Eight player transfers to watch for the 2025 season

In Yorkshire club cricket, the transfer market has been in full swing as teams across leagues strengthen their squads. There’s been quite a few player moves this side of Christmas and I’ve picked out eight that caught my eye.

Sam Wisniewski (Pudsey Congs to Wakefield Thornes)

Left-arm wrist-spinner Sam Wisniewski is swapping leagues as the Pudsey Congs stalwart has signed for Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League outfit Wakefield Thornes.

Wisniewski got 46 wickets in a difficult season for Pudsey Congs who were relegated from the top-flight of the Bradford Premier League.

Thornes were only just pipped to the Premier Division title by Cleethorpes and Wisniewski joins a club with a rich heritage of successful spinners.

Charlie Parker (Pudsey St Lawrence to Otley)

After eight years, over two spells, Parker bagged 273 wickets at an average of 20.03 and a best of 6-31 for Pudsey St Lawrence.

After an injury-interrupted last season in the Bradford Premier League, it is a move to the Aire-Wharfe Cricket League with a statement signing by reigning champions Otley.

Chris Holliday (Townville to Castleford)

Top-order batter Chris Holliday hit 1,020 runs at an average of 56.67, including 224 not out, for Townville in the Bradford Premier League last season.

His move to Castleford Cricket Club for 2025 is a boost for the Attis ECB Yorkshire Premier League North challengers who finished 20pts off Clifton Alliance last time around.

Duncan Heath (Doncaster Town to Pudsey Congs)

Spin bowler Duncan Heath, who notched his 200th wicket for the Doncaster Town first eleven last season, has switched to Pudsey Congs of the Bradford League.

Well-known in the Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League, Heath effectively replaces Sam Wisniewski at Pudsey Congs who are pushing to return to the Premier Division for 2026.

Farakh Hussain (Yeadon to Jer Lane)

After captaining Yeadon last season, Hussain is returning to Bradford Park Avenue where Jer Lane challenged for the Bradford Premier League title for much of last season.

The big-hitting batter will be hoping to capture his form of 2021 where Hussain hit 1,000+ runs and struck the fastest hundred in the league’s history off just 39 balls, against Hopton Mills.

Kieran & Liam Collins (Woodlands to Townville)

After Woodlands lost the Bradford Premier League title to New Farnley, there’s been a number of departures, including Kieran and Liam Collins to close rivals Townville.

Liam had a leaner spell with the bat (452 runs) in 2024 but he consistently hits 500+ runs and struck 53 (with 57 from Kieran) in the Gordon Rigg Priestley Cup Final win over Bradford & Bingley. When fit and firing, his threat with the ball was illustrated with 40 wickets in 2023.

Meanwhile, Kieran scored 756 runs for Woodlands last season and has breached the thousand-run-a-season threshold twice (2023 and 2021).

It’s a double transfer win for Townville who are a tough nut to crack and made a habit of defeating whoever was leading the league last season.

Tom Clee (Woodlands to Pudsey St Lawrence)

Another Woodlands exit is all-rounder Tom Clee who I chatted to back in September on the sidelines at Castleford about his next move.

Clee has been a match-winner for a few years as Woodlands won successive Bradford League titles and rose to be crowned Champions of Yorkshire. He struck 522 runs last season at an average of 43 and chipped in with 23 wickets.

As with all player stats featured here, it only ever tells half a story. Who put in a match-winning performance when it mattered? Nipped out a key opponent with the ball or dug in with bat?

What seems certain is that Woodlands will announce new signings for the 2025 season as they seek to freshen their squad and bounce back. All eyes will be on those transfers for sure.

So, that’s it for this round-up – there will be more player news nearer the season from Yorkshire including the NYSD (conspicuous from this list as I couldn’t track down latest transfers).

📸 With thanks to Ray Spencer for use of his Bradford Premier League photos. Check our bradfordcl.com for the latest news from the league and Ray’s photo galleries.

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