posted by John Winn
The poet Horace advised his readers to 'Drop the question what tomorrow may bring' which was all very well for Horace as for his audience tomorrow was possibly not such a key day in the year. It is of course the start of the first class cricket season with games at Fenner's, Derby, Glamorgan, The Parks, Hove and Headingley. I shall of course be at the last of these looking forward to seeing old friends, many of whom I have not seen since September and hoping that they have 'wintered well'.
The start of the season is earlier than ever and will go largely unnoticed by the media and wider public. In its 'week ahead' feature this morning's Guardian makes no reference to the matches and for some, these games are an irrelevance before the championship begins on Sunday. That too will begin with a whimper, for only 10 of the 18 counties are in action, and the 5 opening matches are absent from The Guardian's diary. It does tell me, however, that on that day in the final of the ICC World T20 tbc will play tbc: something that has been known since the competition was allocated its current slot in the international calendar.
Contrast this faltering start with the build up to the baseball season in the USA where the ceremonial first ball has in recent years been pitched by people like Jimmy Carter, George W Bush and Barack Obama. How's this for a scenario? The cricket season begins next Sunday with Durham playing MCC at Lord's ( now there's an idea) with David Cameron bowling the first delivery, I hear he packs a mean doosra, and simultaneously there is a close to full programme of matches in the championship. Yorkshire would of course be at home and the new President would get things under way. Even if this didn't get national coverage I'm sure Harry Gration could be persuaded to be there. My imagination is beginning to run away with me because it has conjured up a picture of Harry and Dickie travelling from pavilion to the middle on a tandem. Time to move on and to think about what I need to take to Headingley tomorrow. Hope to see you there.
Monday 31 March 2014
Sunday 30 March 2014
LAST GROUND
The final ground as Oughtbridge was again has a new pavilion after the Sheffield floods of a few years ago. It was locked up and next to another football ground. Would be nice in summer with the stream next to the ground which caused the flooding.
Finished at last with a headache and swearing at the computer. Headingley on Tuesday for the University match subject to the weather.
TWO MORE
The next ground was Sheffield Telecom which is situated on Black Lane Loxley. I think the lawn mower is broken. Below is the best scenic ground we visited Bradfield were Brian has watched cricket for a number of years.A new pavilion has been built.Contrast to the ground above.
KEEPING GOING
Another ground near a football pitch but this is one of the oldest ground in Sheffield. Below is a ground which is no longer used Stannington but there is still some old rollers about. Brian remembers them playing on this ground.It has been closed for about twenty years.
SHEFFIELD TRIP STILL
Next ground was Millhouses which is next to an old mill. Below is Parkhead pavilion which won the prize for one of the more unusually pavilions. This ground was used on numberless occasions by Yorkshire on a Sunday for a charity match when the were playing at Abbeydale.
PAGE FOUR
Sorry about going on to page four but having problems with putting the photographs on the blog for some reason. Next ground is were Brian played for a number of years and lived nearby. There was two flat green bowlers playing near the ground with the rain coming . This is the new pavilion while Brian played there ,the changing rooms were in the local pub. Would could be better.
THIRD PAGE OF SHEFFIELD
Above ground is the University of Sheffield Staff ground were the grass was been cut two gardeners. Acres of grass to cut. Below is the Sheffield Transport ground which I have passed going to Abbeydale ground.
SECOND PAGE OF SHEFFIELD
BRIAN,S MEMOIRS AND OLD ROLLERS
A photograph to start off with is old roller at Norton Woodseats in memoir of Mick Bourne.
On Wednesday myself and Brian Workman went on a second trip round the grounds of Sheffield were Brian was born and lived in for a number of years.I will let the photographs tell the tale with some cricketing stories of Brian,s.
The second ground which was locked was Caribbean Sport Club . That is the problem visiting grounds out of season.
The next ground was Norton Woodseats in Grave Park. Great views.
The next ground was Norton Woodseats which is situated on the edge of a park but this photograph is more industrial.
The next ground was University of Sheffield ground.
Tuesday 25 March 2014
MORE FIXTURES IN APRIL
After Tony Hutton had been to Lancashire ,he brought back the M.C.C fixtures in this area.
