posted by John Winn
After regionalisation in the York Senior League news comes of rationalisation in the Central Yorkshire League. With effect from 2014 the league will have separate first and second XI competitions. There will be twelve clubs in the Premier Division, eight in what will be known as the Championship and eight more in the third tier aka Division One. The list of clubs competing in each division is available on the league's excellent website. The new arrangements for separate first and second XI competitions was last in place in 2001. Two up, two down will operate between each division and the bottom two in Div 1 will be forced to apply for re-election.
The website also brings notice that Scholes CC whose membership of the league dates back to 1944, will quit when they reach three score years and ten and transfer to the Bradford League in 2015. Scholes joined from the Heavy Woollen League and only four clubs, Batley, Birstall, Liversedge and Ossett , can claim longer service.
Not exactly hot from the press but the Bradford League has announced that Yeadon will be promoted to Division I next season to fill the place occasioned by the dismissal of Manningham Mills. Mills were voted out at an EGM in September by 17 votes to 7. Idle and Great Horton were re-elected but the latter might feel a little concerned that 8 clubs would have preferred not to visit Ewart Street next season.
Finally a date for your diary: Friday December 13th will be the next Jim the Cat luncheon at Pudsey St Lawrence. 12 noon for 1:00 pm. Further details when I have them.
Saturday 30 November 2013
Monday 25 November 2013
Something to help you sleep
posted by John Winn
Ahead of the release of the 2014 county fixtures tomorrow I have received an email from Tony Hutton this morning informing me that Yorkshire's Under 15, under 17 and over 50 fixtures are available on the Yorkshire Cricket Board play-cricket site although without venues at the moment and that the Yorkshire League Fixtures are available at www.yorkshire-league.com
Sleep well, just think of the boarding houses in Scarborough awaiting confirmation of your requirements for the festival, they will be excited as you are.
Ahead of the release of the 2014 county fixtures tomorrow I have received an email from Tony Hutton this morning informing me that Yorkshire's Under 15, under 17 and over 50 fixtures are available on the Yorkshire Cricket Board play-cricket site although without venues at the moment and that the Yorkshire League Fixtures are available at www.yorkshire-league.com
Sleep well, just think of the boarding houses in Scarborough awaiting confirmation of your requirements for the festival, they will be excited as you are.
Friday 22 November 2013
Changes round York
posted by John Winn
The York and District Senior League has member clubs spread far and wide across North, East and West Yorkshire, from Folkton and Flixton to the outskirts of Leeds and from Ryedale to the Humber. At its AGM this week member clubs voted overwhelmingly to return to a regional format at all levels below the premier and first divisions. The new structure is a response to the problems clubs have found in raising sides when faced with long trips to away matches and the associated forfeit of games.
The effects of the change of policy are easy to see for in looking at the composition of Division Two (North) for 2014 none of the twelve teams involved are more than 40 minutes drive from York. The southern division is not quite so compact, Acomb to Hull still seems quite a long way, but you get the idea. Fixtures from the premier down to three north and south are available on the website and show that the league will begin next season on the last Saturday in April, alas still more than 20 weeks away. Division Four will be in three sections but fixtures for these are not yet available.
The YDSL will welcome four new clubs into their accommodating fold for next year's campaign, . These are Duncombe Park II from the Scarborough Beckett and Copmanthorpe II, Woodhouse Grange IV and after an absence of nine years, Hemingbrough, all from the Vale of York. Moving the other way are Tadcaster Magnets who return after a two year stint in the York and District. They will be joined by Ovington III who will play home matches at Millthorpe School. These comings and goings leave The Vale with 43 clubs in four divisions. Tad will play at Manor Field which I think is a change of ground.
And finally just a reminder that county first team fixtures will be issued at 9:30 on Tuesday morning, a major event in the blog's calendar. I have two friends who lack internet access and who will be telephoning me early on Tuesday, one of whom will want to know when and where Durham will begin the defence of their title and the other an old friend from Sussex who will want to enter his first trip to Hove in the diary. Roll on.
ps the first word I heard when switching on the radio this morning shortly after six was 'Anderson' and my heart sank at the thought that Jimmy might be batting. Imagine my dismay when I discovered he was bowling again. It could have been worse I suppose, it might have been Haddin and Harris still batting in the first innings. It's being so cheerful keeps me going.
