With the festive season over and England's cricketers about to embark on the second half of their winter tours the pcw can begin to look forward to the domestic season. The shortest day is now two weeks behind us and in the evenings at least there are signs of lengthening days. A number of leagues, but by no means all, have announced their fixtures with April 22nd being the favoured day for the start of the season. There will be first class cricket (officially at least) on April 2nd which is a little over twelve weeks away and on the seventh of that month, for the first of several times during the 2017 season, I will need to decide whether to head north to The Riverside or south west to Headingley for while Durham will be entertaining DMCCCU, Yorkshire under their new management team of Gale and Balance, will host Hampshire, the luckiest team in the land, in the opening championship fixture.
For those who like their cricket to start in March some counties are taking on their local students before that month is out, Leicestershire v Loughborough U at Grace Road on March 28th for example, which whilst probably not requiring a strong police presence may just appeal to those with a decent top coat and a large flask of Bovril. Three men have been notified, the dog is thought to have a prior commitment.
Finally I must close on a sad note for the death was announced shortly before Christmas of Nidderdale League Life Member and photographer Barry Gill. The Yorkshire Post has confirmed that Barry, aged 64, 'passed away peacefully at his home in Summerbridge on December 23rd'. Barry and his tripod and camera were a familiar sight on Nidderdale grounds and always had a kind word to say about this blog. Our condolences go to his family.
This is definitely not one of Barry's photographs, it was taken in July 1949, probably with a Box Brownie, of a Haughton le Skerne 'Mixed XI' and includes at least three of the Marshall family including Haughton legend Horace of that ilk, extreme right standing, who along with my father did much to revive the club after the last war. My late brother Michael is peering over the right shoulder of the man who appears to have anticipated the arrival of the tank top by some years. It was taken at the club's Great Burdon ground where they have played for over a hundred years and where they will begin their defence of their Darlington and District League title in a little over three months time.
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