April
23- QUEGS V M.C.C 11.30 start
28 - Leeds @ Bradford University v M.C.C Weetwood
29- Birkdale v M.C.C at Castle Dyke Playing Field Sheffield.
30- Amplefoth v M.C C
Leeds Grammar School v M.C.C
Wickersley v M.C.C
Headingley/ Bramhope
April
5- Church Fenton Glen Road
6- Leeds University Medics Glen Road
12- East Leeds Gen Road
13-Fenisawles Glen Road
19-Whixley- Bramhope
26-Barwick- Bramhope.
Photograph above is of Keldfield ground. Worth visiting.
News from the leagues
posted by John Winn
The challenge matches between he Central Yorkshire League and The Bradford League provide welcome pre-season fare for pcws and the dates for these are as follows
Townville v Cleckheaton April 12th 1:00pm Lightcliffe v Methley also 12th April 12 noon start.
Last year's fixtures were called off because of snow. The games will be played over 40 overs.
The draw for another Inter league competition, The Black Sheep Cup was made some time ago and is follows
Elsecar v Woodhouse Grange (4th May), York v Shepley (25th May), Beckwithshaw v Townville (4th May) and Cleckheaton v Hoylandswaine (8th June)
In the Wetherby League Walton have withdrawn their second XI from Div 5 The fixtures will be taken over by Wighill Park but played at Walton.
Yorkshire Over 60s are holding a trial match at New Rover on April 22nd and 59* (sic) year olds and over are invited to apply on a form which is available on The Nidderdale league website. The 2014 fixtures for this age group are available at 60cc.co.uk but most venues are tba. Yorkshire begin their season on April 29th with a home match v Durham and Northumberland, venue not known.
Finally regular readers may remember an account I posted of a visit to Threlkeld CC in October last when I reported on the damage done to the Cumbrian club's ground by flooding in the summer of 2012. Their extreme cricket calendar has been an amazing worldwide success ( there is even a copy in my local pub) and by googling 'play to resume at Threlkeld' you can find a short video of an update made by ITV in late January which shows footage of the torrent that caused the damage and things are they are now. Threlkeld hope to resume playing at the ground in August; in the meantime they will play home matches at Braithwaite. Their first game of the new season is on the
26th of April when they visit Patterdale.
The challenge matches between he Central Yorkshire League and The Bradford League provide welcome pre-season fare for pcws and the dates for these are as follows
Townville v Cleckheaton April 12th 1:00pm Lightcliffe v Methley also 12th April 12 noon start.
Last year's fixtures were called off because of snow. The games will be played over 40 overs.
The draw for another Inter league competition, The Black Sheep Cup was made some time ago and is follows
Elsecar v Woodhouse Grange (4th May), York v Shepley (25th May), Beckwithshaw v Townville (4th May) and Cleckheaton v Hoylandswaine (8th June)
In the Wetherby League Walton have withdrawn their second XI from Div 5 The fixtures will be taken over by Wighill Park but played at Walton.
Yorkshire Over 60s are holding a trial match at New Rover on April 22nd and 59* (sic) year olds and over are invited to apply on a form which is available on The Nidderdale league website. The 2014 fixtures for this age group are available at 60cc.co.uk but most venues are tba. Yorkshire begin their season on April 29th with a home match v Durham and Northumberland, venue not known.
Finally regular readers may remember an account I posted of a visit to Threlkeld CC in October last when I reported on the damage done to the Cumbrian club's ground by flooding in the summer of 2012. Their extreme cricket calendar has been an amazing worldwide success ( there is even a copy in my local pub) and by googling 'play to resume at Threlkeld' you can find a short video of an update made by ITV in late January which shows footage of the torrent that caused the damage and things are they are now. Threlkeld hope to resume playing at the ground in August; in the meantime they will play home matches at Braithwaite. Their first game of the new season is on the
26th of April when they visit Patterdale.
Threlkeld CC October 2013.
* teams are allowed to play a maximum of two 59 year olds.
Monday 24 March 2014
Pennine Cricket Conference
posted by John Winn
I have now received details of the speakers for the 9th Annual Pennine Cricket Conference which will be held this Saturday, the 29th of March at Golcar CC, Swallow Lane, Golcar Huddersfield, HD7 4NB, beginning at 10:00 am.
