In Conversation A Publication of the League Conference Issue 3 October 2016

CROSS COUNTRY

So the last ball has now been bowled in anger. The stumps have been put away and that familiar sign of fencing around the playing area now adorn cricket grounds across the country. In a few instances the sponsored cars for players are now safely returned to their garage providers, or so we must hope! But what happened across our nationwide membership of leagues? Let us sit down and relax with a glass of Chablis and find out but, of course, remembering the adage of Conference’s venerable Vice Chairman “please drink responsibly”

AIREDALE AND WHARFEDALE both came against Thoresby Colliery. Wyatt. was also vice captain on 2016 Champions - Beckwithshaw Another batsman to score a century off the the infamous tour of in of ‘the Coal Boys’ was Leon Botha 1932-3 There was dancing in the streets of the for Papplewick and Linby, his 139 was the picturesque village of Beckwithshaw as the highest score in the top flight. Papplewick BOLTON Killinghall Road club won the title to prevent also had the best match day bowling figures 2016 Champions - Farnworth Social Circle Otley making it back to back triumphs. The in their ranks “ Big” Jim Rhodes taking 7 for two clubs dominated proceedings in this 12 against Notts and Arnold. Farnsworth Social Circle clinched the title North West Yorkshire competition. All and very nearly going the whole season rounder Eugene Burzler dominated with bat What You May Not Have Known: unbeaten. The Piggott Park club agonisingly and ball, scoring 500 runs and taking 35 lost their penultimate match of the season by . Alex Lilley took 53 wickets and was An organisation called “the Secret Knot” was one run at home to Horwich. High up in ably supported by Istikhar Hussain with 40 established in the Village of Farnsfield in the terms of achievement in the “Social Circle” victims. Ben Quick and AlexisTwigg also 1650s to try to overthrow the Lord Protector was Dave Mather who took 83 wickets at a kept the scorers busy when Beckwithshaw Oliver Cromwell. cost of just 11 runs apiece. This included no batted. less than eleven occasions during the season Another batsman who defied the bowlers was BIRMINGHAM PREMIER when the opening bowler took 5 or more Otley’s Jamie Pickering, who accumulated 7 2016 Champions - Berkswell wickets in an . The season’s best was fifties and one ton. 7 for 11 against Atherton. He finished with Berkswell won the title for the first time in its more than 50% of his side’s wickets. Slightly What You May Not Have Known: history, ironically clinching the silverware on less dominant was Overseas Amateur Jake the August Bank Holiday weekend with a 9 Sciluna who scored 704 runs at an average of Thomas Chippendale,the famous cabinet win against the 2015 champions 80. maker was born in Otley. Shrewsbury. Former Warwickshire batsman One player leaving the echelons of the Social Dominic Ostler (member of the Warwickshire Circle is wicket keeper Chris Walsh who is Triple Winning Team of 1994) has led the retiring being the first cricketer in the Bolton Balsall Common side from Warwickshire League to get 700 victims. League champions in 2004 via six promotions culminating in becoming the top team in the What You May Not Have Known: 2016 Champions – Farnsfield oldest league in the country. Former England, Warwickshire and Leicestershire The original owner of Farnworth Paper Mills, The champagne corks were popping in the batsman Darren Maddy led the way with the TB Crompton, patented a continuous dying Farnsfield pavilion as the club make a return bat, whilst Nick James was the leading process which contributed to the to the bright lights of the Nottingham Premier bowler. Kidderminster Victoria (mentioned mechanisation of paper making in 1821. League. Founded in 1863, the Newark based later in this edition) finished runners-up, side held off a stern challenge from Herefordshire player Neil Pinner and Michael BRADFORD Papplewick and Linby who finished runners- Hill being leading run scorers for the 2016 Champions - Pudsey St Lawrence up 33 points adrift. Farnsfield’s opening Worcestershire outfit. bowler David Loveridge topped the bowling Pudsey St Lawrence, for the second year in averages for the top flight taking 49 wickets What You May Not Have Known: succession and for the ninth time in their th which included his 400 wicket for the club. history, won the league title. They finished All rounder Callum McKenzie scored four Berkswell’s captain from 1912 to the four points clear of second placed Hanging half centuries and took 25 wickets. Curtis outbreak of the First World War was John Heaton. Strength lay in particular with their Mitchall was the Station Lane side’s leading Wyatt, father of England Test Captain Bob , Mark Robertshaw 779, Adam Waite run scorer whose two centuries of the season

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826 and Jason Smith 684. Each scored six Wilkinsion returned the second best figures in mainstays of the batting, his season including fifties and the first two each had two centuries the league with 9 for 35 in Alderley’s game four fifties and one hundred. Ockbrook & against their names in the end of season against Cheadle, albeit it was his namesake Borrowash finished runners-up, Kevin Dean averages. Their bowling attack was led by Simon Wilkinson of Bramhall who had the being a leading wicket taker in the top flight. Christopher Marsden and Steven Watts who best match return 9 for 26 against Urmston. Sandiacre Town had another trophy to add to each surpassed 30 wickets. Alderley had a third bowler pass the 30 its burgeoning cabinet of silverware winning Yet, for leading wicket takers, look no wicket mark, Andrew Windle. The the league’s T20 final. Ryan McFadyean was further than Hanging Heaton’s champions top batsman was Callum Rowe “town’s” leading wicket taker in ‘the Prem’. pair of the former Pakistan Under 19 player with 497 runs at an average of 30. Wicket Mohammed Rameez, nick-named Rambo, takers were also aplenty at runners up What You May Not Have Known: with 60 wickets and the ex first class fast Bowden, Chris Ashling finishing with 67 bowler (Yorkshire, , Leicestershire and wickets and ably supported by Daniel Swarkestone is famous for its stone bridge Somerset) David Stiff with 50. Cranmer 46. For batting prowess look no which is the longest stone bridge in the further than Chester Boughton Hall’s opening country. Legend has it that it was financed by What You May Not Have Known: batsmen Richard Moore and Warren Goodwin the Bellamont sisters in memory of their finishing one and two in the premier division fiances who drowned whilst trying to ford the The oldest surviving record of a Pudsey St averages. The two put on 216 for the first River Trent to see them. Perhaps this is the Lawrence fixture is contained within the wicket against Urmston, Moore 156 and source for that epic pop record Bridge over Leeds Mercury, from October 23, 1847. It Goodwin 114 and the latter just for good Troubled Waters by Simon and Garfunkel? reported: “A match of this fine game to measure took 5 for 4 when bowling - the jugs conclude the season came off on Friday at St would have been flowing at Boughton Hall DERBYSHIRE & CHESHIRE Lawrence Cricket ground between the Avenue! married and single members of the club, gallantly won by the former.” What You May Not Have Known:

2016 Champions - Broadbottom Cheshire in medieval times had its own BRISTOL & DISTRICT system of taxation called ‘the Mize’. 2016 Champions - Pak Bristolians Broadbottom secured the title on the last day of the season. It saw off challenges from Pak Bristolians, for the second year running, second placed Hawks Green and the 2015 won the Senior Division. Second placed champions Dinting who finished third. Ryan Chew Magna could feel particularly hard Welsh enjoyed an outstanding season with done by as it did the over the 579 runs and 26 wickets to his name for champions. Broadbottom. Its leading wicket taker was 2016 Champions - St. Just Yet Pak Bristolians had in their midst opening Stephen Croft and included a decisive spell of batsman Shazil Mustafa who was one of only 6 for 18 in the last day of the season triumph St. Just finished the season 12 points ahead of two batsmen in the top flight to score two against Old Glossop. runners-up Truro. Despite the loss of its centuries during the season. The venerable Hawk Green had been top of the table going professional mid summer, its triumph was John Courtney, the Gloucestershire over 60s into the penultimate week of the season encapsulated by consistent scores from all the slow left arm bowler, proved that age is no before a defeat gave the initiative back to leading batsmen, there were 16 scores above bar to success by being the leading wicket Broadbottom. It had earlier in the season won 50, including four from leading batsman taker in the senior division. the Bissenden Cup. Hawk Green had no less Justin Stephens, and the superb bowling of than five players score a century, and it was a Harry Medhurst who was the leading wicket What You May Not Have Known: double for M Stringer with 211. taker in the top flight with 35 scalps. St. Just Yet for the record run scoring that went to have now won the top division in Poldark’s The term “Bristol Fashion” derives from the Hayfield’s skipper Russ Evans who broke the county eleven times. The 2015 Champions City’s seafaring days. It formed part of the league record with an innings of 266 against Werrington had to settle for fifth place. expression “all ship-shape and Bristol Hollingworth. His side also made the highest fashion” and denotes high efficiency. total in the League of 409 for 2. What You May Not Have Known:

CHESHIRE COUNTY What You May Not Have Known: St. Just is the most westerly town in mainland

Britain. The club proudly holds the motto Broadbottom is perfectly placed abutting the that it is the first and last club in England! 2016 Champions – Alderley Edge River Etherow which is the border between Derbyshire and Cheshire. DERBYSHIRE COUNTY

Alderley Edge finished the season 25 points 2016 Champions - Swarkestone DEVON clear of runners-up Bowden, the latter at least having the consolation of beating “the Edge” Swarkstone regained the Premier League title on the last day of the season thanks to 5 for the first time since 2013. As if to confirm wickets taken by Lancashire’s Glenn their superiority, they beat 2015 champions Chapple. Alderley Edge improved Sandiacre Town on the last day of the season, 2016 Champions - Sidmouth dramatically on their fourth placed finish of Scott Elstone taking 6 for 24. Former 2015 thanks, in the main, to an effective Derbyshire player and current Norfolk The Devon Premier League Trophy remains bowling attack. Aaron Smillie led the way player/coach Garry Park was once more very much the property of South Devon with 35 wickets including 6 for 51 against the outstanding scoring 489 runs and taking 30 coastal clubs. It will take the journey from 2014 and 2015 Champions Hyde. Richard wickets. Christopher Durham was one of the Torquay across the Rivers Exe, Otter and Sid

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Page 2 of 12 to a familiar home, namely that of Sidmouth. EAST SUSSEX LEAGUE GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY For the fourth time in six years, Sidmouth 2016 Champions - Buxted Park 2016 Champions - Cirencester recorded a league and cup double. The club, founded in 1823, led the table from early in Buxted Park won the League Championship Cirencester repeated its title triumph of 2015 the season eventually winning the title by 33 for the first time in its history thanks, in part, with, this time, the likelihood of promotion to points. ‘The Seagulls’ had the leading wicket to the impressive exploits of Marno the West of England Premier League. taker in the Premier League, Kyle Brockley, Pretorious (no relation). In his first season Based on a statement issued by the who had a return of 7 for 27 against Brixham. with the Park club, he scored over 600 runs Gloucestershire League, Cirencester (formed The most improved side was Exeter who including five fifties and two centuries and in 1842) are likely to be joined by runners-up finished runners up. also took 59 wickets. This included figures of Apperly and third placed Corse and Staunton Within the Exeter ranks were a Somerset 9 for 36 against Plumpton and East in the WEPL. For Cirencester, which plays at cricketing hero of yesteryear, Alphonso Chillington. Ironically, the only wicket he one of the most picturesque grounds in the Thomas, who finished with 28 wickets, and a did not take on that day was secured by the west of England on the estate of Lord potential star of the future . Bess experienced Craig Olive, Olive and Pretorius Bathurst, batsman Jamie Jamieson-Black took 6 wickets for Somerset against each took 6 wickets in an innings six times in topped the Division 1 batting averages whilst Warwickshire in September 2016. Exeter 2016. Tom Fullalove was the joint leading wicket also celebrated the opening of their new The club which plays in delightful park land taker with 31 victims to his name. pavilion built as part of a sale of some of their nestled close to the Ashdown Forest were the land for student accommodation to the runaway winners, runners up Bell Yew Green What You May Not Have Known: University whose main campus is being 45 points behind. immediately opposite the ground (the writer’s In June 2008 a lock of the writer Jane daughter is in her third year at the University What You May Not Have Known : Austen’s hair was sold at auction in studying Clinical Psychology!) . Cirencester for £4,800.00. At the same

William Wordsworth’s brother was rector at auction, a rare first edition of the book “Sense What You May NOT Have Known: the Church in the Park in the 18 th century. and Sensibility” (a wonderful read for the

forthcoming dark winter nights) sold for a Somerset Club was formed at staggering £30,000.00 Sidmouth in August 1875 following a game between “eleven cricketing gentlemen of Somerset” and “eleven gentlemen of Devon”. For the record, Somerset won the match!

2016 Champions - Egerton DURHAM LEAGUE 2016 Champions - Wanstead and Snaresbrook 2016 Champions - Egerton became the first winners of the newly There can be few better ways for a club to formed Premier League, making it back to Burnopfield secured the top spot in Catherine celebrate its 150 th anniversary. Wanstead and back promotions, having won the Bolton Cookson country winning the Premier League Snaresbrook achieved a first in Essex League League in 2015. The club formed in 1863 by a comfortable 40 points from runners up Cricket, its first, second and third teams all had incredibly not won a main league title Horden. The club with a strong connection winning their respective premier divisions. before 2015. Egerton had already won, with Durham County Cricket Club, Director Just for good measure and to keep their during the previous winter, the County Board of Cricket Gareth Breese, had a number of Insurance Brokers busy, the club’s first eleven Indoor Cricket Competition and therefore former first class cricketers in their ranks to also added the League Cup to the Trophy came into the season in fine fettle. make their presence felt. Breese scored 585 Cabinet! The Overton Drive club had, in its It became clear by the half way stage of the runs and took 46 wickets. This was two midst, opening batsman Hassan Chowdhury summer that the title would be a three horse wickets less than fast medium bowler and who scored 810 runs at an average of 81 race, Prestwich and Clifton being the former county colleague Neil Killeen. which included a blistering unbeaten innings challengers to the Blackburn Road outfit. It Another member of the Prince Bishops of 157 off 123 deliveries in a 9 wicket win at came down to the last game of the season - a winning championship side Callum Thorp home to Ilford. Its bowling was capably led shoot out between Prestwich and Egerton. scored five half centuries. Runners-up by Joe Ellis-Grewal who surpassed the 50 Setting a target of 176 to win, Prestwick fell Horden had Lal Kumar who scored 7 half league wickets mark. short by 35 runs, Amal Dalugoda taking 4 centuries during the summer. Durham City wickets for the champions elect. skipper Jacon McCann fell four runs short of What You May Not Have Known: 1,000 runs for the season. 2015 Champions Esh Winning had to settle for seventh place. , the England captain in the What You May Not Have Known: Ashes series in Australia in 1911-12, was a What You May Not Have Known: member of Wanstead. His initials, JWHT Egerton gets its name from a 19 th century were cruelly satirised by the Australian media landowner Sir Thomas Egerton. The National Colin Milburn, the “Burnopfield Basher” in respect of his batting to mean “Johnny Trust Property Tatton Park in Cheshire is the played his club cricket at Burnopfield which Won’t Hit Today”. ancestral home of the Egerton Family. is also the home of another club, Lintz. Lintz Douglas was also the first president of our is famous for being at the centre of the cricket friends the Club Cricket Conference. ball nuisance case of Miller v Jackson.