The York and District Senior League has member clubs spread far and wide across North, East and West Yorkshire, from Folkton and Flixton to the outskirts of Leeds and from Ryedale to the Humber. At its AGM this week member clubs voted overwhelmingly to return to a regional format at all levels below the premier and first divisions. The new structure is a response to the problems clubs have found in raising sides when faced with long trips to away matches and the associated forfeit of games.
The effects of the change of policy are easy to see for in looking at the composition of Division Two (North) for 2014 none of the twelve teams involved are more than 40 minutes drive from York. The southern division is not quite so compact, Acomb to Hull still seems quite a long way, but you get the idea. Fixtures from the premier down to three north and south are available on the website and show that the league will begin next season on the last Saturday in April, alas still more than 20 weeks away. Division Four will be in three sections but fixtures for these are not yet available.
The YDSL will welcome four new clubs into their accommodating fold for next year's campaign, . These are Duncombe Park II from the Scarborough Beckett and Copmanthorpe II, Woodhouse Grange IV and after an absence of nine years, Hemingbrough, all from the Vale of York. Moving the other way are Tadcaster Magnets who return after a two year stint in the York and District. They will be joined by Ovington III who will play home matches at Millthorpe School. These comings and goings leave The Vale with 43 clubs in four divisions. Tad will play at Manor Field which I think is a change of ground.
And finally just a reminder that county first team fixtures will be issued at 9:30 on Tuesday morning, a major event in the blog's calendar. I have two friends who lack internet access and who will be telephoning me early on Tuesday, one of whom will want to know when and where Durham will begin the defence of their title and the other an old friend from Sussex who will want to enter his first trip to Hove in the diary. Roll on.
ps the first word I heard when switching on the radio this morning shortly after six was 'Anderson' and my heart sank at the thought that Jimmy might be batting. Imagine my dismay when I discovered he was bowling again. It could have been worse I suppose, it might have been Haddin and Harris still batting in the first innings. It's being so cheerful keeps me going.
Wednesday 13 November 2013
A Cliffe hanger
posted by John Winn
In Two Men and a Blog, Peter Davies and Tony Hutton's printed account of their wanderings in the summer of 2009, Tony describes a day out visiting grounds in the NYSD league on each side of the River Tees but the highlight of his day he saved to the last with a trip to the very rural surroundings of Cliffe CC, long serving members of the Darlington and District League. His description of the ground as 'an absolute picture' sets the scene.
Cliffe is situated just off the Roman Road, Dere Street, which under its modern title (the B6275) makes its way straight as an arrow from just north of Scotch Corner up into County Durham. I have found records of cricket being played in this area as far back as 1868 with a match between Croft and Cleasby and in 1907 my father's old team Haughton played against Manfield and Cliffe at Great Burdon. Manfield is to the east of Dere Street about a mile from Cliffe. It is nice to think that my grandfather might well have played in that match. When Cliffe decided to go it alone is not known but by 1922 not only had they dropped Manfield but they were members of their own league: The Cliffe and District League.
The Darlington and Stockton Times for September 2nd 1922 lists a league table headed by Forcett Park, with Cliffe second, followed by Croft, Melsonby, Barton and Aldborough, all villages within a short distance of Cliffe. Hitching a ride with a crow you would not travel more than seven miles to Croft, the longest journey Cliffe would have faced. Looking at the list of member clubs today the glass is exactly half full or half empty depending on your mood for three have survived and three have gone. Cliffe, Barton and Aldborough play in the D and DL but Forcett (who I think folded in the sixties), Croft and Melsonby are no more. With them goes much cricket history for the Ripon and Richmond Chronicle describes an encounter between Forcett and Melsonby in 1874.