Confirmed speakers include Jonathan Schofield, Paddock CC, Martin Farrar Augustinians CC, Robert Davies, Cricket in Wales and Peter Davies, Calderdale & Kirklees Cricket Heritage Project.
Admission is free and refreshments will be available at lunchtime.
April Fixtures: although most leagues in Yorkshire and The North East begin their 2014 programmes on Saturday April 19th some will wait a further week for the call of play: these include The York Vale League, The York Senior League*, The Durham Cricket League and The Langbaurgh League.
The small Cleveland League does not start until May 3rd
* Harrogate II will play Ripon I on Sunday April 20th at St George's Road with a 1:30 start
I have now received details of the speakers for the 9th Annual Pennine Cricket Conference which will be held this Saturday, the 29th of March at Golcar CC, Swallow Lane, Golcar Huddersfield, HD7 4NB, beginning at 10:00 am.
Confirmed speakers include Jonathan Schofield, Paddock CC, Martin Farrar Augustinians CC, Robert Davies, Cricket in Wales and Peter Davies, Calderdale & Kirklees Cricket Heritage Project.
Admission is free and refreshments will be available at lunchtime.
April Fixtures: although most leagues in Yorkshire and The North East begin their 2014 programmes on Saturday April 19th some will wait a further week for the call of play: these include The York Vale League, The York Senior League*, The Durham Cricket League and The Langbaurgh League.
The small Cleveland League does not start until May 3rd
* Harrogate II will play Ripon I on Sunday April 20th at St George's Road with a 1:30 start
Friday 21 March 2014
APRIL FIXTURES
Due to the pressure of one of our followers, I now enclose the following fixtures :
27 MARCH-Notts v Northants
Derbyshiore v Warwickshire
29 March - Yorkshire A.G.M
I APRIL- Yorkshire v Leeds Bradford University Headingley Three days
Derby v Durham University Derby Three days
5 APRIL- New Rover v Adel
Knaresbrough Forest v Ripley
6APRIL -New Rover v Meanwood
Start of County Championship includes Notts v Lancs and Leicestershire v Derbyshire
7 APRIL- Durham v Durham University Riverside
Derbyshire II v Leicester II at Derby
8 APRIL -Northants v Yorkshire Three day friendly
9APRIL- Leeds Radio Quiz- Milford Working Mans Club 8.00P.M.
12 APRIL-New Rover v Olicanian
Knaresbrough Forest v Whiteleas
Pudsey St. Lawerence v York
Castleford v Goole
Townville v Cleckheaton
13 APRIL- Somerset v Yorkshire LVCC
Durham v Northamptonshire
North Yorkshire South Durham Third XI Start.
New Rover v St. Chads
Castleford v Chesterfield
14 APRIL- Nottingham Seconds v Yorkshire Notts Sports ground
Leeds Bradford v Cardiff Weetwood.
15 APRIL-Nottingham v Yorkshire 3 DAYS (SET)
Leeds Bradford v Cardiff Weetwood 2 days
18 APRIL- Leeds Bradford v Southampton- Weetwood
19 APRIL- League programmes start
20 APRIL- Yorkshire v Northampton 4 days
Derbyshire v Hampshire
Durham v Somerset
22 APRIL- Lancashire Seconds v Yorkshire Northup Hall 3 days.
25 APRIL- Lancashire Seconds v Cheshire X1 Old Trafford
27 APRIL-Notts v Warwick 4 days
Lincolnshire v Cumberland Bracebridge Heath
National Club KO including South Northumberland v Knaresborough Forest,
Easingwold v Richmondshire, Clifton Alliance v Stockton
Beverley v Doncaster and
Goole v Hanging Heaton
28 APRIL-Yorkshire Seconds v Lancashire Headingley 3 days
Durham Seconds v Scotland Racecourse Ground Durham
29 April-Derbyshire v Worcestershire
30 April - LeedsBradford v Durham Weetwood
Sedbergh School v Yorkshire 12.30
Please double check before leaving home as dates and venues may change.
The top photograph is of F.S.Jackson ,Leeds born, and one of my favorite people.
