Patrick Neal is having a frankly ridiculous season with the bat and so I picked up the phone to find out more. The opening bat has played for Mirfield CC for decades and has represented Yorkshire Over 60s for a couple of seasons now. 📸 Pat (below left) is pictured with Brett Thompson of Thompson […]
Interviews
Johnny Barnett: Coaching & community at Stainland CC
Johnny Barnett is the winner of June’s Yorkshire Tea Community Cricket Award and we had a natter by phone to talk about his journey in the game. Volunteering at Stainland Cricket Club began in 2021 with Johnny coaching the juniors while he has since turned his efforts to supporting the women and girls’ teams too. […]
Bowling Old Lane: Disability champions and Curry Club
Bowling Old Lane Cricket Club is full of surprises – and that won’t be the last time I think that on my visit to BD5. Situated off Birch Lane, the Bradford Premier League outfit have a story to tell beyond the long history of this proud community club who joined the league in 1915 and […]
Podcast: Juniors & Rockets at Otley Cricket Club
Claire Bassindale was Highly Commended in May’s Yorkshire Tea Community Cricket Awards and I caught up with Claire to learn how she got involved and the successes since at Otley CC. Her award nomination for last month read: ‘Without Claire being such a huge part of our cricket club and volunteering every day/night, I can […]
Super 1s in South Yorkshire combine community with clubs
The Super 1s programme offers young people, aged 12-25, with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or a disability the opportunity to take part in cricket. It is funded by Lord’s Taverners and runs across towns and cities meaning that those who attend can benefit from free cricket sessions by specialist coaches. As one of the key […]
Nasa Hussain BEM: Bradford Park Avenue to Buckingham Palace
Nasa Hussain, Head Groundsman at Bradford Park Avenue cricket ground, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Announced in The Gazette, the UK’s official record since 1665, the citation read: THE KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty’s Birthday, to approve […]
All change at Bingley Congs: Juniors growth and ground upgrades
It’s Friday night at Bingley Congs Cricket Club. Having walked across the park and clambered over a wobbly gate inelegantly, the view is of junior cricket in all directions. On the second pitch, a game is underway as the young bowler gets some advice from one of the Congs coaches who is umpiring. At the […]
Hoylandswaine: Overseas stars, paying players and juniors
This interview with Hoylandswaine Cricket Club is about big-name signings, paying players, junior development and the swirling debate over ambition and fast-tracking success. The club’s secretary Tony Harrison was on good form, answering any and all questions, however blunt I was, sometimes with a dead bat or with a flourish through the covers. We start […]
Untangling the spaghetti: Mapping out cricket fixtures
Tom Jenkins shares the incredible annual feat of how cricket fixtures at grassroots need to knit together, creating 2,000+ over his winter. Where do I start trying to describe the winter of 2024-25 that I’ve had. As I write this I’m sunbathing in Gran Canaria. I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to fixtures. […]
Baildon Cricket Club on a one-club ethos and paying players
The premise for this look at Baildon Cricket Club was their promotion to the Premier Division of the Bradford Premier League. In the world of professional football, promotion to the Premier League comes with a chance to win millions and the need to strengthen your squad accordingly. At the top level of club cricket in […]