What happened to The Cliffe and District League I don't know, more visits to Darlington Library needed, but my father's old fixture cards show regular friendlies between Haughton and Cliffe in the 1930s and I suspect the league had folded by then. I remember being taken to the ground on the Cliffe Estate as a small boy in the early fifties and playing in a cup match there for Cockerton, probably in 1968 or 69, on a lovely summer's evening which ended in an emphatic victory for Cliffe and some poor bowling figures for this blogger
The Darlington and District League website has a picture of Cliffe II, champions of Division C in 2013, which would suggest that the club is thriving. Pcws starting to think about excursions next summer might do worse than to spend an afternoon in this area for in addition to the three clubs mentioned above there is an attractive ground at Middleton Tyas, just by Scotch Corner and Cliffe is only about six miles from Darlington and its myriad delights. If that is not enough then the Crown Inn at Manfield offers a splendid range of real ales.
And speaking of next summer, the Derbyshire website states that the county fixture list for 2014 will be announced at 9:30 on Tuesday 26th November.
In Two Men and a Blog, Peter Davies and Tony Hutton's printed account of their wanderings in the summer of 2009, Tony describes a day out visiting grounds in the NYSD league on each side of the River Tees but the highlight of his day he saved to the last with a trip to the very rural surroundings of Cliffe CC, long serving members of the Darlington and District League. His description of the ground as 'an absolute picture' sets the scene.
Cliffe is situated just off the Roman Road, Dere Street, which under its modern title (the B6275) makes its way straight as an arrow from just north of Scotch Corner up into County Durham. I have found records of cricket being played in this area as far back as 1868 with a match between Croft and Cleasby and in 1907 my father's old team Haughton played against Manfield and Cliffe at Great Burdon. Manfield is to the east of Dere Street about a mile from Cliffe. It is nice to think that my grandfather might well have played in that match. When Cliffe decided to go it alone is not known but by 1922 not only had they dropped Manfield but they were members of their own league: The Cliffe and District League.
The Darlington and Stockton Times for September 2nd 1922 lists a league table headed by Forcett Park, with Cliffe second, followed by Croft, Melsonby, Barton and Aldborough, all villages within a short distance of Cliffe. Hitching a ride with a crow you would not travel more than seven miles to Croft, the longest journey Cliffe would have faced. Looking at the list of member clubs today the glass is exactly half full or half empty depending on your mood for three have survived and three have gone. Cliffe, Barton and Aldborough play in the D and DL but Forcett (who I think folded in the sixties), Croft and Melsonby are no more. With them goes much cricket history for the Ripon and Richmond Chronicle describes an encounter between Forcett and Melsonby in 1874.
What happened to The Cliffe and District League I don't know, more visits to Darlington Library needed, but my father's old fixture cards show regular friendlies between Haughton and Cliffe in the 1930s and I suspect the league had folded by then. I remember being taken to the ground on the Cliffe Estate as a small boy in the early fifties and playing in a cup match there for Cockerton, probably in 1968 or 69, on a lovely summer's evening which ended in an emphatic victory for Cliffe and some poor bowling figures for this blogger
The Darlington and District League website has a picture of Cliffe II, champions of Division C in 2013, which would suggest that the club is thriving. Pcws starting to think about excursions next summer might do worse than to spend an afternoon in this area for in addition to the three clubs mentioned above there is an attractive ground at Middleton Tyas, just by Scotch Corner and Cliffe is only about six miles from Darlington and its myriad delights. If that is not enough then the Crown Inn at Manfield offers a splendid range of real ales.
And speaking of next summer, the Derbyshire website states that the county fixture list for 2014 will be announced at 9:30 on Tuesday 26th November.
Monday 11 November 2013
Two true Corinthians
posted by John Winn
Passing through Darlington on Saturday I visited the local studies room of the town library and was attracted to a display which was linked to the Remembrance weekend. As part of the display there were two photographs of Darlington Grammar School cricket XI from shortly before World War One. On both photographs, and captain on one, was FNS (Norman ) Creek, a name I remember my father talking about. An internet search revealed that only last month Mike Amos had devoted his weekly Northern Echo column to 'FNS' prompted by a biography of him by Peter Minto.*
Creek died at Folkestone in 1980 aged 82 and was a cricketer of sufficient prowess to merit a brief obituary in Wisden where he is described as 'a good bat and a useful change bowler'. A career as a schoolmaster rather restricted his appearances and although he played regularly for Wiltshire between the wars he never played outside the month of August. His top score of 124 not out came against Dorset in 1930. I note that he played against Berkshire in 1932 on the ground of HM Martineau at Holyport. (see a posting 'Doing my corrections' December 2012 for more about HMM) and Creek also was in the Wiltshire XI that took on Kent II at Chippenham in 1946, by which time he was approaching 50. He was still good enough to top score in Wiltshire's first innings His son NCB Creek, another Norman, played in the same match and performed regularly for the county for the next ten years.