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This is Sowerby CC winners of the Thirsk KO cup 1924
Wednesday 19 March 2014
TRIP TO SOUTH YORKSHIRE IN THE SHOWERS
During last week myself and Brian Workman decided to visit some South Yorkshire cricket grounds.Looking at the BBC weather during the weekend we decided to go on Tuesday as the forecast was dry.
Setting off on Tuesday it was raining so not for the first time forecast had changed.The first ground was Thorncliffe as per photograph above. The ground is in Chapeltown and is surrounded by houses. Like many grounds now there is a artificial pitch.
The next ground we visited was Wentworth which is situated near Wentworth House . As you can see from the photograph in sight of the church.Cricket grounds are not at their best in the rain but I could imagine what it would be like in July . Very nice.
As you will see from the above photograph ,the rain had arrived as we reached at Upper Haugh were Brian son will be playing this season.There is a new housing estate been built round the ground.A new pavilion has been built which will please the players.
The next ground was Worsbrough which is situated at the end of a football pitch were two men were putting up the nets for a match this evening.There was another new pavilion which had been helped by the local Rotary club.Very loud traffic noise.
Moving on to the next ground which as you can see is Sheffield United ground who play in the Yorkshire League and has held Yorkshire Seconds matches.It is in the ground now of the Hallam University and looked in excellent condition as it looked after by professional groundsmen unlike any of the other grounds
Moving up Bawtry Road we went to Rotherham Phoenix ground who play in the Yorkshire South League and as you can see is very near the pylons.
By contrast the next ground Whiston Parish Church ground looks towards the green hills of Sheffield .We were lucky to talk to the groundsman who played cricket with Don Wilson at Holmfirth. Also he played in Bradford, Sussex, Hampshire and Devon cricket leagues. Very interesting person to listen to his cricket tales.Beautiful ground. well looked after.
After much research by Brian Workman we went to see the historic grounds of Darnell . This is want is left of the second ground and is now a graveyard.This was built after there was a fire at the first ground and some spectators died.
Just at the bottom of the street is were the Old ground was situated.The ground was to far out from the centre of Sheffield and another ground was built at Hyde Park which was near the train station.
The last ground we went to was Davy,s which was orginial a company firm cricket ground but the company is no longer in business.It is used now by Sheffield Wednesday cricket club which is a very old club.I have just purchased a postcard showing the playing in 1904. There is some cricket next week at Trent Bridge so the travelling will start.Sunday 16 March 2014
Five go missing at Aylestone Road
posted by John Winn
For most people Leicestershire cricket means cricket at Grace Road but it has not always been thus. It began there in 1878 and Yorkshire were the visitors for the first first class game ion 1894 but crowds in those early days, as now, were small and in 1900 the county club moved nearer to the city centre and set up headquarters at Aylestone Road where they were to remain until the second World War. During the war the ground was damaged and as a temporary measure The Foxes went back to Grace Road, by this time better served by public transport, when cricket resumed in 1944
Plans to return to Aylestone Road were foiled by the decision of Leicester Corporation to expand the adjacent electricity works; the ground is played on today by Leicester Electric Sports CC. Its playing area is greatly reduced but Leicestershire did play two championship matches there in 1957 and as late as 1962 Cambridge University were the visitors in for what was almost certainly the last first class match. Alan Wharton and David Kirby made runs for the homesters* and two later England captains, AR Lewis and JM Brearley, made 84 and 68 respectively for the students. The Foxes were just 15 short of victory when stumps were drawn. Kirby, whose name is very much associated with cricket at St Peter's York, was the last man to be dismissed when out for 88. Whether smuts from the power station, a frequent hazard at the ground, got in his eye is not known.
By 1966 LCCC had taken over ownership at Grace Road from the city's education department and in 'The Wisden Guide To Cricket Grounds' published in 1990, the ground is described as 'perhaps one of the best equipped grounds on the county circuit other than test match grounds', a description few would apply to it today but I am saddened a little that it is not on my itinerary for 2014 nor is it likely to be so until Somerset or Warwickshire are the visitors. If the Leicestershire authorities so wished this year they could celebrate 120 years since it first hosted county cricket. Somehow I doubt it will but if they do then they could recall a victory in the game in May 1894 when Leicestershire overcame Yorkshire by 47 runs, bowling the visitors out for 47 in their second innings.
