For many years, in what now appears to be the distant past, I became addicted to the Northern Echo newspaper. Despite the fact that I lived in Leeds, whereas the paper was published in Darlington and covered the North-East of England, and the difficulty at that time of finding the paper anywhere in Leeds, I persevered often involving trips to Wetherby or Harrogate on the outer reaches of it's circulation.
The main attraction was of course the excellent sports coverage in particular Monday's edition in the summer months with detailed scorecards of almost every league cricket match in the area. However without doubt the writings of Mike Amos, with his endless humorous coverage of grassroots sport, and non-league soccer and local league cricket his speciality, could not be missed.
Mike was very much the traditional local newspaper sports reporter instantly recognised as being in the same vein as the late, great Peter Snape of the Yorkshire Post and Dewsbury Reporter, who first got me into league cricket, which I neglected as a boy due to my involvement with county cricket.
Sadly Mike became a victim of the downhill trend in provincial newspapers and was given an abrupt end to his almost 55 years of continuous service with what you could describe as a 'soldier's farewell'. No pomp and ceremony, no presentation and no thanks. I can sympathise with that as it also happened to me after thirty years with one employer.
However, he continues to amuse his large band of followers with a blog, mainly on the subject of non-league football, of which he has great knowledge. Now he has got round to writing an autobiography entitled 'Unconsidered Trifles' - memories of a jobbing journalist. Despite the front cover, which gives the impression of just having woken up in a darkened room, this is a real treasure trove of stories over a half century of news gathering often garnered in the traditional way at the local pub.
It is not really a cricket book, but there are some cricket stories in it, none more so the chapter on the Feversham Cricket League and the famous Spout House ground where Prince Harry, no less, has played. Way back in 2007 Mike wrote a wonderful review of a book, of which I was the joint author 'Off the Beaten Track'. He was particularly pleased to be the first in the list of acknowledgements - Mike Amos, Northern Echo, but took him to page 120 to find out the reason why.
I quote 'Mike Amos has for many years delighted us with his tales of league cricket and non-league football as well as his tantalising quizzes, but he has perhaps excelled himself with his quote about Yorkshire over 50s so called overseas professional'. This was the Londoner who had got into the Yorkshire team as wicketkeeper and said he now preferred a leg-side stumping to sex and had been repercussively reminded of it, not least by his loyal wife, ever since.
Mike's highly recommended book can be obtained direct from him at 8 Oakfields, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 6SD. Paperback version (still a heavy tome) is £10 plus £3.20 postage. Cheques payable to Mike Amos.
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