Posted by Tony Hutton
The recent spate of information generated by John Winn's tantalising quiz questions on the late Geoff Pullar's opening partners has perhaps almost run its course.
However a few more snippets have now been generated from various sources. Peter France, one of our regular followers, advised that he had played against the almost forgotten Gerald Knox in a Sykes Cup semi-final between Paddock and Holmfirth. Peter was on the winning side and Paddock went on to win the cup (team picture on the Paddock section of the cricket heritage website). Knox was professional for Holmfirth and perhaps the first of a long string of Lancashire players who turned out for them.
A little while earlier Peter, as a seventeen year old, played in goal for Huddersfield Town reserves against Bolton Wanderers. The opposition goalkeeper was yet another Lancastrian cricketer, Ken Grieves.
David Williams, a life long Manchester City supporter, adds more information on Jack Dyson, who apparently played his first game for City against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, then still a county cricket ground, in 1955. The result 1-1 and Dyson scored. David also states that you can't imagine any premier league footballers playing cricket these days. Most of them wouldn't know what it is.
Finally, another moment of self-indulgence. I found my scrapbook for the 1955-56 soccer season and a report I had written of the West Bromwich Albion game with Manchester City on 10.3.56. (I was blogging even then!). One extract reads as follows-
'Eight minutes before the end, came the goal of the match. The Lancashire cricketer Dyson got the ball on the edge of the penalty area with a packed defence in front of him. He picked his way round Brookes and Summers with very little room to manoeuvre and as Sanders ran out of goal, sent him the wrong way, walked round him and put the ball in the net. A brilliant piece of ball control.'
Gone, but certainly not forgotten.
Friday, 6 February 2015
More news from the leagues
posted by John Winn
In a posting I made last month I touched upon the possibility of a merger between The South Yorkshire Cricket League and The South Yorkshire Cricket Alliance, the latter itself the result of a fairly recent merger between The Doncaster and District and The Sheffield Leagues. A bit of deeper digging into the website of The SYSCL reveals that this seems to be a fait accompli. At a meeting in October Alliance clubs voted overwhelmingly to join the Senior League and despite some reservations over grounds the Management Committee of the SYSCL agreed to recommend the takeover.
An article in the Doncaster Free Press dated late November confirmed that clubs had voted in favour of the new structure which will have 56 clubs, 108 teams and will be spread over nine divisions, the lower six split on an east/west basis. Provisional fixtures have been issued on this basis and show two games scheduled for April 11th at Eden Grove Parklands and Shiregreen in Divs Four (East) and Five (West) respectively. The main programme begins the following Saturday. On that day homes teams in the top (Premier) division are Aston Hall, Coal Aston, Hallam, Treeton, Wath and Wickersley Old Village CC.
Inevitably a 'merger' of this encounters snags, there were voices in favour of the regionalised divisions being on a north/south basis for example. Some of the problems and hoped for solutions are discussed on sycl.play-cricket.com, click on news then, in the drop down menu, on news articles then scroll down to update on future of SYCA.
Turning to Central Yorkshire the league news page welcomes two new member clubs, Crossbank Methodists from Huddersfield Central and Great Preston from the Wetherby League. Both these clubs have long histories and their cvs are a roll call of now extinct leagues: Dewsbury and Batley Sunday School League, the Dewsbury and District League and the Wakefield Union in the former's case and for Great Preston the Woodlesford and District, the Barkston Ash and the Leeds.
The website also has the draw for the first round of the Jack Hampshire Cup with first round ties to be played on Sunday 17th May. Holders Methley are at home to Adwalton while in the Black Sheep they will visit Elsecar. Like most leagues CYCL start on April 18th.
Finally I refer to another posting I made in January when I mentioned that I was reading a biography of Ewart Astill, the Leicestershire and England all rounder, by AR Littlewood. Pussyfooting about as usual I hinted that some might find this book, especially the early chapters, a bit of a chew. I was interested to find when the latest issue of the ACS journal came through my letter box yesterday that I was not alone in thinking this, for in his review of the book Douglas Miller pulls no punches in describing it as 'too encyclopaedic' and that Chapter Seven was 'pure drudgery' and Miller's feeling is that 'the editors should have demanded a shorter book'. I did get through the book and indeed the second half which describes Astill's test career and frequent overseas tours is a much easier read, but you probably need to be a very keen Leicestershire follower to find the early chapters anything but a sedative. Wow, that's telling 'em.