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HOME COUNTIES KENT entering politics, purchased land in 2016 Champions - Hartley Park Ramsbottom from where he commenced his career in manufacturing industry. He is For a second successive season the remembered to this day with the Peel 2016 Champions - Finchamstead champagne corks were popping in the Hartley Monument standing imperiously on Park dressing room following another Holcombe Moor overlooking the town. For ‘the Leicester City of Club Cricket’ in championship trophy. Its triumph was again 2016 look no further than Finchamstead. emphatic being 32 points clear of second Promoted from Division 2 at the end of 2015, place Blackheath. The former Kent player ‘the Finches’ took the Division 1 title at the James Hockley dominated with the bat for the first attempt, heading off the challenge of champions reeling off no less than 9 half 2016 Champions - Leigh Henley in the final weeks. centuries in the top flight of Kent league

The Berkshire club’s success was fully cricket. It has been quite a year for Leigh. Its rugby merited. In Jandre Coetzee they had the The surprise side in the premier were league team made it back to the Super League leading bowler in the league, his 55 wickets Tenterden, who finished in a commendable after an 11 year gap whilst the cricket club included 7 “michelle fivers”. And for third place in their first season following won the Premier Division for the first time. explosive batting look no further than Andrew promotion at the end of 2015 season. Its Leigh’s opening batsman Ross Zelem scored House who broke both league and club success lay in its bowlers Colin Savage and 903 runs which included scores of 102, 98 records with an innings of 228 against Slough Sam Weller (surely not the character in and 117 in successive weeks in the spring. off just 148 balls. The club, formed in 1857, Charles Dickens Pickwick Papers?) each All-rounder Matthew McKiernan was also enjoyed success with its other adult taking in excess of 30 wickets. outstanding with both bat and ball, 570 runs teams in the Thames Valley Competition. including five fifties and 78 wickets. This What You May Not Have Known: included a match haul of 8 for 31 against What You May Not Have Known: Colwyn Bay. Tenterden known as ‘the Jewel of the Weald’ Colwyn Bay’s opening bowler S S Mundhe That “womaniser” Henry VIII is said to have was the birthplace of William Caxton who took all 10 wickets in the fixture against visited Earl Court Manor at Finchampstead printed the first English book in 1477. Birkenhead Park at Penrhyn Avenue. and wooed two sisters, one of whom The leading wicket taker in the league was committed suicide in a fit of jealously that her LANCASHIRE sister was the chosen one! Mohammed Aslan Qureshi of Rainhill. 2016 Champions - Ramsbottom Formby finished as runners-up, former Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey slow Winston Churchill once famously said “we left arm bowler Garry Keedy taking 54 must learn to draw from our misfortunes the wickets. means of our future strength”. Ramsbottom 2016 Champions - Delph and Dobcross Cricket Club was a living testimony to such What You May Not Have Known: wise words. Its ground under water on Delph and Dobcross (formed in 1877) went Boxing Day 2015 ravaged by the Yuletide The Pop Singer Georgie Fame was born in unbeaten throughout the season to win the monsoon that hit the north west of England, Leigh in 1943. coupled with then having during the season, title finishing 14 points clear of nearest rivals no less than nine games ruined due to rain, Hoylandswaine. “The Invincibles” home MANSFIELD dramatically won the league off the last ball fixture against Hoylandswaine should come 2016 Champions - Eckington of the season against Nelson. Josh Dentith into the category of one of the greatest games stroked the ball to the boundary as “the of league cricket in 2016 (perhaps this is a Sometimes a young overseas player comes Yellows” secured the win to deprive Burnley future article for In Conversation?). along whose performances make you wonder of a second successive title. Oh the drama of Delph batting first slipped to 92 for 3 before a whether there is a prodigy in the making. it all! For Ramsbottom this is its sixth league remarkable 207 run partnership for the fourth That could be said of 21 year old South title. Its star was undoubtedly its overseas wicket between Greg Buckley 131 off 117 African Johan Davel who masterminded professional Daryn Smit who scored 756 runs balls and 122 from 64 deliveries. Eckington’s triumph in this Sunday League. and took 69 wickets. On two occasions Lilley’s innings included 13 sixes - perhaps The pedigree was clear, having played for during the summer he scored an unbeaten just as well the ground is 640 meters above Sinoville in the Pretoria Premier League. The century and followed up in the same games sea level! A final total of 367 for 8 however right hand batsman scored 1,082 runs with a with 7 and 6 wickets respectively. Did that was chased ferociously by the visitors- who ‘Bradmanesque’ average of 98. He scored a mean the buying of two jugs one might ask? reached 356 for 8 off their 50 overs. Lilley century in every month of the summer for the Burnley had to settle for runners-up, well showed his prowess with the ball taking 5 of Staveley Lane side. In July the 100 against ahead of the rest of the pack. Vishal Tripathi the visitor’s wickets. Anston CC followed up having taken 7 for 30 scored seven half centuries during the In the championship on the opening day of with his tidy off breaks. summer. the season Adnan Ghani took all 10 wickets The Staveley Lane side was 55 points ahead Rishton’s overseas professional Shaun Von of Marsden playing for Denby. of runners-up Hucknall. Berg was top of both the league’s batting and

bowling averages - 955 runs and 75 wickets What You May Not Have Known: What You May Not Have Known :: being his exceptional figures.

John Schlesinger’s block buster film Yanks, Herbert Elvins, the President of the General What You May Not Have Known : made in 1979, was filmed in and around Council of the Trade Union Congress in 1938

Dobcross. As a result every Whit Friday in was born in Eckington in 1874. the village there is a Yanks Festival. British Victorian prime minister Robert Peel, founder of the modern day police force before

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THE MARCHES winners enclosure. In what was a real team What You May Not Have Known: 2016 Champions - Luctonians effort, four players scored over 450 runs and five bowlers secured 18 or more wickets. Kevin Sim, lead singer with the Pop Group Luctonians were the outstanding team in the Pride of place for “the Teds” was their Liberty X went to school in Leyland. League being a massive 61 points ahead of overseas player Tim Armstrong who took 18 Garnon who had won the title for three wickets at 23 and scored 707 runs at an NORTH SOMERSET successive years between 2012 to 2014. The average of 54. 2016 Champions - Bristolians Knights Mortimer Park club had a dynamic batting North Middlesex had to settle for runners-up line up Hamish Light and James Platford both despite having two of the leading wicket You could not ask for more drama than in this surpassing 700 runs and each with three takers in the shape of Joel Hughes (40) and Sunday Competition as Bristolian Knights centuries to their names. Its leading bowler Tom Nicholls (36), the latter included a pip0ed the 2015 champions Easton Tigers to was Imalka Kankanamalage who took 6 for season’s best 8 for 72. Nicholls was also the the title. The sides finished level on points, 36 against the delightfully named Canon leading fieldsman in the league with 5 but the “Knights” in its first season in the top Frome & Mardon. catches. flight won under the league’s tie rule. th On 15 June the club also celebrated the The former South Wilts player, Tom Morton, Muhammed Khan and Sumit Chavan both opening of its impressive new changing in his first season at Ealing scored 232 topped 500 runs for the season, the latter also rooms. recording the highest individual score in being the leading wicket taker for the 2016. The ‘Broadway Club’ also had the Kingswood Bristol based side. What You May Not Have Known: only other double centurion in their ranks in the form of Oliver Wilkin. What You May Not Have Known: Luctonians of Mortimer Park is so named Dan Manawedge made three centuries during because one of the major battles in the Wars the season for Twickenham. Kingswood now a suburb on the eastern side of The Roses was fought on where cricket is of the city of Bristol was once a royal hunting now played. The Battle of Mortimers Cross What You May Not Have Known: forest. in 1461 saw the House of York slay the

