Not for the first time I am indebted to my neighbour June Sanderson for providing me with source material for use in the blog for yesterday she passed to me an article from last Friday's Darlington and Stockton Times by Harry Mead centring on a history of Broughton CC in the 1930s by Tim Wear which is as yet unpublished.
Great Broughton is a village in North Yorkshire on the edge of the Nork Yorkshire Moors National Park. Broughton CC joined the Langbaurgh League in 1929, some 8 years after it was formed, finishing a commendable third in their first season. There were 11 clubs in the league that year. When the league reformed in 1947 Broughton were missing but returned in 1954 having joined forces with near neighbours Kirkby. A long period of successful membership followed and the 2016 table shows Broughton and Kirkby finishing sixth in Division 1, The composition of the league today reflects its expansion north of the Tees and east to the coast but with only two, Crathorne and Thimbleby of the original eight clubs surviving.
The inspiration for Tim Wear's book, whose father in law played for Broughton, was every amateur cricket historian's dream, namely finding a box of old photos in a cardboard box, enough to set Tim off on his research to the point where, in the word's of the D and S, he now has 'an impeccably produced manuscript'. The emphasis of Mead's article is on the problems village cricket faces today such as the loss of clubs and clubs being forced to concede matches due to the shortage of players but Tim's book offers evidence that these difficulties are not new. Broughton for example being unable to raise a side to play Crathorne in 1935. One weekend is recorded where three clubs couldn't put out a side.
The D and S article shows a picture of Tim holding his manuscript, at present contained in a ring binder. Let's hope it can be published as a book. Any of our readers unfamiliar with the Langbaurgh League might enjoy reading a history of the league which is available on their website.
What is not available at the moment are the 2017 fixtures but those for the Wetherby League have now been published. The league will start the new season without Bilton in Ainsty (York League) and St Chad's Broomfield (Aire Wharfe). Matches start on April 22nd with champions Kirk Deighton at home to Scarcroft.
Hartlepool Power Station CC of The Langbaurgh League
3 comments:
I'm sad to report that founder members of the Langbaurgh League Crathorne have resigned ahead of the 2017 season as they feel they can no longer put a side out.
Thank you for this update, how sad that a club with almost 100 years membership of the league has been forced to resign, John
They are not the only club to resign this season, Skelton Castle have also folded. Westerdale have applied to join, leaving the Eskdale League which I understand is struggling. The Langbaurgh League AGM is on Monday (7th Feb) where all the changes should become clearer.
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