Sunday league cricket and Sweet Caroline at Keighley

I am sat on a train in Leeds station going nowhere. On the plus side, it can’t be as serious as the day before when the whole place was closed due to a signalling problem.

The plan had been to Doncaster Town Women’s 1st XI versus Sessay Emeralds in the Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League’s Premier Division.

🏏 Sessay roared to an eight-wicket win after Clare Fairclough (4-7) & Jasmine Passman (3-7) had nipped out the hosts for 67.

The Play-Cricket scorecard noted a 1pm start but it had been brought forward to 11am to ensure no-one missed what would transpire to be the Lionesses winning the Euros.

It made no sense to thread my way through delays and cancelled trains to see half a game so a pivot was needed. On the way home, a plan was hurriedly hatched to head to Keighley Cricket Club.

They had a Halifax Sunday Cricket League game where the hosts welcomed Armitage Bridge; the two top sides head-to-head at the summit of Division 4. But first lunch and a place called The Endless Kettle called out to me.

Well, I like a brew and the reviews were pretty glowing. It’s a beautiful building inside and out on North Street and the whole experience blew my mind really. A cafe with a Polish influence; I was there for the pink walls, intricate ceilings decked in gold and the beeper you were given to ask for something or pay the bill (different button).

Little Britain

A ‘Little Britain’ breakfast arrived with six pieces of toast (a record?), a mug of tea with a little waffle and French butter that came in its own tiny butter dish with a lid. Rail angst long forgotten, I waddled out of there, pleased to have found a tasty pitstop next time I’m in town.

TripAdvisor reckoned it was only ranked 32 out of 157 restaurants in Keighley. That seems harsh, not least when the ‘top’ spot was claimed by an eaterie in Haworth!

It being a Sunday; it was a chance to experience club cricket rub alongside rugby league as the Keighley Cougars were playing. The cricket ground and the rugby stadium are separated by a fence and the roar of the crowd or’ Sweet Caroline’ would waft over to us during the afternoon.

If you want to download all things Keighley Cricket Club, a chat with their Secretary and Groundsman Allan Birkett is the ideal place to start. He has two cup finals coming up with the Craven League’s Manorlands Plate and then the Keighley Cup (an inter-league contest) in August.

While you can’t escape the ever-present traffic on Lawkholme Lane, nor can it compete with the green scenery of a Nidderdale League outpost (for me), there is plenty to like about Keighley CC.

Perhaps it’s the sense of an amphitheatre at the award-winning Bradford League ground with its proud alumni of England’s Eddie Paynter, Yorkshire’s Phil Robinson and the Bradford League run-machine Richard Robinson, now Head of Grounds at Headingley.

More likely, it was the welcome from both clubs, easy conversations, the relaxed air that comes with Sunday cricket and frankly, the chance to watch some overs that had seemed unlikely hours earlier.

As is so often the way, I bumped into someone who knew about Cricket Yorkshire as I sat with the Armitage Bridge team who were batting. Shoutout to their Treasurer Andy for filling me in on the club’s fortunes that sound pretty good.

The had switched to the Halifax League’s Sunday competition for a better standard in which their juniors to learn. The squad is made up of players from the second eleven seeking extra matches, those returning to the game or who’ve never played before.

As we talked, the visitors rattled along towards an imposing score of 268. It’s a large outfield at Keighley but batters get decent value for their shots, if they’re watchful of the significant bounce.

Captain Alex Vickerman scored a breezy 102 off 71 balls as 27-2 became 183-3. The other innings of note came from Jayden Stansfield who fell agonisingly short (96) of his first hundred as the last few overs ticked down.

Jayden has played for the Bridge U15s and seconds this season so this knock should demonstrate he has what it takes to ‘go big’ and it will only be a matter of time. Cricket is a funny old game. I sponsor a player, Jamie, who began the season out of nick.

He has since hit 500+ runs, including two hundreds, and is having his best-ever season with the bat.

As for Keighley’s bowling, the ever-wily spin of Michael Clayton bagged late wickets by toying with flight and trajectories, while Takudzwa Mugwamba looks a real prospect.

The teen was athletic in the field and mustered noticeable pace with a languid, fluid bowling action. Sunday cricket can present one-sided games – as ultimately proved the case here as Keighley were rushed out for 79 in response – but it’s also a place to gain experience, games under your belt and see young cricketers develop.

The visitors rotated eight bowlers with Jayden S. capping a strong performance with 3-6 off 3 overs. Before the final rites, I meandered back to the station, discovering Nafees Bakers & Sweets that reckons it’s the largest Asian confectionery producer in the UK.

It was 6pm on a Sunday but the Keighley franchise was open and getting plenty of customers. Perhaps accommodating for those at the Markazi Jamia Masjid across the road after evening prayers.

The fresh cakes were light as a feather and the samosas flew my head off for dinner. All in all, a Sunday saved and savoured.