House of Lancaster (what a refreshing NORTH STAFFS & DISTRICT thought for all those of the White Rose Benny Hill’s 1971 Christmas Number 1 pop record “Ernie, The Fastest Milkman in the 2016 Champions - Porthill Park CC persuasion!). The Red Rose leader Owen Tudor West” recorded that Ernie’s rival for the woman of his dreams (Sue who lived in Lilly The four zonal winners, JC Meakin, Little (grandfather of Henry VII) being captured Stoke, Meir Heath and Porthill Park made it and beheaded! Lane at number 22) was called “Two Ton Ted from Teddington” who drove the baker’s van. to finals day, the last two contesting the final. It turned out to be a very one sided final however, Porthill Park winning by 10 NORTHERN wickets. Simon Wood and Josh Butler (surely not the England ODI wicket keeper!) 2016 Champions - Wycombe House reached the target of 101 inside 10 overs. Wood had scored an unbeaten half century in Wycombe House won the title for the first the semi final, earlier in the day to add to his time since 1998. The Osterley based side 54 in the final. In this unique triumphed with victory by 8 wickets on the 2016 Champions - Leyland competition with each side having 8 players last day of the season over their nearest rivals with innings of 15 overs, the most explosive Ealing Trailfinders. The Trailfinders were Leyland won the Northern League title for the batting came from Spencer Byatt of Little dismissed for just 85, spin bowler Sohail sixth time in its history after holding off stern Stoke who in the zonal match hit 124 not out Elahi taking 7 wickets. challenges from Blackpool and Fleetwood. off just 49 balls. Six days later Craig Grimley 2016 has been quite a season for the Jersey Henry Thompson was the stand out player for of Blyth scored 123 runs in just 42 deliveries! Road side as their third and fourth teams also Leyland with 580 runs including six half secured promotion in their respective centuries and 24 wickets. The adage What You May Not Have Known: competitions. “bowlers win matches” was never more true than for Leyland, Ross Bretherton 35 wickets, Finals day raised £1,000 for charity. What You May Not Have Known: David Makinson 34 and Karl Cross 28 being regular names to appear in the bowlers NORTH YORKSHIRE & SOUTH DURHAM Ealing Trailfinders was formed in 2013 and column of the scorebook. forms part of the highly successful sporting Daryl Mitchell put in a towering performance operation in West Ealing which includes the for Blackpool, scoring two centuries and four rugby club who now play in the second tier of fifties and taking two five wicket hauls. 2016 Champions - Barnard Castle English national rugby - the Championship. Australia A player Travis Dean starred for Fleetwood with runs and wickets. This Barnard Castle won the title for the first time MIDDLESEX COUNTY included an innings of 176 against Kendall in its history. Skipper James Finch was the 2016 Champions - Teddington where he shared a stand of 120 for the tenth leading wicket taker with 56 wickets. The wicket with Kieran McGann. Patrick Ashton town’s castle is located high up on cliffs The familiar ebb and flow of sport were no twice took 7 wickets in an innings for “The overlooking the meandering River Tees and better illustrated than by Teddington. Cod Army”. like the castle, the side’s batting was built on th Having finished in the eighth position in Chris Miller of Kendall recorded his 500 very firm foundations. Opening batsman Karl 2015, after winning the title in 2014, the wicket in the League during the summer Turner was both its crenulation and gun Bushey Park side made it back in to the which included a return of 8 for 16. cannon, scoring over 1,100 runs including no

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Page 5 of 12 less than 5 hundreds. For Ashington Rugby their standard bearers Haverfordwest pulled off the double as in The Castle’s batting bombardment was also were Adam Peacock, 634 runs at an average addition to another League triumph they also aided by Australian Lachlan Pfeffer who of 48, Cory Milburn 36 wickets and Dean won the Harrison Allan Cup. scored 846 runs at an average of 56. Turner Greaves 32 costing less than 13 runs apiece and Pfeffer entranced the crowd with a 203 including seven for 15 away at Blyth. What You May NOT Have Known: run partnership for the second wicket against Perhaps spare a thought for Alan Robson of the 2014 and 2015 Champions third placed Warkworth, he made 8 fifties but Suggs, the lead singer in the pop group Richmondshire. did not get to three figures being dismissed Madness went to school in Haverfordwest in The name most talked about around the for 99 against Ulgham Village. the 1970s. The Group had a number one hit breakfast tables on Sunday mornings in the with the record Our House in 1982. area was however that of Lee Hodgson of What You May Not Have Known: Marske who scored 1,520 runs in the league PENNINE season, including 8 centuries, three of which Sir Walter Scott’s famous poem describing were on consecutive weekends in July. His the Battle of Flodden wrote:- unbeaten innings of 201 against Hartlepool came off just 155 deliveries and had everyone “Where flows the sullen Till, ducking for cover such was the power of his “And rising from the dim-wood glen, 2016 Champions - Walsden hitting. “Standards on standards, men on men, Records were also broken, the opener being “In slow procession still, Walsden (formed in 1870) became the the first batsman to score a double century at “And sweeping o'er the Gothic arch, inaugural winners of this newly formed Windy Hill Lane and the first Marske player “And pressing on in ceaseless march, league holding off the challenge of to record 8 centuries in a season. The “To gain the opposing hill. “ Saddleworth who finished runners-up. The champions were indebted to Sri Lankan league’s president, sitting in his Oval Office, professional Umesh Karanaratne who reached even ran out of superlatives to describe his NOTTINGHAMSHIRE PREMIER the 50 wicket mark and scoring 459 runs. He batting in the weekly columns to the Northern 2016 Champions - Cuckney also produced best bowling figure of 7 for 18 Echo. against Norden. For Great Ayrton, who finished in second Cuckney collected the silverware in the top Co-incidentally the leading centurion for the place, opening batsman Chris Batchelor top flight of cricket in Robin Hood country. It season with three three figure scores was scoring with 878 runs represented the league was 14 points ahead of Plumtree. Michael Price of Norden. in the Yorkshire Abu Dhabi Challenge Match. Opening batsman James Hawley was the star Saddleworth had a strong bowling line up performer with the bat for the champions, his Imran Aslan and Steven Howard both What You May Not Have Known: tally of 853 runs included eight fifties and one reaching the 30 wicket mark . ton. The three figure score, 111 against