Despite the above it has to be said that Creek's greatest achievements were away from the cricket field for going straight from school into the army aged 18, he received the Military Cross and after time in the trenches he took to the skies and flew over 50 missions. On the playing field Creek's greatest talent was as a footballer and he holds the distinction of playing twice for Darlington FC and once for England, against France in 1923. His two appearances for The Quakers were in 1921-22 when he scored in a three nil defeat of Souhport and two years later in a 1-1 draw with Crewe.
FNS later had a career as a broadcaster including commentaries on football and wrote on sport for The Daily Telegraph. His brother Charlie played for Darlington CC from 1923 to 1957: a tall left handed opening bat he scored just short of 3000 runs in the NYSD. He worked as a manager for The Yorkshire Penny Bank as it was known until the penny dropped in 1959.
Also mentioned in the Mike Amos article is AGD (Graham) Doggart, Bishop Auckland born and another QEGS (Darlington not Wakefield) product. He too played two games for Darlington, scoring four goals but like Creek he preferred the amateur game and both men played for Corinthians. Doggart rose to be chairman of the FA in the 1960s and were there to be a biography of him then it might justifiably be called ' The man who appointed Alf Ramsey'. A more distinguished cricketer than his friend Creek (and the recipient of a much longer Wisden tribute) he took a blue at Cambridge and then played for Middlesex, Durham, Free Foresters The Gentlemen and several other distinguished clubs. His eldest son Hubert played two tests for England against the 1950 West Indies where, in John Arlott's words, he was 'puzzled' by Ramadin. He was not alone.
The Flying Sportsman A Biography of FNS Creek by Peter Minto.
Passing through Darlington on Saturday I visited the local studies room of the town library and was attracted to a display which was linked to the Remembrance weekend. As part of the display there were two photographs of Darlington Grammar School cricket XI from shortly before World War One. On both photographs, and captain on one, was FNS (Norman ) Creek, a name I remember my father talking about. An internet search revealed that only last month Mike Amos had devoted his weekly Northern Echo column to 'FNS' prompted by a biography of him by Peter Minto.*
Creek died at Folkestone in 1980 aged 82 and was a cricketer of sufficient prowess to merit a brief obituary in Wisden where he is described as 'a good bat and a useful change bowler'. A career as a schoolmaster rather restricted his appearances and although he played regularly for Wiltshire between the wars he never played outside the month of August. His top score of 124 not out came against Dorset in 1930. I note that he played against Berkshire in 1932 on the ground of HM Martineau at Holyport. (see a posting 'Doing my corrections' December 2012 for more about HMM) and Creek also was in the Wiltshire XI that took on Kent II at Chippenham in 1946, by which time he was approaching 50. He was still good enough to top score in Wiltshire's first innings His son NCB Creek, another Norman, played in the same match and performed regularly for the county for the next ten years.
Despite the above it has to be said that Creek's greatest achievements were away from the cricket field for going straight from school into the army aged 18, he received the Military Cross and after time in the trenches he took to the skies and flew over 50 missions. On the playing field Creek's greatest talent was as a footballer and he holds the distinction of playing twice for Darlington FC and once for England, against France in 1923. His two appearances for The Quakers were in 1921-22 when he scored in a three nil defeat of Souhport and two years later in a 1-1 draw with Crewe.
FNS later had a career as a broadcaster including commentaries on football and wrote on sport for The Daily Telegraph. His brother Charlie played for Darlington CC from 1923 to 1957: a tall left handed opening bat he scored just short of 3000 runs in the NYSD. He worked as a manager for The Yorkshire Penny Bank as it was known until the penny dropped in 1959.