In a posting I made last month I touched upon the possibility of a merger between The South Yorkshire Cricket League and The South Yorkshire Cricket Alliance, the latter itself the result of a fairly recent merger between The Doncaster and District and The Sheffield Leagues. A bit of deeper digging into the website of The SYSCL reveals that this seems to be a fait accompli. At a meeting in October Alliance clubs voted overwhelmingly to join the Senior League and despite some reservations over grounds the Management Committee of the SYSCL agreed to recommend the takeover.
An article in the Doncaster Free Press dated late November confirmed that clubs had voted in favour of the new structure which will have 56 clubs, 108 teams and will be spread over nine divisions, the lower six split on an east/west basis. Provisional fixtures have been issued on this basis and show two games scheduled for April 11th at Eden Grove Parklands and Shiregreen in Divs Four (East) and Five (West) respectively. The main programme begins the following Saturday. On that day homes teams in the top (Premier) division are Aston Hall, Coal Aston, Hallam, Treeton, Wath and Wickersley Old Village CC.
Inevitably a 'merger' of this encounters snags, there were voices in favour of the regionalised divisions being on a north/south basis for example. Some of the problems and hoped for solutions are discussed on sycl.play-cricket.com, click on news then, in the drop down menu, on news articles then scroll down to update on future of SYCA.
Turning to Central Yorkshire the league news page welcomes two new member clubs, Crossbank Methodists from Huddersfield Central and Great Preston from the Wetherby League. Both these clubs have long histories and their cvs are a roll call of now extinct leagues: Dewsbury and Batley Sunday School League, the Dewsbury and District League and the Wakefield Union in the former's case and for Great Preston the Woodlesford and District, the Barkston Ash and the Leeds.
The website also has the draw for the first round of the Jack Hampshire Cup with first round ties to be played on Sunday 17th May. Holders Methley are at home to Adwalton while in the Black Sheep they will visit Elsecar. Like most leagues CYCL start on April 18th.
Finally I refer to another posting I made in January when I mentioned that I was reading a biography of Ewart Astill, the Leicestershire and England all rounder, by AR Littlewood. Pussyfooting about as usual I hinted that some might find this book, especially the early chapters, a bit of a chew. I was interested to find when the latest issue of the ACS journal came through my letter box yesterday that I was not alone in thinking this, for in his review of the book Douglas Miller pulls no punches in describing it as 'too encyclopaedic' and that Chapter Seven was 'pure drudgery' and Miller's feeling is that 'the editors should have demanded a shorter book'. I did get through the book and indeed the second half which describes Astill's test career and frequent overseas tours is a much easier read, but you probably need to be a very keen Leicestershire follower to find the early chapters anything but a sedative. Wow, that's telling 'em.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Nostalgia in full bloom again posted by Tony Hutton
My fellow blogger, John Winn, is well aware that any remark he makes is likely to set me off down the long road of sporting nostalgia. Last week, following his very interesting story of Lancashire's opening pair of Dyson and Wharton being the only two batsman to occupy the crease in the whole match with Leicester in July 1956, I sent him an e-mail on an unrelated matter.
Before he opened it, he assumed that I would be telling him that I was there on that famous occasion at Old Trafford. Sadly, for once, he got it wrong. I was living in the Midlands at the time and did not get to Old Trafford until the Roses match of 1980. Of course I could not let the matter rest and wondered where I was on 17th July 1956. My extensive archives revealed that I was in fact serving in the RAF on National Service and had just completed three months training at RAF Credenhill, Hereford. On the day in question I was spending a few days at RAF Innsworth, Gloucester prior to flying out for 18 months in Gibraltar.
As it happened on the Saturday I was watching Gloucestershire play Middlesex at Tuffley Avenue, Gloucester. The home side were bowled out for only 69, with J.J. Warr taking 6-33. Then Middlesex piled up a big score with Jack Robertson scoring a century. On the Sunday, which was a rest day in county cricket, I saw a benefit game between the Gloucester Aircraft Company and the Gloucester county side. Tom Graveney scored 61 and Sam Cook took 6-15.The following day I probably flew to Gibraltar.
I could not leave it there as Dyson had played in the FA cup final during May 1956. I had seen the semi-final (at Villa Park) and final (at Wembley) the previous season, when Man City were beaten by Newcastle, but Dyson was not then in the team. In the 1950s I regularly saw a semi-final at Villa Park, so what happened in 1956. Further research revealed that Man City beat Spurs at Villa Park 1-0 on 17th March. However my records show I was not there, but watching Hereford United play Headington United (later Oxford United) in the Southern League!