The famous author Walter Scott was a Welbeck came off 145 deliveries. Leading What You May Not Have Known: frequent visitor to Barnard Castle and he bowler for the Langwith Road side was 28 began his poem ‘Rockeby’ by describing a year old Australian Trent Lawford who took The name Walsden comes from the Anglo- man standing on guard on the round tower of 37 wickets. The right arm fast bowler who Saxon meaning “valley of the foreigner” - apt Barnard Castle. has played first class cricket “down under” for as the place is on the border of Lancashire and South Australia had a season’s best of 7 for Yorkshire, and may not be too sure whether it NORTHUMBERLAND 51 as Clifton Village were dismissed for 99. is of the Red or White rose persuasion! 2016 Champions - Tillside These were joint best bowling figures of the season in ‘the prem’ shared with Ben Savage The sound of the battle drums echoed around of Radcliffe on Trent. Runners-up Plumtree RIBBLESDALE LEAGUE Northumberland this summer as the contest had three batsman in the top ten, Oliver 2016 Champions – Clitheroe for top spot between Tillside and Ashington Soames, Hassan Azad and Sam Wood. The Rugby reached its thrilling climax, bringing latter hit the joint highest score in the League Clitheroe won the league for the second back memories of ‘the drum call’ of the in 2016, 152, the same as West Indies successive season, being unbeaten and also English troops marching along the River Till Cavaliers Akhil Patel. winning the Ramsbottom Cup and the T20 in 1513 before the Battle of Flodden. Competition. Next season it joins the For Tillside it was a victory by just a solitary What You May Not Have Known: Lancashire League. It was 47 points clear of point 338 points to 337 and the possibility of second place Settle. Jack Dewhurst scored promotion. Plumtree, as well as being a village in 437 runs to add to a tally of 32 wickets which Wow! the excitement and agonies that cricket Nottinghamshire, is also the name of a included 6 for 8 against Feniscowles. can provide! Canadian Rock Band who had a big hit with a Janaka Guneratne was another bowler to take For Tillside who finished second and record called Scott Pilgrim in the 1990s. 6 wickets in an innings, the Sri Lankan professional having, in 2015, become the first Ashington Rugby third in 2015 behind player in the Ribblesdale League to hit six runaway leaders Bates Cottages, which was PEMBROKE sixes in one over. promoted at the end of 2015 season, the battle 2016 Champions - Haverford West lines were drawn early this summer. What You May Not Have Known: Tillside’s Liam Hindmarsh recorded six half Haverfordwest won for the second successive Local legend says that stepping stones centuries during the summer including two in season and its thirteenth over all. The “Town” crossing the River Ribble near to the town is successive weeks at the end of the season. had a titanic struggle throughout the season the abode of an evil spirit who drowns one Jake Birkett and James Morgan, 38 and 39 with Neyland, the Dale Road club eventually traveller every seven years! wickets respectively were the standard bearers winning by just one point. Its batting was of the Tillside assault on opposition batting built around solid performances from Simon positions. Holliday and Paul Tough.

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SHROPSHIRE LEAGUE there would be no repeat by winning the What You May Not Have Known : 2016 Champions: Sentinel league by a handsome margin and also pulling off the KO Cup double. Star man was Prescot, a town eight miles from the centre of Sentinel (formerly Reman Sports) celebrated Ben Walker who topped the batting averages Liverpool, was where Daniel Craig, aka the resumption of using its original name, with 739 runs jncluding three centuries and James Bond, spent part of his childhood. which dates back to 1949, by winning the three fifties. He also took 13 handy wickets. league title. The main wicket takers for Havant, who last STAFFORDSHIRE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP Oh what a difference a year makes! won the title back in 2011, were Richard 2016 Champions - Milford Hall The club lost out on the title on the last day of Hindley and Chris Morgan. the season in 2015. It ensured there would be Laurels for leading wicket taker in the league Milford Hall were outstanding throughout the no similar repeat in 2016. Sentinel had three fell on the shoulder of Matt Metcalfe of fifth season and deservedly took the title. At times lead players, Elliot Hitchen, 717 runs placed Lymington. For South Wilts, who its cricket was exceptional perhaps none more including nine fifties and 28 wickets, David play their games out the outskirts of so in a fixture against Aldridge which they Laird, 429 runs and 39 wickets and new Salisbuty, it was a fourth place finish. won by 279 runs. They posted over 300 runs, signing from Cound, Joe Yapp 431 runs and which included a 222 run fourth wicket 26 wickets. What You May Not Have Known: partnership between opening batsman Quatt had to settle for second place but had Christopher Becker (Boris will be pleased) the consolation of knowing that it had players The Old House and Home Pub in Havant is and Hayden Slodecki. Opening bowler Ejaz in the Premier Division top ten. Adrian Evans reputed to have, in the ceiling of the lounge, Nawaz followed up with the impressive hit 489 runs and Jonathan Edwards (is this the two beams taken from ships involved in the figures of 8 for 22 as “the Hall” ran through former Olympian?) 40 wickets. Spanish Armada of 1588. their opponents in 20 overs. For third place Wem, it was again a case of so Nawaz was the only bowler in the premier near and yet so far. Matt Cohen scored 5 half SOUTH NOTTINGHAMSHIRE league to take over 50 wickets. Becker went centuries during the summer and Kevin 2016 Champions: Attenborough on to record four centuries for the club based Mungroo was the official number one for close to Stafford. wickets taken - 54 in total including 8 for 15 Attenborough have made an early return to The leading run scorer in the Premier against Forton. the Nottinghamshire Premier League with an Division was Brian Barnard with 1,044 runs emphatic victory in the top division of the for Cannock who finished in third place What You May Not Have Known? South Nottingham League. The club which narrowly behind Beacon. plays its home cricket on the picturesque Wem was the childhood home of the great village green were 66 points clear of runners What You May Not Have Known: English Essayist William Hazlitt. up Collingham and District. And to show the club’s strength in depth their second XI won Former England test cricketer SOMERSET COUNTY SUNDAY Division B of the League. Byron Haycock played for Cannock in 2000. 2016 Champions - Wellington averaged 84 with the bat, including a top score of 116 against Hoveringham. Chris STONE & DISTRICT LEAGUE On the 201 st anniversary of the Duke of Allcoat and Ben Bhabra also had their days in 2016 Sunday Premier Champions – Wellington’s triumph at the Battle of the sun with willow, each passing the 400 Little Stoke Sunday A Waterloo, how apt that Wellington should go runs target. The latter was also inspirational unbeaten in the league. For the South West with the ball, taking 40 wickets. Little Stoke Sunday A enjoyed a triumphant Somerset club, it had in its armoury on the season winning the title with weeks to spare battlefield Griqualand West player Zandre What You May Not Have Known: its nearest rivals being Alsager. Ironically, Swartz who scored two centuries and a best Little Stoke’s only defeat came at the hands bowling figures of 5 for 13. Henry Ireton a Parliamentary General in the of Alsager being dismissed for just 51, What a contrast a year makes (The English Civil Wars (1964 to 1651) and son in Mohammed Azam taking 9 for 5. Temptations sang the record “What a law of Oliver Cromwell was born and brought Alsager also had the Tariq Mughal score the difference a day makes), West Bagborough up in Attenborough. highest total, a majestic innings of 154 in the who lost every game in Division B in 2015 encounter against JG Meakin. did the exact opposite this summer, by SOUTHPORT DISTRICT LEAGUE winning every game. 2016 Champions - Prescot & Odyssey What You May Not Have Known:

What You May Not Have Known: The wonderfully named Prescot & Odyssey The artist James Lloyd, reputed to be the first resoundingly won the league title. The club self taught artist to have a picture hung in the A 175 feet Statue of the Duke of Wellington was a merger of two clubs, Prescot and Tate Art Gallery, was born in Alsager.0 (old Iron Boots) which took 75 years to build Odyssey, in 2004. Opening batsman Peter is located on the Blackdown Hills Crookes topped the League batting averages SURREY CHAMPIONSHIP overlooking the town and the M5. and the Burrows Lane club also had three 2016 Champions - Sunbury bowlers Lawrence Mason, Rob Magee and Matthew Connolly who all passed the 30 Sunbury retained the title which they had won wicket mark for the season. for the first time in 17 years back in 2015. A The club will hope to join the Liverpool brilliant season led by John Maunders, the 2016 Champions: Havant Competition, Birkenhead St. Marys, who young team won 13 of their 18 games. They were relegated from that league in 2015 had had three bowlers Vishal Manro, Adam Havant ended South Wilts four year hold of to settle for fifth place in their first season. Stanier and Amar Virdi who each took six the top spot. Having finished runners-up in wickets in an innings, the latter also played 2013, 2014 and 2015, Havant ensured that for England Under 19s taking 5 wickets on

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Page 7 of 12 debut against Sri Lanka. What You May Not Have Known: WORCESTERSHIRE SATURDAY LEAGUE Reigate Priory had to settle for second place, Champion 2016 - Worcester Nomads the top of the table decider on the last day of Chesham is traditionally known as the Town the season against Sunbury having been of the four Bs - standing for Boots, Beer, In Edward Elgar country, Worcester Nomads tantalising placed, before rain washed out Brushes and Baptists. who finished runners-up in 2015 went one proceedings. “The Prior Men” scored 255 for better this summer winning the title by a huge 4 and then reducing Sunbury to 81 for 3 when margin of 61 points over second placed the rain hit the Surrey stock-broker belt. Colwall. The Bransford based side’s reward There was one double centurion in the league, is a potential return to the Birmingham Premier League structure which they left in Kiran Maharajah with 209 for Weybridge 2016 Champions – Nuneaton Vandals 3 rd 2013. Its talisman was Zimbabwean batsman XI. Innocent Kaia who in his second season for Local rivals Nuneaton and Bedworth had a the Nomads scored 925 runs including nine What You May Not Have Known: titanic struggle for the league litle, the scene fifties and two tons. One of those centuries made even more dramatic with the fixture was 142 in the local derby against Worcester. Mal Evans, the Beatles Road Manager, lived between the two sides on the penultimate Its bowling was led by Richard Henry who in Sunbury in the early 1970s. week of the season being washed out. As it secured 32 wickets. was, Nuneaton, formed in 1826, won at Worcester in their first season back in the Ambleside to secure the title and potential county competition following relation from SUSSEX PREMIER LEAGUE promotion to the Birmingham Premier the Birmingham League had to settle for fifth 2016 Champions - Roffey League structure. Nuneaton’s skipper, Lee place, McNeil, took 33 wickers and with Jason

Roffey made it three premier league titles in Jackman scoring 669 runs including 6 scores What You May Not Have Known: succession. The club, formed in 1904, saw of above 50 were the side’s key players. off the challenge of Cuckfield which The first and last battles in the English Civil surprised many to finish runners-up. The What You May Not Have Known: Wars (1642 to 1651) were fought in and champions included in their side, for the first around the City of Worcester. time in four seasons, Luke Barnard who took The author Mary Anne Evans, who wrote 51 wickets in the season including a return of under the pen name George Eliot, (at that time 7 for 78 against Hastings and St Leonards. female literary work would not be published) WORCESTERSHIRE SUNDAY LEAGUE Another bowler to take 7 wickets in an was born and brought up in Nuneaton. She innings was Josh Hayward of Cuckfield. For wrote some of the greatest novels in English the same club Jordan Silk scored three literary history such as Middlemarch and centuries in July. Silas Marner. 2016 Champions – Penn

What You May Not Have Known: WEST OF ENGLAND PREMIER Penn took the silverware back across the Champions 2016 - Bath Leading on from the reference to Jordan Silk, border into Staffordshire after a pulsating one of the most famous silks in terms of the final’s day at Bromsgrove on September 18th. Bath reclaimed the title pipping the 2015 Having won the North Group it beat Astwood bar in the twentieth century was Lord champions Frocester in a battle royal in cider Denning (he of the famous Cricket Fan Bank by 6 wickets, the South Group Winners. country. Bath included in their ranks the Amun Samra, 42 off 32 balls, was the Judgment in the cricket ball nuisance case of promising young batsman Tim Rouse who Miller v Jackson) who lived in Cuckfield talisman for Penn, whose new pavilion scored three centuries during the course of the opened only in June 2016, will be a fitting between 1935 to 1963. season which was rewarded by turning out for place for the silverware. Somerset later in the year. THAMES VALLEY LEAGUE The leading wicket taker was Paul Muchall of What You May Not Have Known: Frocester with 41 scalps. Mucall also scored

over 1,000 runs in the season for the Penn Cricket Club was formed in 1908 by the Gloucestershire village outfit. congregation of St Bartholmew’s Church Newcomers to the top flight, Potterne, had a which is located on a hill overlooking the 2016 Champions – Chesham commendable first season finishing fourth, village. opening batsman Tom Cullen also recording Chesham, one of the founder members of the three centuries during the season, Thames Valley League secured its first ever It was a bad year however for the Somerset YORKSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUES title. The club, formed in 1888, played some County Town as both Taunton sides found outstanding cricket. Opening batsman Matt themselves relegated from the top flight. Rance made the side’s highest score of the season with an unbeaten 127 against Kew. What You May Not Have Known: Having won the First Team Player of the Year Champions 2016 - Wakefield Thornes in 2012 and 2014, will the even number year The old expression “Get Yourself to Bath” look kindly on him again? The leading derives from the practice of sending people Wakefield Thornes, formerly of the Central wicket taker for the Meadow based club was believed to be insane to Bath to be treated in Yorkshire League, cruised to the inaugural Pip French with 44 wickets. the city’s healing mineral waters. title being 52 points clear of second placed Our Monarch may not, however, have been It was the practice that a person’s hair would Appleby Frodingham, another ex CYL side. amused to see her local side 68 points adrift at be shaved off and the waters applied as a The Field Lane side won 16 of its 22 matches the bottom of Division 1! curative measure. to make it the toast of South Yorkshire. Its batting was led by David Toft whose 766

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Page 8 of 12 runs included centuries against Cleethorpes judged). both home and away. The bowling attack was another to surpass was dynamic, overseas amateur Akila Isanka 600 runs in the season. David Foster with 38 taking 55 wickets included three “michelle wickets and Harry Stow 36 were the other feiffers” with Mahmood Rasool 40 and Steve 2016 Champions – Harrogate main stays of the St George’s Road bowling Morgan (not the former owner of Redrow attack. Homes) 33. The best leaders are those who lead from the York and the Yorkshire Cricket Academy front and no better example of this was were the closest challengers. What You May Not Have Known: George Ross the skipper of Harrogate. He scored 664 runs and took 31 wickets at the What You May Not Have Known: Wakefield Thornes, as a club, was formed as cost of just 19 runs. He was ably supported the result of a merger of two paper mills, by fellow opening batsman, who lived up to BBC News reported in August 2015 that Paton and Baldwin Rutland Mill and Thornes his surname, Matthew Good by scoring 768 Harrogate had been voted the happiest place Mill in 1974. runs including three tons at an average above to live in Britain. 40 (the bar at which all batsmen should be