My recent interest in Leicestershire's two main grounds stems for reading this last week a biography of PGH Fender, one of the most colourful characters in county cricket between the wars. Fender's imaginative captaincy did not always endure him to the game's rulers at that time and his biographer Richard Streeton suggests that it may have cost him the England captaincy. The link to the title of tis posting comes from a match played at Aylestone Road in June 1920, a game not mentioned in Lambert's history of Leicestershire CCC, but described as 'remarkable' in Wisden and in some detail in Streeton's book, and won by Surrey before tea on the second day. A Hobbs century on Wednesday was the basis of Surrey's first innings 309, a total that Leicestershire could not surpass in two innings. Not particularly 'remarkable' you might think, even with the knowledge that Hobbs scored 134 in 95 minutes, but the circumstances that led the editor of Wisden to get excited began when Fender was called to London after the first day on urgent business handing the captaincy to a reluctant Hobbs. Surrey's Rushby, who had taken seven wickets in the first innings, was prevented by a side strain from bowling more than two overs in the second innings and three Leicestershire batsmen were 'absent hurt' on the second day. What caused these injuries is not recorded but perhaps Wednesday had been a particularly smutty day at the power station. Fender returned to the ground on the Thursday afternoon to find it deserted and Surrey on their way back to London. I like the idea, purely a figment of my imagination, that the train carrying the captain from London to Leicester passed that conveying his victorious team in the opposite direction.
* spell check does not like this word but as it offers hamsters as an alternative I have left it in.
For most people Leicestershire cricket means cricket at Grace Road but it has not always been thus. It began there in 1878 and Yorkshire were the visitors for the first first class game ion 1894 but crowds in those early days, as now, were small and in 1900 the county club moved nearer to the city centre and set up headquarters at Aylestone Road where they were to remain until the second World War. During the war the ground was damaged and as a temporary measure The Foxes went back to Grace Road, by this time better served by public transport, when cricket resumed in 1944
Plans to return to Aylestone Road were foiled by the decision of Leicester Corporation to expand the adjacent electricity works; the ground is played on today by Leicester Electric Sports CC. Its playing area is greatly reduced but Leicestershire did play two championship matches there in 1957 and as late as 1962 Cambridge University were the visitors in for what was almost certainly the last first class match. Alan Wharton and David Kirby made runs for the homesters* and two later England captains, AR Lewis and JM Brearley, made 84 and 68 respectively for the students. The Foxes were just 15 short of victory when stumps were drawn. Kirby, whose name is very much associated with cricket at St Peter's York, was the last man to be dismissed when out for 88. Whether smuts from the power station, a frequent hazard at the ground, got in his eye is not known.
By 1966 LCCC had taken over ownership at Grace Road from the city's education department and in 'The Wisden Guide To Cricket Grounds' published in 1990, the ground is described as 'perhaps one of the best equipped grounds on the county circuit other than test match grounds', a description few would apply to it today but I am saddened a little that it is not on my itinerary for 2014 nor is it likely to be so until Somerset or Warwickshire are the visitors. If the Leicestershire authorities so wished this year they could celebrate 120 years since it first hosted county cricket. Somehow I doubt it will but if they do then they could recall a victory in the game in May 1894 when Leicestershire overcame Yorkshire by 47 runs, bowling the visitors out for 47 in their second innings.
My recent interest in Leicestershire's two main grounds stems for reading this last week a biography of PGH Fender, one of the most colourful characters in county cricket between the wars. Fender's imaginative captaincy did not always endure him to the game's rulers at that time and his biographer Richard Streeton suggests that it may have cost him the England captaincy. The link to the title of tis posting comes from a match played at Aylestone Road in June 1920, a game not mentioned in Lambert's history of Leicestershire CCC, but described as 'remarkable' in Wisden and in some detail in Streeton's book, and won by Surrey before tea on the second day. A Hobbs century on Wednesday was the basis of Surrey's first innings 309, a total that Leicestershire could not surpass in two innings. Not particularly 'remarkable' you might think, even with the knowledge that Hobbs scored 134 in 95 minutes, but the circumstances that led the editor of Wisden to get excited began when Fender was called to London after the first day on urgent business handing the captaincy to a reluctant Hobbs. Surrey's Rushby, who had taken seven wickets in the first innings, was prevented by a side strain from bowling more than two overs in the second innings and three Leicestershire batsmen were 'absent hurt' on the second day. What caused these injuries is not recorded but perhaps Wednesday had been a particularly smutty day at the power station. Fender returned to the ground on the Thursday afternoon to find it deserted and Surrey on their way back to London. I like the idea, purely a figment of my imagination, that the train carrying the captain from London to Leicester passed that conveying his victorious team in the opposite direction.
