Golcar cricketer

By Brian Sanderson

The photograph above is of Roy Booth who was Yorkshire's wicketkeeper in 1954.It states it was taken on the 22 May 1954 at Sheffield.

However that cannot be the case as Yorkshire were playing at Headingley on that day. It is definitely Sheffield with the football stand at the back with the floodlights. I am assuming it must be the 26 May as Yorkshire were playing Gloucester on that day at Sheffield.

Roy Booth was born at  Marsden near Huddersfield on the 1st of October 1926..A product of Golcar Cricket Club ,where he lived most of his early life. He was professional for Lightcliffe from 1948-53 and in 1955.He was released by Yorkshire in 1955 and went on to enjoy a successful

career at Worcester. He was a good soccer player with Yorkshire Amateurs and had trails with Burnley.

Yorkshire were captained by Norman Yardley and put Gloucester in to bat. Emmett was the main scorer with 70 out of 171.The other major scorer was Bomber Wells with 32 by hitting some lusty shots. Yorkshire's main bowler was Brian Close with his off breaks taking six wickets.

Yorkshire's batting was equally poor and just scored 138 with Ray Illingworth top scoring with 43.Gloucestershire's second innings was again poor with Trueman and Appleyard taking

eight wickets .They reached 143 leaving Yorkshire 177 to win. They managed that with the help of Watson, Yardley and Close who hit  the winning run.

Yorkshire finished the season second to Surrey whilst Gloucester finished thirteenth.