ONE FOOT IN THE ARCHIVES League Cricket 30 years ago

When a pint of beer cost 72 pence, and Billy Almanack called him a “Cricketing Genius” Ocean had a number one hit entitled “When and someone “who will one play cricket for The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get the West Indies and score lots of runs”. How Going”, who showed these attributes to propitious such a statement turned out to be. Undercliffe, for the first time in 15 years, celebrate success in their League in 1986? won the Bradford League, the then young Hooper scored lots of run for Werneth in Yorkshire prospect Simon Kellett scoring 1986, 1,715 in all and in the process breaking over 900 runs in the season and picking up the record for the most runs scored in a the league’s young player of the year award. season in the Central Lancashire League. He was ably supported in the batting by Ironically that record had been held by stalwart Howard Reeve 632 runs and former In ‘Catherine Cookson Country’ 1986 was another West Indian great, Sir . Leicestershire Cricketer Peter Booth 623 runs quite a year for Ponteland. Having been That Werneth finished just sixth, re-enforces and 38 wickets. There was double joy for the founded in 1880, the Northumberland league that cricket is very much a team game. The wonderfully named Intake Road club who club won the Enid Farmer Cup. It also, in Central Lancashire League Champions in also lifted the Priestly Shield in 1986. the same year, for the only time in its history 1986 were Littleborough, West Indian pace beat an MCC side by 6 wickets, stalwart bowler Ezra Moseley taking 132 wickets at a Walsall appear to have a special liking for batsman John Jessop top scoring with 86. In cost of just 9. He was ably supported by the year which finishes with a six in each the same year Phil Oatway made a career David Schofield 88 wickets and 1000 runs. decade, because for the third successive best 160 in the encounter with DHSS which instance, they lifted the Birmingham League was the highest individual score in a For the first time in 38 years it needed a play title. Ironically, they were to do so again in Northumberland league game that season. off to decide the Lancashire League 1996! For good measure the Gorway Road Champions, Nelson coming out on top. club also won the Staffordshire Cup. Travelling south along the A19, the South African Eric Simons was the dominant delightfully named works side Ingersol Rand force for the club, which had been formed in In ‘Cider Country’ Patchway, for the first won, for the second successive season, the 1861, with 767 runs and 71 wickets. Former time in its history, won the Bristol & District East Durham League. Lionel Ritchie had a Pakistan test opening batsman Mudassar Cricket League. Cider, incidentally in 1986 hit called “Dancing in the City” in 1986 but Nazar playing for Burnley was the only cost 92 pence a pint. there was dancing in the town of Thornaby batsman to score 1,000 runs in the league in on Tees that year as the club, formed in 1896, 1986, whilst John Maguire reached the magic lifted the North Yorkshire South Durham hundred wicket mark for Church. Alan League, a title it has won three times. Barnes took 4 wickets in successive balls for Haslingden against Bacup, perhaps that

Across Route 66, Lancaster won the evening in celebration he adopted the words Westlands was the political crisis which Northern League, Michael Staziker of the 1986 Paul Simon Record “You can bedevilled Mrs Thatcher’s Conservative (mentioned in Edition 2 of this feature for the call me Al”! Government of 1986 but in the west lands of 1976 season) was in the immortal title of ‘the England, two players from Brixham had Simply Red’ hit record of 1986 “Holding 1986 saw a monumental achievement by cause for happier memories that year. Steve Back the Years”, continued to dominate with Cheshire County Alliance side Tattenhall Barron recorded figures of 7 for 39 in the both bat and ball for the ‘John of Gaunt whose membership undertook a sponsored South Devon local derby with Budleigh Men’. He finished the season with 60 walk from its “Flacca” ground to Lord’s. On Salterton whilst Michael Coomber snaffled wickets and was the second leading wicket arrival at “Headquarters” they saw the “no 10 catches in the field for the second taker in the competition. play today signs” the ground under eight successive season. Quite a catch for the inches of snow! Crewe, for the first time in coastal town which prides itself on its fishing A young 20 year old player from Guyana by eight years won the North Staffordshire & industry. the name of Carl Hooper joined Werneth as South Cheshire League. its professional in 1986. The 1987 Wisden

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Brixham was, of course, where William of the country to receive grant funding from the hosted its first Women’s International March Orange first landed in 1688 to take the throne National Lottery Sports Fund. when England played India. If you are ever of England in the Glorious Revolution. in the Surrey area take a visit to the ground, In 1986, when a pint of milk cost you 23 you will be enchanted. If not quite a revolution, 1986 was glorious pence, Unigate won the West Penrith for North Devon side Hatherleigh as they Evening League. What You May Not Have Known: opened its impressive pavilion in that year. South Hants, one of the founder members of Carl Hooper was the first man to score a Youth is the future of every cricket club in the Southern League, won for the hundred against each of the first class the land. Success at youth level can often be Championship in 1986, a feat they were to counties, an achievement only equalled by the precursor of later success in senior cricket repeat just 12 months later. Mark Ramprakash when he scored a century and so it was to prove for Wendron in against his old club Middlesex when playing Cornwall. In 1986 the club won the Another “founding father” of a league, this for Surrey. Falmouth and District Under 16 Competition time Dover won, the Kent League in 1986, and many of those youngsters went on to repeating the success along the White Cliffs give the club in the 1990s their greatest for the second time in five seasons. Banstead success on the field of play. Off the field the for the first time in its history won the Surrey The Next Edition of “In Conversation” “The club were to make national headlines in 1995 Championship, an additional landmark that Voice of League Cricket” goes back 20 years when they became the first cricket club in year being that the club’s picturesque ground to 1996.

GROUNDS OF APPEAL

time, a president with deep pockets, Michael by housing, a yawning reminder of urban Tomlinson paying £1,287 pounds and 10 sprawl of the between the wars period, yet to shillings. It has been home to the Club ever the north and east are plenty of trees, a since. pleasant reminder if ever one needed it that Worcestershire as a county is not an extension of Birmingham.

Conference in its 50 plus years has visited Delegates who took their sojourn around a many club grounds and a few county cricket ground at which the likes of Graham Hick grounds along the way, but there has been an have played club cricket, would have been instance of a visit to a ground which hosts surprised by the slight lower land level on the both club and county cricket. That is the pavilion side. home of Kidderminster Victoria and, on Cricket may change in terms of its different occasions when the River Severn has burst its formats, but the Chester Road ground is an banks, a Noah’s Arc for Worcestershire endearing reminder of a constancy. County Cricket Club. What You May Not Have Known: The pavilion which Conference delegates Kidderminster has a long and distinguished th cricketing history. Cricket is reputed to have visited is nestled at one end of the ground. It Kidderminster was the birth place for the 27 been played in the town as far back as 1850. looks directly ahead to a playing area prime-minister of New Zealand. Walter Nash The ground which Conference visited in the comprising 131 meters by 121 meters with the was born in the Town in 1882, emigrating to early noughties is called Chester Road. Railway End to its distance. The December New Zealand in 1909. meeting when Conference attended saw the A ground was first established in 1870, being outfield being used for hockey. He formed the second administration of the land which formed part of the Earl of In 1984 an association between Kidderminster New Zealand Labour Party. Dudley’s estate. By 1896 Kidderminster, Cricket Club, Kidderminster Hockey Club and Victoria Cricket Club had secured an annual The Old Carolians resulted in the formation of lease which was successfully renewed until The Chester Road Sporting Club. It is an 1918 when it went under the auctioneer’s impressive facility within a built up area. The Next issue: Let’s Go West. hammer. Fortunately the club had, at such a Chester Road side of the ground is bounded