* spell check does not like this word but as it offers hamsters as an alternative I have left it in.
Friday 14 March 2014
another welcome sign
The 30th edition of the First-Class Counties Second XI Annual came through my letter box yesterday, a gloriously sunny day in the Lower Ure Valley, and the yellow edged booklet is another sign that the season is not far away. Meticulously edited by Yorkshire II and England Under 19 scorer, Howard Clayton, the slim book is essential for all who follow Second XI cricket.
Sad therefore that in the fixtures section there are still several matches listed to be played at TBC. Derbyshire are the worst culprits in this respect: for at least ten of their fixtures no definite venue is shown. Turn to the club's website for more up to date information and you will be disappointed, TBC is again the ground of choice. I had an email from Tony Hutton earlier in the week who has been in touch with The Peakites on this issue and their response is that it is the responsibility of the newly appointed coaching team and that they have not got round to it yet. As they are currently enjoying a jolly in Abu Dhabi playing a two day friendly against Worcestershire I doubt if things will change in the near future. .
Lest you think Derbyshire are alone in the naughty corner Gloucestershire have several matches in this category, go to their website click on second XI and there are last season's fixtures. Brilliant.
Peter Davies has also emailed me this week to announce that the 9th Annual Pennine Cricket is to be held at Golcar CC on Saturday March 29th from 10;00am to 3:00 pm, 'schedule of speakers to follow. Readers may remember that last year's conference had to be postponed because of heavy snow. Looks as though Peter might have more luck this time.
Finally a phone call to The Riverside yesterday revealed that Durham IIs friendly with Scotland at the end of April will be played at The Racecourse, the home of Durham University CC. Agreed that this is not the most welcoming of grounds on a cold or wet day but it commands splendid views of three institutions of correction, the cathedral, the castle and the prison and can be reached by a riverside walk from the town. For those who like a sharpener before lunch it is just a few minutes from the excellent Dun Cow. The match is scheduled to last three days and begins on April 28th.
Sad therefore that in the fixtures section there are still several matches listed to be played at TBC. Derbyshire are the worst culprits in this respect: for at least ten of their fixtures no definite venue is shown. Turn to the club's website for more up to date information and you will be disappointed, TBC is again the ground of choice. I had an email from Tony Hutton earlier in the week who has been in touch with The Peakites on this issue and their response is that it is the responsibility of the newly appointed coaching team and that they have not got round to it yet. As they are currently enjoying a jolly in Abu Dhabi playing a two day friendly against Worcestershire I doubt if things will change in the near future. .
Lest you think Derbyshire are alone in the naughty corner Gloucestershire have several matches in this category, go to their website click on second XI and there are last season's fixtures. Brilliant.
Peter Davies has also emailed me this week to announce that the 9th Annual Pennine Cricket is to be held at Golcar CC on Saturday March 29th from 10;00am to 3:00 pm, 'schedule of speakers to follow. Readers may remember that last year's conference had to be postponed because of heavy snow. Looks as though Peter might have more luck this time.
Finally a phone call to The Riverside yesterday revealed that Durham IIs friendly with Scotland at the end of April will be played at The Racecourse, the home of Durham University CC. Agreed that this is not the most welcoming of grounds on a cold or wet day but it commands splendid views of three institutions of correction, the cathedral, the castle and the prison and can be reached by a riverside walk from the town. For those who like a sharpener before lunch it is just a few minutes from the excellent Dun Cow. The match is scheduled to last three days and begins on April 28th.
Tuesday 11 March 2014
Catching up
posted by John Winn
Today's posting concerns a couple of items of news that I have been rather slow to pick up.
