The league that didn't come in from the cold

posted by John Winn

Felix of Burgundy is widely credited as the man who introduced Christianity to East Anglia and several English churches are dedicated to his name. One such is in a small village near Thirsk in North Yorkshire and here the name of the village as well as the church commemorate the first Bishop of the East Angles.

The population of Felixkirk has varied little in modern times and stands at little over 100 today but the Darlington and Stockton Times in 1923 confirms that this was the first season of the Felixkirk and District League, including a side representing the eponymous village. In a 'Specially Contributed' article in September of that year the D and S reviews the first season of the league and concludes that the league had met its aim of 'encouraging a healthy rival between the hillside villages'. The league appears to have begun with these ten teams,

Kilvington

Silton

Sutton

Felixkirk

Boltby

Knayton

Kilburn

Upsall

Bagby

Thirlby

The 'hillside' referred to is the western edge of the Cleveland Hills and the longest journey would have been from Bagby to Silton, as the crow flies about eight miles. Having driven on some of the roads linking the villages earlier this week I suspect the crow made quicker progress than whatever mode of transport was used  90 years ago.

Cricket lives on in some of these small communities for (South) Kilvington are members of the Nidderdale League and Brian visited Silton CC in July of last year. (picture below)

                    



 Going through Bagby a couple of days ago and asking for the cricket field provoked no surprise in a resident but despite ruining a pair of shoes in the cause I could only find this evidence of sporting endeavour.

For much of my research into 'lost leagues' I have been dependent on local newspaper coverage and at times this has been frustratingly sparse but the NY archive in Northallerton holds the minute book for the Felixkirk League from 1945 to 1963. I spent a captivating hour there last week when having got through security I was allowed access to the book. The record begins with an informal meeting in Felixkirk School on November 12th 1945 when representatives of 8 clubs 'agreed that the league should be restarted.'

Felixkirk School

Sowerby were the first winners but the competition was dominated for the next few years by Kilburn with four successive titles . Clubs came and went, Bagby replaced Sutton, two villages about a mile apart, Kirby Wiske joined in 1948 when the secretary was to 'urge Knayton to continue', which they did but were 'doubtful' again in 1951. Northallerton Central depot were admitted in 1950 as were Thirsk Victoria in 1951. These more metropolitan clubs were successful, Central Depot winning in 52 and 53, on each occasion after a play off, and the 'vics' in 1954.

Throughout these comings and goings there were certain constants. The league secretary was the Reverend Reginald Smith, vicar of Felixkirk, meetings were always held in the school and the caretaker always paid 2/6d (12 and a half pence) for his or her trouble. By 1958 the league was reduced to six clubs but then admitted Thornton le Moor and Topcliffe British Legion. From this relatively healthy state things seem to have gone rapidly down the hillside for by 1963 the league was reduced to just three clubs. In 1960 Rev King had announced that on his imminent retirement he would be leaving the area and a new secretary would be required. This, the minutes record, would be the new vicar. For whatever reason this did not come to pass the reins which were passed to Mr N Sadler  remained in his hands until the league's demise.  One other interesting change in the league's organisation is that as soon as the Reverend's back was turned AGMs were held on licensed premises, notably the Cross Keys in Thirsk. A sad note is at the AGM in the year following the announcement of the vicar's retirement a minute's silence was held in his memory. His retirement had been a short one.

At a meeting held  in February 1963 it was agreed that no fixtures could be drawn up for the forthcoming season and that the league should be placed in 'cold storage', an apt metaphor given the cold winter of that year. Mr Sadler, by now both treasurer and secretary, was given custody of the club's documents but it was not until 1975 that he accepted the league had frozen to death. In a final letter  he made arrangements for the disposal of the final balance of £7-81p. Thornton le Moor, the last winners of the competition delivered the cup to Thirlby CC, considered the owners of the cup having been the first club to win it outright before the war. The minute book, the bank book, a copy of the fixture list for 1961 and Mr Sadler's final letter were given to the county archive for safe keeping.  The picture below shows the Thirlby team that achieved a hat trick of victories in 1927,28 and 29.