Winners revealed in the Cricket Yorkshire Tea of the Year 2024

The Cricket Yorkshire Tea of the Year for 2024, sponsored by Yorkshire Tea, has been a blast to run again.  

We have shaken things up with new categories to reflect the cost of cricket teas as well as the diversity in diets, culture and food here in Yorkshire.  

The standard has been phenomenal again.  

The fantastic efforts of volunteers at cricket clubs who make, bake and brew is a credit to everyone who gives up their time, whether it’s for a single game or over a season.  

THE WINNERS

Low-cost Luxuries – Muff Field Cricket Club  

Muff Field Cricket Club really impressed us with their efforts to make a delicious cricket tea on an average weekly budget of just £40 for both teams. 

This Bradford club buy in bulk, take advantage of staff discounts at the supermarket and get donations from Morrisons and Warburtons. They also have members who bake and donate cakes. Apparently, the Biscoff edition is very well received!

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Muff Field CC’s Chair Steve Broadbent said: “I think we are proof that with a little thought and a few volunteers, providing the teas doesn’t have to be either hard or expensive.”  

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Congratulations to Muff Field Cricket Club who win 1,500 Yorkshire Tea teabags to keep them topped up with a proper brew.  

Non-baked Nibbles – Pannal Cricket Club 

There are now lots of cricket clubs across Yorkshire who give thought to those who have different dietary requirements or preferences, whether that’s for vegetarians, vegans or by offering halal foods.  

This year, one club particularly stood out for the remarkable choice provided every week: Pannal Cricket Club.  

The Barrett family have been instrumental in feeding players, supporters and visitors to this picturesque village near Harrogate for decades. 

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What came across was the attention to detail, everything being homemade and options such as tomato and mozzarella salad, coleslaw alongside hot dishes like curries, macaroni cheese and favourites for meat-eaters including the pulled pork and apple sauce.  

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It’s a credit to Penny Barrett – and others at Pannal who support her – that there is consistently a huge variety to cater for everyone who might be playing, officiating or watching on the day.  

Congratulations to Pannal Cricket Club who win 1,500 Yorkshire Tea teabags to stock them up, after being shortlisted in our competition from 2023.  

Showstopper – Sandal Cricket Club

This year’s Showstopper category winner is Sandal Cricket Club who enjoy the efforts of Kate, Lee & Margaret and the rest of the volunteers at this community hub in the Southern suburbs of Wakefield.  

The teas at Sandal have long been a source of pride and their entry illustrated the lengths to which they go to think about everyone, whatever the circumstances. 

Sandal’s cricket teas have included a cheeseboard and homemade cakes that would certainly qualify as showstoppers. Players, officials and supporters have tucked into potato and Greek salads, honey and sesame sticky sausages, alongside lemon cake and banana bread.

Congratulations to Sandal Cricket Club who win 1,500 Yorkshire Tea teabags to give them lots of free brews for the 2025 season.  

Highly Commended – Duncombe Park  

Before we get to the overall winner, we’ve picked three clubs to get Highly Commended mentions. Duncombe Park (above) have been shortlisted three times now and while that might be disappointing, another way to look at it is they can reasonably claim to consistently have one of the best cricket teas in Yorkshire.  

Kirsty and others at DPCC go above and beyond. One tea particularly wowed a player from the opposition. They had sweet chilli chicken enchiladas, BBQ pulled pork, homemade pizza, quiche and scones: “This lass did the nicest brownie I’ve ever had, best teas in the league by far.”  

Barwick-in-Elmet are also shortlisted in 2024 as Highly Commended for the quality, presentation and choice that Jill Harrison (above) serves up. One nomination reads: “We almost landed new players last year when the opposition got so excited by the offerings they suggested switching clubs.”

Tea duties are shared so this acknowledgement is for Jill and others who take such pride in their food.

It might be chilli and rice, pork pies, onion bhajis and samosas one week or egg sandwiches, piles of glistening salad and crisp radishes.

Staples include cake – lemon, chocolate, coconut – and scones too. The mantra at Barwick-in-Elmet is: Bowl fast, but eat slowly!  

Lastly, Ilkley Cricket Club (above) are awarded Highly Commended because their teas, again shared between players, family and friends are well thought through, generous and beautifully presented.  

From wraps to fruit skewers and beef in Yorkshire puds to brownies, Ilkley place great importance on their teas and that clearly shows. They should be applauded for how everything was laid out that further elevates what a cricket tea is about.  

All three Highly Commended clubs win 1,200 Yorkshire Tea bags from our sponsor to make sure no-one is thirsty at the clubhouse. (We’ll be in touch with all clubs with regards to prizes).  

Not mentioned this year?  

If you weren’t shortlisted, it absolutely doesn’t mean your club don’t do a really good cricket tea. We got lots of entries from across Yorkshire and the competition is fierce.

Keep doing what you’re doing, I’m sure it’s appreciated by many and we may visit in future!  

🏆 CRICKET YORKSHIRE TEA OF THE YEAR – WINNER

The winner of the 2024 Cricket Yorkshire Tea of the Year is Pannal Cricket Club.  

Having been shortlisted last year, what stood out for us was the way Penny Barrett (and other helpers) put on a consistently high standard of cricket tea with a very generous choice for everyone.  

Pannal’s teas were praised by club members, opposition and across the season I was nudged as to their impact, as well as seeing feedback on social media.

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Pannal Cricket Club win 3,000 Yorkshire Tea bags (in total, topping up their category win), a trophy for the pavilion and a Champagne Afternoon Tea for 4 at Bettys. 

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They received lots of entries and votes and while there were some common themes (delicious, homemade, variety of hot and cold treats), nominees all raved about the quality and choice.  

Penny’s lasagne was mentioned many times (with the summer we’ve had, hot food has likely gone down very well)… the list goes on… pasta dishes, pulled pork buns, quiches, salads, cakes galore.  

Just one quote from a player: “Wow, what can I say? In all my years of playing cricket, these are the best teas I have ever tasted. Wonderfully delicious and a variety of choice to make Bettys jealous.”

Enormous thanks to Yorkshire Tea for providing the prizes and supporting Cricket Yorkshire and the grassroots game for many years. Their brews are world-famous but they never forget their roots. 

Pannal are very worthy winners and it’s been a pleasure to see a snapshot of teas from across communities and hear some of the stories.  

Cricket teas continue to play a vital part of the grassroots game. Beyond fuelling players, officials and spectators, they bring us together to socialise and are another way that volunteers showcase their dedication to cricket.  

Thanks to everyone for entering as well as sharing or commenting on posts on social media. The whole purpose of this competition is to promote clubs, their stalwarts and shine a light on the hospitality across Yorkshire.  

With your help, I think we’ve done that pretty well.