Leaving home to seek out a train into Leeds on this late September morning, there was frost on the cars and foggy breath. A Premier Leagues final at Castleford Cricket Club to crown Yorkshire’s champion Premier League was the showpiece to look forward to. There was already a good crowd in at Savile Park, folding […]
North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League
Premier Leagues Preview: White Rose Trophy Semi-Finals
Change is in the air in this year’s White Rose Trophy; the end-of-season knockout competition to crown Yorkshire’s top Premier League club. After Woodlands of the Bradford Premier League have dominated for the past two years; the only club to win back-to-back titles, they are not in the picture in 2024. Instead, New Farnley have […]
Richmondshire win NYSD Premier Division (three weeks early)
Richmondshire Cricket Club are celebrating after the first team won the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League’s Premier Division – with three weeks to play. At the time of writing, they sit at the summit on 383 points with Hartlepool second on 297 points. As it’s a maximum of 25 points for a win […]
Sue Mulholland and the therapy of cricket teas
The extraordinary story of Sue Mulholland blends the human spirit with the therapeutic power of baking and cricket teas. I met Sue, who has been making the cricket teas at Darlington Cricket Club for years, back in 2016 at Headingley. She had prepared a lavish spread for the Premier League Championship Semi-Final and it was […]
Ken Welsh Cup: Friday night T20 from Yarm
The North Yorkshire & South Durham Premier League appears to have more cup competitions than you can shake a stick at. Spectators are spoilt for choice! Always keen to try something new, in this case the Ken Welsh Cup, I had a drive up the A19 to Teesside, an old stomping ground of mine, for […]
North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League – Transfer news
A look at the player moves and overseas signings in the ECB Premier Division of the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League. Champions Saltburn will have a new overseas professional for the 2024 season. They have brought in Husnain Bukhari, who last year played for relegated Thornaby. The 32-year-old all-rounder, whose first-class debut was […]
Yorkshire’s leagues postpone season start again: Time for change?
The news that the Match Play Committee of the NYSD had decided to postpone the first weekend’s fixtures (20 & 21 April 2024) had a strange finality – and symmetry – to it. Last year, the same league was fastest out of the blocks in reaching a decision early that others would follow in dribs […]
What if…Club cricket competitions we’d like to see happen
I spotted on LinkedIn that Hornchurch had won the European Cricket League to be crowned Champions of Europe. It got me thinking about other club cricket competitions that could happen with a bit of blue sky thinking. So, here are a few ideas… chip in with your own by leaving a comment at the end […]
Early birds: Pre-season friendlies and when leagues begin
I get a bit twitchy at this time of year. Conflicted even. On the one hand, it’s definitely a time to celebrate more light and longer days with Spring here and the prospect of club cricket around the corner. Yet, there’s no disguising the fact that perhaps now I don’t play anymore, enthusiasm for watching […]
Premier League cricket clubs strengthen squads for 2024
The assumption might be that this time of year is quiet, as the days shorten, but Premier League clubs in Yorkshire are busy signing new players for 2024. Here is a selection of moves I’ve seen announced from clubs in the Premier Leagues. As usual, these are subject to the usual caveats of league paperwork, […]