Also mentioned in the Mike Amos article is AGD (Graham) Doggart, Bishop Auckland born and another QEGS (Darlington not Wakefield) product. He too played two games for Darlington, scoring four goals but like Creek he preferred the amateur game and both men played for Corinthians. Doggart rose to be chairman of the FA in the 1960s and were there to be a biography of him then it might justifiably be called ' The man who appointed Alf Ramsey'. A more distinguished cricketer than his friend Creek (and the recipient of a much longer Wisden tribute) he took a blue at Cambridge and then played for Middlesex, Durham, Free Foresters The Gentlemen and several other distinguished clubs. His eldest son Hubert played two tests for England against the 1950 West Indies where, in John Arlott's words, he was 'puzzled' by Ramadin. He was not alone.
The Flying Sportsman A Biography of FNS Creek by Peter Minto.
Wednesday 6 November 2013
Kentish grounds and grounds of Kent *
posted by John Winn
Living in the east of East Sussex for many years gave me relatively easy access to grounds played on by Kent County Cricket Club. One of the things I looked forward to most each year was a day at Maidstone's Mote Park during its cricket week, usually the first week of July. Occupying 558 acres of Parkland to the east of the county town the Mote Estate provided a home for championship cricket until 2005 when Gloucestershire were the last visitors.
My first visit was in 1990 when Lancashire came to 'The Mote'; a Lancashire team including a youngish Mike Atherton who made a hundred and a pace attack of Wasim Akram, De Freitas and Allott. I was present on the first day, a Saturday when the last two Kent wickets put on 111 and Lancashire lost Fowler and Fitton by the close to leave honours even. Sunday the first of July saw 40 over cricket take the field and an unbeaten 100 for Graham Lloyd was the main feature of Lancashire's innings. Their 259 for 3 proved too strong for Kent with Richard Ellison top scoring for the hosts.
These 'wrap around' weekends were the norm in those days and when the sides resumed on Monday Atherton's hundred and 98 for Trevor Jesty provided a platform from which Lancashire went on to win by three wickets. 1990 was not a great year for Kent and skipper Chris Cowdrey resigned in mid season to be replaced by Mark Benson. One ground I was not fortunate enough to visit was Hesketh Park, Dartford which saw its last first class game in that 1990 season. Leicestershire were the visitors on August 8th and all twenty of their wickets were taken by their two spinners on a pitch which was reported to the TCB but who imposed no penalty. For whatever reason that match brought an end to county cricket in the town and ended 34 years of first class cricket at Hesketh Park, the third and probably last ground to be used by Kent CCC first XI in Dartford.
Maidstone week continued until 2005, but it seemed to me that there was always the feeling that each year might be its last. I continued to visit the ground for a number of years and on two occasions Carl Hooper provided top entertainment. In 1994 his 183 against Yorkshire included ten sixes and two years later I 'enjoyed' his innings against Durham when he hit 105 off 87 balls with another five sixes. All good things do have a habit of coming to an end and when Gloucestershire were skittled for 96 in their second innings in 2005 the by now ECB deducted 8 points from the 18 Kent's win had given them. Disappointingly Robert Key was not playing in the match so presumably he felt unqualified to offer his opinion on the pitch panel.
Kent last played championship cricket at Cheriton Road Folkestone in 1991 although their match with Cambridge University in 1995 did have first class status. Essex were coincidentally the visitors on my solitary visit in 1986. Late summer bank holiday traffic made it slow going along the A259 through some of the cinque port towns and when I arrived Essex had lost early wickets to Underwood but Gooch stood firm and assisted by Fletcher and Pringle they reached 252 for 9 at stumps. Kent were bowled out on the third day by John Childs who took 7 for 55, leaving Essex victors by 23 runs. In addition to Underwood and Childs other fine bowlers playing in the match were Dilley and Alderman for Kent and Lever for Essex. At a rough count there were 14 test players in the two sides. Rich fare indeed.
Finally I should refer to the one Kent out ground that still hosts championship cricket, the Nevill ground at Tunbridge Wells. My first visit here was in 1990 to see, despite declarations and a forfeited innings, rain ruin a match with Yorkshire. I attended on the third day when I saw fewer than 12 overs bowled, two of those by Mark Benson, and the most memorable feature of the day was that Ashley Metcalfe was dismissed twice in under three quarters of an hour, which included the ten minutes between innings. In his first innings he was ct Davis b Benson 0, one of only five wickets taken by Benson in his career. Shortly afterwards Yorkshire declared and there was just time before the rain for scorers Foley and Potter to record AA Metcalfe c Marsh b de Villiers 14. Not one for the scrap book Ashley.
