TWO HOURS IN THE SUN

By Brian Sanderson,

I just had chance to watch  some  cricket at Follifoot who were established in 1846. The ground is situated in Rudding Park and surrounded by trees which is a beautiful sight however the Harrogate bypass runs next to the ground and it sounds like a race track.

Today was a beautiful afternoon and the home side were playing North Leeds Thirds in the Conference A in the Airedale and Wharfedale third teams who play on a Sunday.There are  eight sides in this Conference and 6 in Conference B.There is one match to play and then there is a Championship play off between the two Conferences and that is on 14 September.North Leeds are the lenders of this Conference  so will go through to the final. Looking at the table Bilton have been deducted 20 for not fulfilling a fixture,Knaresborough been deducted 17 for not fulfilling a fixture and 2 points for fielding a short team.Collingham have been deducted 37 points for the full house ie Not fulfilling a fixture, fielding an ineligable player and fielding a short team.

Cnference B Thackley have been deducted forty points for failing to fulfill two fixtures.

When I arrived the home side were batting but lost two wickets in two balls and finished on 138 and so tea was taken which allowed me to see some old photographs which were placed on a table which the players used as a mat.One of the photographs was a team in 1946.

Looking at the names of the players I noticed the name of Radcliffe.Looking at Tony Woodhouse book on Yorkshire players it does mention that the Radcliife lived in Rudding Park until it was sold in 1972.The club wish to purchase a electric scoreboard and one way they are trying to obtain the money is by selling bulbs which seemed a novel idea. The total cost would be £4,500  and if you go to their website you can see other ways to help the club.

One of the crowd was Ian Chappell , the newly retires Chief Executive of the YCB and the author of the history of North Leeds Club.When I left with twenty overs to bowl North Leeds required 60 runs and seven wickets in hand so should win the match.

 
I was luck enough to take a Tony Hutton estate agent photograph of the ground. Tomorrow to Harrogate to see Yorkshire Seconds and to see my sister.