national competitions and this is rightly celebrated in the clubhouse. The ground at Cuckney is in Sherwood Forest in a clearing much bigger than the one where Robin's XI took on the Sheriff's lads, large enough to be home to two very large playing areas, the clubhouse and a magnificent indoor centre which as well as offering facilities for indoor cricket hosts football, archery, judo and basketball to name but a few.
The first match I looked at was on the main pitch and was between relegation threatened Cuckney II and Thoresby Colliery I in the championship division of the Bassetlaw and District League. Although the Cuckney ground is surrounded by a rural landscape, several of the clubs in the division have colliery attached to their names, a reminder of the mining tradition of North Notts. When I arrived the visitors were nearing the end of their fifty overs and despite a late clatter of wickets reached 249 for 6. By the time I left Cuckney had lost three early wickets and although the result is not on the website this morning I suspect it will have done little for their survival prospects.
On the other pitch it was still Bassetlaw League fare but down to Division 8 and Cuckney IV v Milton III. I had a chat with the Milton captain and he told me that their club, formed in 1949, was situated close to A1 between Retford and Newark. In the early 90s they had had a young Andy Bickel as an overseas player and that they also had connections with the Saxelby family. Cuckney had made 203 but again, I am unable to bring you news of Milton's reply. Before leaving I had a cup of tea and noticed a photograph of Leeds born and former Notts skipper Norman Hill* who had been pro' for Cuckney on retirement from the first class game.
From Cuckney it is but a short journey into Derbyshire and a different accent and a different league: the Derbyshire Premier and County Cricket league and a Fourth Division North fixture between Clowne Town and Riddings CC. Riddings had begun their reply to Clowne's 245/4 and lost wickets steadily and were 7 down when I left. 'Play cricket' tells me that they were all out for 137 which leaves Clowne with a chance of promotion when they play their last game of the season today at Darley Dale, near Matlock. Should they go up it will be into a county wide league with of course more travelling, including trips to the south of the county and clubs in the Burton on Trent area.
Much of what I learned came from two Clowne supporters who are very keen to give it a go in the higher division. ' If we come back down,we come back down' said the female half. Can't argue with that.
From Clowne a few minutes drive brings you to Barlborough and I enjoyed an evening and a fairly rare occasion when brother, sister and blogger get together. Amongst the ten of us who sat down to dinner were the Lincoln City branch who were rather cast down by defeat while those who favour 1883 Darlington tried hard not to be smug after victory over Clitheroe, the whole eleven, not just Jimmy.
* I relied on wiki for Hill's birthplace but all other sources say it was Holbeck Notts, not Holbeck Leeds. I am grateful to Brian for putting me on the right track.
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