Kirk Hammerton rise again and return to midweek cricket

Apparently all good things come to those who wait. Fortunate really as this interview with Matthew Jenkins, Chair of Kirk Hammerton Cricket Club, was done when dinosaurs still roamed the earth and I’ve been sitting on it like a skinny chicken.

The premise is simple enough. Club in crisis faces sink or swim moment. I have covered a few this year but those that feature a happy ending are important to reinforce as there can be quite a bit of latent gloom with grassroots cricket.

For every club folding, there are many smashing it and here at CYHQ, we cover any and all sides, as well as the reasons behind them. For some clubs, it was COVID that represented a step too far.

Kirk Hammerton had already lost their second team; a warning bell that spells trouble when it comes to numbers of players, availability and fulfilling fixtures.

“I’ve been around this club for 25 years on and off and I was in the second team when it folded. We all said if we don’t have a second team, this is going to be difficult. Then COVID hit and that was enough to knock us over.”

Key players never returned; assuming that Kirk Hammerton CC was consigned to the history books. Matthew is appreciably honest that they might have been over ambitious at one point:

“Embarrassingly, we were one of those clubs who sign up for a league and then don’t fulfil. That scarred me and a number of other people.”

A committed club President who owns the ground and offered a long lease was one piece of the puzzle in bouncing back: “He, like me, was determined to get cricket back on this lovely ground where most of the spectators are cows or Hebridean sheep!”

Recovery has been slow but carefully managed. Walk before you can run. A few friendlies and a fresh committee in the last couple of years with Matthew installed as Chair.

Getting the ground used for cricket (by anyone) was the next logical step and so Kirk Hammerton are now an outground for Walton Park and Leeds Super Kings while Clifton Alliance have also had teams based at the Mill Lane site to the west of York.

“All those clubs have been very good for us, never mind the other way round, and been very supportive. We’re happy to host them but also figured out that there isn’t much future as an outgrown on its own.”

So, it’s been pleasing to see Kirk Hammerton 1st XI are back playing at home with an unbeaten run of six games in Division 3 of the Harrogate & District Amateur Evening League.

There is also a friendly inked in for 29 June versus Yorkshire Romany with a view to return to weekend league cricket at some stage, if there’s a core who can play. Kirk Hammerton’s availability at the minute tends to include those from other clubs not involved midweek.

The ambition to return to Saturday cricket comes with a caveat.

“It’s a really important principle for us that village clubs like ours need each other. There’s no point us getting back on the backs of other clubs and pinching their players. That’s not gonna be sustainable.”

Therein lies the nub if there aren’t the local cricketers anymore though the reality is that many will travel far for a game.

The longer-term vision is for All Stars to start junior cricket at Kirk Hammerton while the door is open: “We always welcome new players who can play senior cricket at a reasonable level.”

One considerable asset in their favour is the dedication of Alex Jenkins, Matthew’s son, who won the ECB Rising Star Award in 2023 at the Cricket Collective Awards for his groundskeeping efforts while in his teens.

I note Alex has had some experience since assisting the groundstaff at York CC with pitches for Metro Bank One Day Cup games.

Good to see younger groundies given opportunities at clubs like Alex and also Josh Smith at Kirkburton CC who I interviewed back in April.

So, another tale of a cricket club who got knocked down but got back up again (a nod to Chumbawamba there).

All the best to Kirk Hammerton as they consider what the next chapter will be – although just by bringing back cricket to the village, they’ve already succeeded.

Want to read more?

Hope you enjoyed this one – credit to Kirk Hammerton for all they’ve done to be back playing. There are other good news stories such as Bishopthorpe Cricket Club: Crunch point to Clubmark if you’re interested in village cricket or evolving fortunes.

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