The first concerns The Yorkshire Premier League and the announcement posted on its website at the end of January, that Hull CC have withdrawn from all the league's competitions in 2014. Hull will remain members of the league and it is hoped that they will compete again in 2015. This leaves one club each Saturday without a fixture, a sad set of circumstances for such a prestigious league. This news came in the form of an open letter from the league's chairman Steve Ward following discussions with Hull Chairman, Paul Hodgson. Hull II will continue to play in the York League, Division 2 (south), beginning the campaign on April 26th with a trip to Carlton Towers CC.
The first club to experience the imbalance of clubs caused by Hull's withdrawal will be Castleford who will fill the gap with a friendly against York Vale outfit, Melbourne CC. The previous Saturday, April 12th Savile Park will host another friendly with a visit from Chesterfield CC. Cass begin their delayed league programme with a day at the seaside when they travel to Cleethorpes on the 26th.
Another announcement that I had overlooked was the draw for the Davidstow National Village Cup which was made at the beginning of February. Last year's winners Cleator are in Cumbria and North Lancs (Group 6) and in the first round travel to Shireshead and Forton south of Lancaster, who compete in the Westmorland League. Pictures on their website show a very attractive ground. The website (shireshead-forton.co.uk) has some lovely photographs dating back to 1932, the oldest they have.
A bit closer to home, just a fifteen minute drive for me, Nidderdale League's Knaresborough Forest (above) start with an interesting home tie against Patrington from the Holderness area of East Yorkshire. Patrington look to be a club on the up for having entered the York Senior League in 2012, successive promotions will see them start 2014 in Division Two (South). If KFCC (the second 'c' is critical) and cup draws ring the pavilion bell with you it is probably because they have also entered the National Club KO which I covered last month and to avoid the fixture clash the game against Patrington will be played on May 4th with a 1:00pm start. I am grateful to club chairman John Bradd for sorting this out for me, The winners will be at Studley Royal in the second round. I saw my first cricket of 2013 at 'Union Field' and there is early action there again this year with a friendly against Ripley on April 5th. Just 25 days to save you counting. The full draw is available at the cricketer.com
Finally I took the above photograph on a visit to Darlington last week. You will see that the playing area at Feethams is now separated from the new access road to the housing development on the former football field by a wooden fence. What is not clear from the picture is a further wire fence designed to stop balls hitting the passing traffic. Functional but charmless. You may just be able to make out the stanchions for the extra protection. I suspect pcws familiar with the ground will share my disappointment and also that Durham II have no fixture there this year, if only for the lack of an opportunity to enjoy the splendid food.
Today's posting concerns a couple of items of news that I have been rather slow to pick up.
The first concerns The Yorkshire Premier League and the announcement posted on its website at the end of January, that Hull CC have withdrawn from all the league's competitions in 2014. Hull will remain members of the league and it is hoped that they will compete again in 2015. This leaves one club each Saturday without a fixture, a sad set of circumstances for such a prestigious league. This news came in the form of an open letter from the league's chairman Steve Ward following discussions with Hull Chairman, Paul Hodgson. Hull II will continue to play in the York League, Division 2 (south), beginning the campaign on April 26th with a trip to Carlton Towers CC.
The first club to experience the imbalance of clubs caused by Hull's withdrawal will be Castleford who will fill the gap with a friendly against York Vale outfit, Melbourne CC. The previous Saturday, April 12th Savile Park will host another friendly with a visit from Chesterfield CC. Cass begin their delayed league programme with a day at the seaside when they travel to Cleethorpes on the 26th.
Another announcement that I had overlooked was the draw for the Davidstow National Village Cup which was made at the beginning of February. Last year's winners Cleator are in Cumbria and North Lancs (Group 6) and in the first round travel to Shireshead and Forton south of Lancaster, who compete in the Westmorland League. Pictures on their website show a very attractive ground. The website (shireshead-forton.co.uk) has some lovely photographs dating back to 1932, the oldest they have.
