It’s gone high. “Don’t drop it, don’t drop, don’t drop it. You’ll never hear the last of it,” I’m thinking. Safely taken. Dream moment accomplished. ‘c Spencer b Spencer’ “No ball.” Oh, the ecstasy and cruelty of cricket in one second. Quite often it’s Dads that have inspired their kids to take up cricket but, […]
Club cricket
Rothwell Cricket Club: Rhubarb and rockets at Royds Lane
Despite a lifelong sweet tooth, I’m not overly keen on rhubarb. In common with gooseberries (unfortunately, the only edible thing that grew in our South Pennine childhood garden), its bitterness makes me shudder. Adding custard helps. Rhubarb – vegetable not fruit – was on my mind as, courtesy of a courtesy car, I trundled, west, […]
A nod and a munch to the best cricket teas in Yorkshire
This article on the cricket teas of Yorkshire; a specialist subject of mine was originally published in November 2019 Those of you who are regular readers of Cricket Yorkshire will know that I flag up the quality of the cricket teas around the county during my adventures. Purely for academic purposes and nothing whatsoever to […]
Welcome to The Parish: Runs and red kites
The long innings of my 2011 vintage Volkswagen Polo is over. With 146,222 miles (note the Double Nelson element!) on the clock, the reliable old campaigner expired last week – albeit only a month before I’d planned to scrap it. No way, without major expense, would it get through a mid-July full service and MOT. […]
Can cricket clubs be better at attracting more spectators?
In 2019, I retired and came back to Yorkshire after 40 years away. Throughout a lifetime of working too hard, I had promised myself that I would spend my sunset years reconnecting with my roots and watching cricket at beautiful grounds. Enjoying the contest, the view, the fluffy clouds, revelling in glorious idleness, all to […]
Foss Evening League: Stockton & Hopgrove host Rufforth
Stockton & Hopgrove Cricket Club field one of just six First XIs contesting the three-division York Vale Cricket League. The others, on the off chance this crops up as an obscure question at your pub quiz, are Ben Johnson, Hirst Courtney, Melbourne, South Cave & Brantingham, and Thorpe Willoughby. Stockton & Hopgrove’s ground, part of […]
Six of the Best: Leagues, cups and ambitions across Yorkshire
With the 2022 season about a third complete, the standings across Yorkshire’s recreational cricket leagues are taking shape and cup competitions approaching their climactic phase. We take a close look at six appealing matches over the June 11-12 weekend: three league fixtures on the Saturday and a trio of cup ties the following afternoon. Saturday, […]
Ryedale Beckett League: Midweek cricket at Duncombe Park
There is always a danger, with midweek cricket, one will arrive at a ground to discover a team – maybe both! – has scratched and the game been called off. Many clubs don’t seem to bother posting social media information about the activities of their midweek XIs, which adds an element of ‘wasted journey’ risk […]
Yorkshire clubs win Aston Lark 2022 Prize Draw
Cricket Yorkshire’s insurance partner, Aston Lark, has revealed the winning cricket clubs in their annual prize draw. 2022 is the third year running that clubs could win one of three cash prizes. The prize draw closed on 30 April 2022 and winners were drawn at random from those who requested a no-obligation insurance quote or […]
Upper Wharfedale: Village cricket from the Yorkshire Dales
The last time we visited Grassington, we’d stumbled upon their 1940s weekend. I thought something was a bit odd when an armoured car parked up; soldiers jumping down to queue for a 99 with a flake. Our return was all about cricket at Upper Wharfedale Cricket Club, whose 1st XI are moving up the divisions, […]