‘LEAGUE PEOPLE’

For many League People there are simply not category. If only planet earth was slower in respected secondary school teacher of enough hours in a day to do everything that revolving around the sun, there could be a geography and PE, he now brings the same to they agree to undertake for the good of few more hours in a day! a range of cricketing roles since retirement cricket. Phil Mortimer as a member of the from the classroom. West of England Premier League Executive Phil is an unassuming character. He simply Committee, Chairman of two separate gets on with all that cricket throws at him. Every club to survive and prosper needs a League Competitions, a Director of Cricket There is no hyperbole or vanity. Calm and dogs body, a person who can pick up the at Midsomer Norton and a Groundsman to a assiduous, qualities he instilled in a mantle – run the bar, cut the outfield, take number of clubs, certainly comes within that generation of students during his time as a training, attend meetings, organise matches,

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Page 10 of 12 write the media reports, and Phil has done all England. When an unexpected vacancy for of that and more for over 30 years at Chairman of the North Somerset League also Often when people retire from work it is to Midsomer Norton. arose in 2013 it was a natural step up from take things easier. But not for Phil, who has “vice to main man”. replaced his blackboard and chalk for the mower and paint. In the same way that It is a role of contrasts for Phil. Few league teacher training in South Devon was the officials can have such a wide range of clubs prelude to a successful career in the to serve. From the affluent with players who classroom, courses in groundsmanship have read like ‘a who’s who’ of local cricket, to resulted in Phil being ‘sort-after’ both as a the small club which struggles to find the curator and advisor to many clubs. brass to pay their league subscription and players to make a side. Yet Phil is suited to Phil is not one to seek publicity. Indeed he serve both worlds. He is like a rock guitarist may well be reticent that this article was even equally at home strumming a few notes at the conceived, let alone written. His is the world neighbouring Glastonbury Pop Festival or in of getting on with things without undue fuss. his local pub. Yet cricket needs to salute its unsung heroes. Representing the club at various meetings of It helps, perhaps, that Phil for so long has Phil has been and remains the battery which leagues across the West Country caused Phil served at a club which offers cricket to all enables the clock to tick. However attractive to be noticed. Phil became Vice Chairman of standards of player. It has made him may be the clock’s face, dial, and hands, it is the North Somerset Weekend League in the understand and appreciate the psyche of both useless without a battery. Cricket in the early 1990s. Keeping an enthusiastic yet the cricketer with a talent and the one who is West of England would be equally much the somewhat eccentric league secretary under perhaps ‘a bit of a donkey’ but loves the poorer without Phil Mortimer. some form of tight reign during the 1990s game. and early years of the noughties was one of Editors Note: It is by co-incidence that we the many roles that he undertook. With the Phil as a cricketer comes within the former. have so many references to the name emergence of the West of England Premier Mortimer in this Edition of In Conversation. League structure Phil was again noticed. A skilled medium pace bowler he has played Hel was made Chairman of its Bristol and in every eleven at the Withies Lane club over If you know of ‘League People’ in your area North Somerset League Sub- Committee and five decades. And yet when the legs which deserving of special recognition please send with it a seat on the executive. His voice also made him a decent rugby three quarter the details to the General Secretary Rob with a minimal Bristolian lilt is respected at in local rugby, became not always as willing, Sproston. the top table of league cricket in the West of Phil learnt the art of leg spin.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

If you have any Questions appertaining to League Cricket in England and Wales please refer these to the League Cricket Conference General Secretary Rob Sproston.

Boris from Uxbridge asks “following the EU the imposition or lifting of trade tariffs will referendum vote on 23 rd June 2016 what affect prices for everyday cricketing We will certainly ensure that when providing effect will BREXIT have on cricket ” equipment. Legal Updates we provide, in parenthesis, any laws which apply differently to Wales. This depends on what BREXIT actually Carwyn from Cardiff asks “ with the growth We agree that Welsh Devolution is creating means in practice. Should freedom of of legislation passed by the Welsh Assembly laws which differ from that in England and movement of EU nationals be restricted, it which applies only in Wales, will Conference that this is likely to only increase in the may affect the means by which overseas provide a special Legal Update for cricket future. cricketers with an EU Passport can come into clubs based in Wales over the next 12 the country. It is equally uncertain whether months?”

OFFICIAL’S CORNER

So here we are at the end of another season. officiating? himself not to be in front of the stumps!), to The white coats, for those that still wear feel aggrieved, or, equally, the bowler in the them, have been laundered and ironed and Your scribe has yet to see the figures of same frame of mind is not given the nick stowed away until 2017. The umpires can whether, or not, players behaviour is better or (which could be heard in the next county!) or rest, attend local group meetings, refresher worse than last season and one has to look at the lbw (which was, of course, plumb!). and advancement courses or, for those that what leads to ‘men behaving badly’. have reached ‘maturity’ put their feet up for The instant incredulous stare to the umpire good. It is, perhaps, understandable that the has to be tolerated, provided that it is quickly batsman who has spent the week looking removed. The problems come when the So what are we, as leagues, going to do about forward to a weekend of good weather and players carry on the grumbling and groaning the ever decreasing number of volunteers sport only for the umpire to finger him early for the next few overs. The umpires must be prepared to tolerate the ups and downs of in his innings (when he did not hit or deemed encouraged to approach the captains at all

“In Conversation” is a Publication of the League Cricket Conference

Page 11 of 12 times when they suspect that the players are something is done to make the poorer blood on the officials side just as much as it going over the top. umpires better and this can only be done by is crying out for more players to stay in the closed season refreshers, discussions and game. We, in the main as administrators, We have all seen the decisions that have been mentoring which, generally in your scribe’s need to address this aspect of our great game. overturned by the third umpires in the first experience, are not attended as well by the class game so we must all accept that the poorer umpires. Is there any way in which umpires in the recreational game are also panel umpires can be made to attend such going to get things wrong. Leagues can meetings? discipline the offending players but they judex cannot do anything about the weak umpires. These ramblings have not, however, addressed the question in the second Next issue we will address scoring, both Or can they? paragraph. ECB have been encouraging and, paper and electronic and the increasing in some areas, succeeding, in getting more importance of the qualified scorer in the In the premier leagues, the better umpires, by youngsters involved in officiating not just in recreational game. captain’s marks, officiate in the top divisions junior cricket but in the senior game as well. which, by definition, means that the poorer More women are getting involved in umpires officiate in the poorer class of umpiring in the men’s game and this is also cricket. This is all well and good if to be encouraged. The game needs more new

CLOSE OF PLAY

By the time the new season commences, it relationship with its stakeholders has been members and where the ECB see the seems probable we will have a better idea of the subject of review. organisation fitting in the brave new world of what purpose (if any) the League Cricket their newly launched five year strategy. Conference may have in the brave new P&G has become the well talked about world. We have witnessed major changes in acronym. Participation and Growth is key to Will Conference continue or whither on the both personnel and objectives of the England the future progression of the game. Some vine? and Wales Cricket Board in recent months. ask if there is still a role for the League Cricket Conference? That may well depend The whole dynamic of the Board’s on leagues wishing to remain/become

The Next Issue- Early January 2017 Produced by Malcolm Buck Edited by Chris West, Rob Sproston and John Isterling

“In Conversation” is a Publication of the League Cricket Conference

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