Another early finish at Gargrave

By Mike Latham

On a glorious late May Saturday afternoon, I took in several grounds in the Skipton area, among them fulfilling a long-held ambition to visit Gargrave.

I’d seen Craven & District League soccer there during past groundhopping days, though it was sad to find out that the club folded during the summer of 2016, citing lack of players. I found the football ground, with its small main stand, covered by caravans and motorhomes of all descriptions, shapes and sizes as tourists enjoyed a taste of freedom after the long days of lockdown.

The football field covered by touring campervans and motorhomes

The adjacent cricket ground, nearer the main A65 road that runs from Skipton towards Settle, looked resplendent and a good number of people were watching the action intently.

This was the Craven & District League division two (second tier) and having gathered my camera and acquainted myself with the surroundings, I quickly gathered that although it was still early afternoon, albeit my fifth ground visit of the day, that the game was quickly nearing a conclusion.

Visitors Skipton Church Institute had been rolled out for 46 in 22.4 overs and the home side were nearing their modest victory target, albeit not without difficulty. I saw Azhar Iqbal take two wickets in successive balls on his way to the remarkable analysis of five for nine in a losing cause, before the winning runs were hit with Gargrave six wickets down.

Scores tied at Gargrave- one to win for the home side

Gargrave CC has a distinctive stone pavilion with tiered seats and further research found that this was constructed in 1956. That was a momentous year from Gargrave CC when Mrs JB Coulthurst and the Coulthurst Trust not only secured the ground for the village with an outright purchase from the previous landowner, away from potential building speculators, but also funded the new pavilion construction for the joint use of the cricket and football teams.

The Gargrave CC badge

Gargrave CC claim 1852 as their formation year, making the club one of the oldest in Yorkshire. By the 18909s they employed a cricket professional who was also responsible for the upkeep of the ground. Opponents included Earby, Silsden, Ingrow, Settle, Cowling, Bolton Abbey, Barnoldswick, Steeton, Bradford Midland Railway Employees and Leeds Clergy. The Gargrave ground was also home to the Craven Gentlemen’s Club.

Twice the ground was used by Yorkshire for second eleven fixtures in the Minor Counties Championship.

In June 1961 Yorkshire defeated Durham by an innings in a low-scoring, two-day game that finished just after noon on the second day. Durham fared better than Skipton Church Institute, but only just, 67 and 84 all out, with Yorkshire making 178, a young John Hampshire top scorer with 73. Geoff Boycott, still to make his first-class debut (that came in 1962) batted number 4 and scored 25. Then a promising young leg-spinner, Peter Kippax took nine wickets in the game at a cost of 42 runs.

The following year Yorkshire Seconds entertained Cumberland, Boycott opening the innings and hitting an unbeaten 126 in 75.2 overs out of his side’s 236-6 declared.

Cumberland, who finished with the wooden spoon that year, closed the first day 93-7 and finished 95 all out, Tony Nicholson taking 5-24. In their second innings Cumberland, following on, just mustered enough runs to make the hosts bat again, Roly Higginbottom, batting at nine, hitting 63 in his side’s 152. Boycott got another ‘red-inker’ finishing 11 not out in his side’s victory by ten wickets and a few weeks later was to make his Yorkshire first team debut, against the touring Pakistanis at Bradford.

An early finish at Gargrave- not for the first time