* Kentish men ( and maids) live east of the River Medway and men (and maids) of Kent to the west. Not sure if it applies to cricket grounds but why not?
Living in the east of East Sussex for many years gave me relatively easy access to grounds played on by Kent County Cricket Club. One of the things I looked forward to most each year was a day at Maidstone's Mote Park during its cricket week, usually the first week of July. Occupying 558 acres of Parkland to the east of the county town the Mote Estate provided a home for championship cricket until 2005 when Gloucestershire were the last visitors.
My first visit was in 1990 when Lancashire came to 'The Mote'; a Lancashire team including a youngish Mike Atherton who made a hundred and a pace attack of Wasim Akram, De Freitas and Allott. I was present on the first day, a Saturday when the last two Kent wickets put on 111 and Lancashire lost Fowler and Fitton by the close to leave honours even. Sunday the first of July saw 40 over cricket take the field and an unbeaten 100 for Graham Lloyd was the main feature of Lancashire's innings. Their 259 for 3 proved too strong for Kent with Richard Ellison top scoring for the hosts.
These 'wrap around' weekends were the norm in those days and when the sides resumed on Monday Atherton's hundred and 98 for Trevor Jesty provided a platform from which Lancashire went on to win by three wickets. 1990 was not a great year for Kent and skipper Chris Cowdrey resigned in mid season to be replaced by Mark Benson. One ground I was not fortunate enough to visit was Hesketh Park, Dartford which saw its last first class game in that 1990 season. Leicestershire were the visitors on August 8th and all twenty of their wickets were taken by their two spinners on a pitch which was reported to the TCB but who imposed no penalty. For whatever reason that match brought an end to county cricket in the town and ended 34 years of first class cricket at Hesketh Park, the third and probably last ground to be used by Kent CCC first XI in Dartford.
Maidstone week continued until 2005, but it seemed to me that there was always the feeling that each year might be its last. I continued to visit the ground for a number of years and on two occasions Carl Hooper provided top entertainment. In 1994 his 183 against Yorkshire included ten sixes and two years later I 'enjoyed' his innings against Durham when he hit 105 off 87 balls with another five sixes. All good things do have a habit of coming to an end and when Gloucestershire were skittled for 96 in their second innings in 2005 the by now ECB deducted 8 points from the 18 Kent's win had given them. Disappointingly Robert Key was not playing in the match so presumably he felt unqualified to offer his opinion on the pitch panel.
Kent last played championship cricket at Cheriton Road Folkestone in 1991 although their match with Cambridge University in 1995 did have first class status. Essex were coincidentally the visitors on my solitary visit in 1986. Late summer bank holiday traffic made it slow going along the A259 through some of the cinque port towns and when I arrived Essex had lost early wickets to Underwood but Gooch stood firm and assisted by Fletcher and Pringle they reached 252 for 9 at stumps. Kent were bowled out on the third day by John Childs who took 7 for 55, leaving Essex victors by 23 runs. In addition to Underwood and Childs other fine bowlers playing in the match were Dilley and Alderman for Kent and Lever for Essex. At a rough count there were 14 test players in the two sides. Rich fare indeed.
Finally I should refer to the one Kent out ground that still hosts championship cricket, the Nevill ground at Tunbridge Wells. My first visit here was in 1990 to see, despite declarations and a forfeited innings, rain ruin a match with Yorkshire. I attended on the third day when I saw fewer than 12 overs bowled, two of those by Mark Benson, and the most memorable feature of the day was that Ashley Metcalfe was dismissed twice in under three quarters of an hour, which included the ten minutes between innings. In his first innings he was ct Davis b Benson 0, one of only five wickets taken by Benson in his career. Shortly afterwards Yorkshire declared and there was just time before the rain for scorers Foley and Potter to record AA Metcalfe c Marsh b de Villiers 14. Not one for the scrap book Ashley.
* Kentish men ( and maids) live east of the River Medway and men (and maids) of Kent to the west. Not sure if it applies to cricket grounds but why not?
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