Bank Holiday Monday’s match at Skelton Castle Cricket Club brought to my mind the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare: slow and steady wins the race. That was the chief takeaway from the splendidly named Old Dog Kennels ground, where nine-player Preston-on-Tees managed to defeat, by seven wickets, Skelton Castle, their North Yorkshire & […]
Club cricket
Team selection at cricket clubs: The ultimate Rubik’s Cube
Cricket team selection has been on my radar to write about for ages. So many angles. It can be pretty controversial and I’ve worn the various hats as peripheral cricketer to captain with the nuances and pressures that come with both. If we take it as given that everyone wants to play, how do cricket […]
Oughtibridge win South Yorkshire Alliance Works Midweek League
The 2025 edition of the South Yorkshire Alliance Works Midweek League has been won by Oughtibridge after a tense final against Sheffield Collegiate. It is the third year in a row that these teams have contested the final with Oughtibridge claiming a second win, this time by 11 runs. The 20-team evening competition, across three […]
Conor Harvey & Townville conquer demons to lift Priestley Cup
Townville’s all-rounder Conor Harvey is talking about freeing himself of an albatross. The weight of expectation that comes with the Bradford Premier League side’s near-misses in a variety of trophies over the last decade was shrugged off with the Priestley Cup final win over Pudsey St Lawrence. “We’ve been so close, I mean, six or […]
Helperby winning run ended by league leaders Goldsborough
Last Saturday, I returned to covering the Theakston Nidderdale League when I headed down to Pannal to cover their firsts playing second-placed West Tanfield. Both teams impressed on the day for different reasons. I have been meaning to get to cover Goldsborough this season, preferably at their ground, but with us entering the final few […]
How New Farnley retained the Bradford Premier League
New Farnley Cricket Club 1st XI are cresting a golden wave this season. Their semi-final defeat against Pudsey St Lawrence in the Priestley Cup is the only time they have lost all season in any format. To pick apart the themes, threads and nuances, I turned to Andrew Lawson, the club’s coach (below, right), for […]
Cricket club insurance: How to get the best cover
Cricket club insurance For a number of years now, Cricket Yorkshire has partnered with Howden to provide advice and support on club cricket insurance. Insurance is not a seasonal thing when you are involved with running a cricket club. There are responsibilities, risks and quite a bit of scenario planning to have comprehensive cover. That […]
Village Cricket Co: A quality cricket bat for £117 in 2025
Village Cricket Co are on a mission to make cricket bats more affordable. Their popular Kashmir willow cricket bats and cricket equipment have proved a hit here in the UK in the last few years since they launched. 🙏 Note from John: If you click through links on this page and buy from Village Cricket […]
Guiseley Jets take off against Crossflatts in three-way battle
It’s like someone has slammed their foot down on the brakes; with various leagues and cups coming to an abrupt conclusion at the very end of July and the first week into August. Looking at Play-Cricket to work out any given day’s schedule has been a daunting task in May, June, and July…but as I […]
Green Moor lift Billy Oates Memorial Cup at Hill Top Lane
Just when I thought I’d been to the Yorkshire cricket ground with the finest view (insert your own favourite here), I happened upon Green Moor Cricket Club’s Hill Top Lane. When I arrived, shortly before an August heat haze obscured the eastern horizon, I could see the cooling towers of Drax power station – something […]