Purely by chance I spotted in my record book that the previous Saturday 10.3.56 I had seen West Bromwich Albion loose 4-0 at home to Manchester City. Guess who scored the fourth goal - yes of course it was Jack Dyson!
Before he opened it, he assumed that I would be telling him that I was there on that famous occasion at Old Trafford. Sadly, for once, he got it wrong. I was living in the Midlands at the time and did not get to Old Trafford until the Roses match of 1980. Of course I could not let the matter rest and wondered where I was on 17th July 1956. My extensive archives revealed that I was in fact serving in the RAF on National Service and had just completed three months training at RAF Credenhill, Hereford. On the day in question I was spending a few days at RAF Innsworth, Gloucester prior to flying out for 18 months in Gibraltar.
As it happened on the Saturday I was watching Gloucestershire play Middlesex at Tuffley Avenue, Gloucester. The home side were bowled out for only 69, with J.J. Warr taking 6-33. Then Middlesex piled up a big score with Jack Robertson scoring a century. On the Sunday, which was a rest day in county cricket, I saw a benefit game between the Gloucester Aircraft Company and the Gloucester county side. Tom Graveney scored 61 and Sam Cook took 6-15.The following day I probably flew to Gibraltar.
I could not leave it there as Dyson had played in the FA cup final during May 1956. I had seen the semi-final (at Villa Park) and final (at Wembley) the previous season, when Man City were beaten by Newcastle, but Dyson was not then in the team. In the 1950s I regularly saw a semi-final at Villa Park, so what happened in 1956. Further research revealed that Man City beat Spurs at Villa Park 1-0 on 17th March. However my records show I was not there, but watching Hereford United play Headington United (later Oxford United) in the Southern League!
Purely by chance I spotted in my record book that the previous Saturday 10.3.56 I had seen West Bromwich Albion loose 4-0 at home to Manchester City. Guess who scored the fourth goal - yes of course it was Jack Dyson!
Monday, 2 February 2015
In case you can't wait
Posted by John Winn
County friendlies
Monday March 23rd Somerset v Glamorgan 3 day friendly Taunton
Tuesday March 24th Essex v Middlesex 2 day friendly Chelmsford
Wednesday 25 March Worcestershire v Gloucestershire 3 day friendly New Road
Monday 30th March Notts v Northants 2 day friendly Trent Bridge
So if you can get to Taunton you've only got seven weeks to wait
County friendlies
Monday March 23rd Somerset v Glamorgan 3 day friendly Taunton
Tuesday March 24th Essex v Middlesex 2 day friendly Chelmsford
Wednesday 25 March Worcestershire v Gloucestershire 3 day friendly New Road
Monday 30th March Notts v Northants 2 day friendly Trent Bridge
So if you can get to Taunton you've only got seven weeks to wait
News from the leagues
posted by John Winn
With a February date at the head of this posting pcws can look forward to seeing some cricket in just a couple of months. Time for the blog to have a look at a few league websites to see if anything is stirring.
The Aire Wharfe welcomes Old Modernians from the Wetherby League who replace Woodhouse CC, no news yet of where Woodhouse might play. Rumour suggests that Old Mods might cast the years aside and just be known as Modernian
In Nidderdale the draw has been made for the senior cup competition, the Atkinson Swires KO Cup. This is open to the top sixteen clubs from the previous season's league tables. The final will be played at Burton Leonard CC on August 16th. There is a detailed account of the league AGM with some interesting statistics on participation and number of matches conceded. When the new season opens on April 18th newcomers Whixley will begin with a home match against Galphay and Winksley in Div 3. The Cherrymen's seconds must start at the bottom and not until May 2nd when they will travel to Wath and Melmerby for their Division 9 opener.
Boroughbridge and Staveley have merged but will retain both grounds. They will have teams in Divisions 5 and 7.
The York Vale League will begin with 40 teams playing in four divisions. Wickets will be pitched for the first time on April 25th but with two matches starting a day later at Clifton Alliance and Acomb. Two grounds worth a visit and not too far apart in York. Thixendale, who were suspended during last season are reinstated in Div 4. Good to see such an attractive ground back in use.
