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The Yorkshire Premier League and the announcement posted on its website at the end of January, that Hull CC have withdrawn from all the league's competitions in 2014.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.
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