A bit closer to home, just a fifteen minute drive for me, Nidderdale League's Knaresborough Forest (above) start with an interesting home tie against Patrington from the Holderness area of East Yorkshire. Patrington look to be a club on the up for having entered the York Senior League in 2012, successive promotions will see them start 2014 in Division Two (South). If KFCC (the second 'c' is critical) and cup draws ring the pavilion bell with you it is probably because they have also entered the National Club KO which I covered last month and to avoid the fixture clash the game against Patrington will be played on May 4th with a 1:00pm start. I am grateful to club chairman John Bradd for sorting this out for me, The winners will be at Studley Royal in the second round. I saw my first cricket of 2013 at 'Union Field' and there is early action there again this year with a friendly against Ripley on April 5th. Just 25 days to save you counting. The full draw is available at the cricketer.com
Finally I took the above photograph on a visit to Darlington last week. You will see that the playing area at Feethams is now separated from the new access road to the housing development on the former football field by a wooden fence. What is not clear from the picture is a further wire fence designed to stop balls hitting the passing traffic. Functional but charmless. You may just be able to make out the stanchions for the extra protection. I suspect pcws familiar with the ground will share my disappointment and also that Durham II have no fixture there this year, if only for the lack of an opportunity to enjoy the splendid food.
Tuesday 4 March 2014
Spring in my step
With the sun shining in the Lower Ure Valley, plants flowering that ought to be flowering and the river back to its proper level it is hard for the pcw not to be getting a tad excited about the new season. Just four weeks today, weather permitting, there will be cricket at Headingley and no matter how many layers of clothing it takes I will be there and the pcw's equivalent of the first cuckoo of spring, 'hope you have wintered well' will be heard. Let's hope we all have.
Looking a little beyond that key date in the diary there are plenty of other rites of passage close behind. The first cricket at The Riverside the following week, the start of the championship on the 13th of April, Palm Sunday, although nothing on offer in these parts, and, for most competitions, the start of league cricket on Saturday 19th. Next day Durham and Yorkshire are both at home, an unfortunate clash but the only one of the season.I'm not sure about the Sunday starts but I suppose I will get used to them.
One or two things to look out before bat strikes ball. The Cricket Paper returns from its hibernation this Friday, the seventh, and contrary to previous information the Pudsey St Lawrence website is showing that there will be a Jim the Cat lunch in March when on the spring equinox, the 21st, the speaker will be David Normanton of the Halifax League. Noon for 1:00 pm at Tofts Road.
Finally an eye catching piece of news from the Central Yorkshire League is that Thornhill CC have folded with immediate effect, a decision taken at an egm last month. Sad to see a club that can trace its roots back almost 150 years, that has played its cricket on the same ground since 1887 and apart from six seasons in the Huddersfield Central, have been members of the CYL since 1944, fold.
The proximity of the decision so close to the start of the season will leave clubs with blank Saturdays. Their name has been removed from the list of clubs and the fixtures on the website.
The website also has a report that Adwalton CC have sought permission to approach other leagues. Read more at cyclweb.com
Well not quite finally for I thought readers might like this from The Guardian in August 1979 when Bishan Bedi was described 'bowling in a sky-blue parka'.
Looking a little beyond that key date in the diary there are plenty of other rites of passage close behind. The first cricket at The Riverside the following week, the start of the championship on the 13th of April, Palm Sunday, although nothing on offer in these parts, and, for most competitions, the start of league cricket on Saturday 19th. Next day Durham and Yorkshire are both at home, an unfortunate clash but the only one of the season.I'm not sure about the Sunday starts but I suppose I will get used to them.
One or two things to look out before bat strikes ball. The Cricket Paper returns from its hibernation this Friday, the seventh, and contrary to previous information the Pudsey St Lawrence website is showing that there will be a Jim the Cat lunch in March when on the spring equinox, the 21st, the speaker will be David Normanton of the Halifax League. Noon for 1:00 pm at Tofts Road.
Finally an eye catching piece of news from the Central Yorkshire League is that Thornhill CC have folded with immediate effect, a decision taken at an egm last month. Sad to see a club that can trace its roots back almost 150 years, that has played its cricket on the same ground since 1887 and apart from six seasons in the Huddersfield Central, have been members of the CYL since 1944, fold.
The website also has a report that Adwalton CC have sought permission to approach other leagues. Read more at cyclweb.com
Well not quite finally for I thought readers might like this from The Guardian in August 1979 when Bishan Bedi was described 'bowling in a sky-blue parka'.
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