The York Senior League draws attention to the draw for the National Village Trophy Draw of which one of their members, Woodhouse Grange are holders. Round 1 is on Sunday May 3rd and the full draw is available at thecricketer.com. The holders start at home with Addingham the visitors.
Finally turning to the Bradford League the main item here is a tribute to league legend Brian Clough who died last week aged 82. In a career spanning seven decades Brian scored over 10,000 runs for Spen Victoria, Lightcliffe, Bradford and Bowling Old Lane. The funeral is on Tuesday February 10th at St Paul's Church Birkenshaw at midday. There are numerous tributes to Brian on the website.
More next time
With a February date at the head of this posting pcws can look forward to seeing some cricket in just a couple of months. Time for the blog to have a look at a few league websites to see if anything is stirring.
The Aire Wharfe welcomes Old Modernians from the Wetherby League who replace Woodhouse CC, no news yet of where Woodhouse might play. Rumour suggests that Old Mods might cast the years aside and just be known as Modernian
In Nidderdale the draw has been made for the senior cup competition, the Atkinson Swires KO Cup. This is open to the top sixteen clubs from the previous season's league tables. The final will be played at Burton Leonard CC on August 16th. There is a detailed account of the league AGM with some interesting statistics on participation and number of matches conceded. When the new season opens on April 18th newcomers Whixley will begin with a home match against Galphay and Winksley in Div 3. The Cherrymen's seconds must start at the bottom and not until May 2nd when they will travel to Wath and Melmerby for their Division 9 opener.
Boroughbridge and Staveley have merged but will retain both grounds. They will have teams in Divisions 5 and 7.
The York Vale League will begin with 40 teams playing in four divisions. Wickets will be pitched for the first time on April 25th but with two matches starting a day later at Clifton Alliance and Acomb. Two grounds worth a visit and not too far apart in York. Thixendale, who were suspended during last season are reinstated in Div 4. Good to see such an attractive ground back in use.
The York Senior League draws attention to the draw for the National Village Trophy Draw of which one of their members, Woodhouse Grange are holders. Round 1 is on Sunday May 3rd and the full draw is available at thecricketer.com. The holders start at home with Addingham the visitors.
Evening cricket at Sheriff Hutton
More next time
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Dyson sweeps the winning runs
posted by John Winn
Despite its sad end (described in Friday's posting) Jack Dyson's life had moments that are only dreams for those of us who never got near playing cricket or football professionally. On May 5th 1956 Dyson scored Manchester City's second goal in their 3-1 win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup Final, his place in footballing history assured. In July of the same year Jack became part of cricket lore when Lancashire were the first team to win a first class match without losing a wicket and the Oldham man was on the field throughout the game.
The match was played at Old Trafford on July 14, 16 and 17 with Leicestershire the visitors. The Foxes batted first and were all out for 108, Statham four for 32 and then Wharton and Dyson had an unbroken stand of 166 before Lancashire declared. Leicestershire were again dismissed cheaply, 122 all out after Lester and Hallam had put on 59 or the first wicket. Chief destroyer this time, Malcolm Hilton with figures of 26-17-23-5. Wharton and Dyson knocked off the 65 required for victory to complete the ten wicket win.
Happy days for Dyson but they were not to last. Before things turned sour, however, he was involved in a memorable roses match (Yorkshire supporters look away now). This took place in Manchester in July/August 1960 and was a joint benefit match for Lancashire spinners Tattersall and Hilton. The match was watched over three days by 74000, today what county wouldn't love to have those numbers for a season's watching, let alone three days. In 2013 Yorkshire's total championship attendance in a good summer was a shade over 40000.
Yorkshire, captained by JV Wilson, took first knock and were all out for 154, DB Close 63. Lancashire replied with 226, Wharton top scorer with 83. Yorkshire fared slightly worse second time around being dismissed for 149 after being 36 for 5. Lancashire were left to get 78 in two hours during which Trueman and Ryan, bowling unchanged, sent down 31 overs. The climax of the game is described in detail in Stephen Chalke's wonderful book 'Caught in the Memory' through the eyes of Don Wilson.
To cut to the chase, Lancashire found themselves at 62 for 6. Dyson had not batted at his usual three and he still did not come down the pavilion steps when the seventh wicket fell at 72. Apparently our hero was a man who would go walkabout when things got a bit tense but at last, cometh the hour cometh a shaking Dyson, with four balls left and five to get and Fred Trueman with the ball in his hand. It all comes down to the last ball by which time Yorkshire can only draw or lose but Lancashire can complete their first roses double since 1893 and in the meantime Fred has refrained from running out Clayton when the Lancshire wicketkeeper backed up excessively. The last ball is full and straight and Dyson gets an inside edge onto his pads for four sneaky runs and victory by two wickets. Grown men wept, not least Mel Ryan who had taken five of the eight wickets.
