VISITING THREE RIDINGS

By Brian Sanderson,

I set out this morning to visit some East Yorkshire grounds were National Village Cricket Cup was been played.However my first visit was to Escrick Park were the Yorkshire Gentlemen  were playing Leeds University.A photograph above is of Yorkshire Gentlemen President wearing their coloured blazer.

This club celebrated it,s 150 Anniversary last year which is the same as Yorkshire C.C.C.Some of the  past Yorkshire Gentlemen players included Lord Hawe, Major Lupton, Sir Archibold White ,Sir William Worsley,Norman Yardley and Billy Sutcliffe who all  captained Yorkshire. They moved into their present ground in 1932 and it is near St. Margaret,s School.They have over 38 fixtures this year including a trip to play Royal Household. Today one of the opening batsmen was Geoff Barker who also plays for Horsforth Old Park and Arthington Cricket Festival.This ground was in North Yorkshire.

Moving on I went to the above club for the first time.They were playing Hanging Heaton who play in the Bradford League.I noticed a number of ex county players who play for them. They included Gary Fellows, David Stiff and David Paynter.Goole  batted first and were soon in problem on a green wicket.As I left they were 30 for 3. Goole are in the York @ District Senior League. Above is some photograph taken by Tony Woodhouse in 1990.The club house has been modernised but you can still see the M62,

The next ground was another new ground for me Beverley however when I arrived the match was over. Doncaster had bowled them out for 42 and had won the match by nine wickets.These grounds were in East Yorkshire

Plan B was to go to Clifton Alliance who were playing Stockton.Listening to a BBC radio play ,I parked my car next to John Winn who was on his second ground as Easingwold match was off.Stockton had scored 221 when they batted and were having tea. John very kindly bought me a cup of tea in the cheerful pavilion.
Clifton were struggling batting and were 16 off 7 overs when I left.

The last ground I visited was Fairburn who had just been bowled out by Woodhouse Grange for 42 in twenty-five overs. They had scored 192 in their innings. This ground is in West Yorkshire.A good view from the ground of Ferrybridge power station cooling towers.

You never know when you set out to visit grounds what the state of the matches will be  until  you arrive but it is good to see local  cricket grounds been used.