If the preceding paragraphs were difficult reading for Yorkshire followers then the rest of the season became a horror story for Lancashire. Victory over Leicestershire two weeks later kept them top of the table but they lost four and drew two of their last six matches. Yorkshire went top on August 16th and clinched the championship two weeks later at Harrogate. As for Dyson he cracked no pots in the next two games but hit 53 in the win over Leicestershire and 60 in a losing cause at Southend. He fared poorly in a defeat at Northants and that was his last championship appearance until he returned to his home county in 1963.
Despite its sad end (described in Friday's posting) Jack Dyson's life had moments that are only dreams for those of us who never got near playing cricket or football professionally. On May 5th 1956 Dyson scored Manchester City's second goal in their 3-1 win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup Final, his place in footballing history assured. In July of the same year Jack became part of cricket lore when Lancashire were the first team to win a first class match without losing a wicket and the Oldham man was on the field throughout the game.
The match was played at Old Trafford on July 14, 16 and 17 with Leicestershire the visitors. The Foxes batted first and were all out for 108, Statham four for 32 and then Wharton and Dyson had an unbroken stand of 166 before Lancashire declared. Leicestershire were again dismissed cheaply, 122 all out after Lester and Hallam had put on 59 or the first wicket. Chief destroyer this time, Malcolm Hilton with figures of 26-17-23-5. Wharton and Dyson knocked off the 65 required for victory to complete the ten wicket win.
Happy days for Dyson but they were not to last. Before things turned sour, however, he was involved in a memorable roses match (Yorkshire supporters look away now). This took place in Manchester in July/August 1960 and was a joint benefit match for Lancashire spinners Tattersall and Hilton. The match was watched over three days by 74000, today what county wouldn't love to have those numbers for a season's watching, let alone three days. In 2013 Yorkshire's total championship attendance in a good summer was a shade over 40000.
Yorkshire, captained by JV Wilson, took first knock and were all out for 154, DB Close 63. Lancashire replied with 226, Wharton top scorer with 83. Yorkshire fared slightly worse second time around being dismissed for 149 after being 36 for 5. Lancashire were left to get 78 in two hours during which Trueman and Ryan, bowling unchanged, sent down 31 overs. The climax of the game is described in detail in Stephen Chalke's wonderful book 'Caught in the Memory' through the eyes of Don Wilson.
To cut to the chase, Lancashire found themselves at 62 for 6. Dyson had not batted at his usual three and he still did not come down the pavilion steps when the seventh wicket fell at 72. Apparently our hero was a man who would go walkabout when things got a bit tense but at last, cometh the hour cometh a shaking Dyson, with four balls left and five to get and Fred Trueman with the ball in his hand. It all comes down to the last ball by which time Yorkshire can only draw or lose but Lancashire can complete their first roses double since 1893 and in the meantime Fred has refrained from running out Clayton when the Lancshire wicketkeeper backed up excessively. The last ball is full and straight and Dyson gets an inside edge onto his pads for four sneaky runs and victory by two wickets. Grown men wept, not least Mel Ryan who had taken five of the eight wickets.
If the preceding paragraphs were difficult reading for Yorkshire followers then the rest of the season became a horror story for Lancashire. Victory over Leicestershire two weeks later kept them top of the table but they lost four and drew two of their last six matches. Yorkshire went top on August 16th and clinched the championship two weeks later at Harrogate. As for Dyson he cracked no pots in the next two games but hit 53 in the win over Leicestershire and 60 in a losing cause at Southend. He fared poorly in a defeat at Northants and that was his last championship appearance until he returned to his home county in 1963.
Bon Voyage - posted by Tony Hutton
Hopefully not too many of you will be suffering from terminal boredom having read my extremely long account of my travels some twenty years ago. Just felt it was rather appropriate as our good friend David Thorpe and a party of friends will be setting off shortly for a trip to Australia and New Zealand to watch not only cricket, but rugby league, rugby union and horse racing. We are sure they will have a great time and wish them well. A certain amount of arm twisting may be necessary on their return to get them to do a report of their activities. Bon voyage.
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