In Conversation A Publication of the League Cricket Conference Issue 2. April 2016 INTRODUCING YOUR PRESIDENT GEOFF COOK Conference is proud to confirm that Geoff started his cricketing career with North Academy and developing the many Cook was elected as the new president of Yorkshire & South Durham League club youngsters who came through it. LCC at the Middleton AGM on the 12 th Normanby Hall which is situated in the March. suburbs of the Boro – their ground located in His achievements with Durham are the stuff the aptly named Cricket Lane. of fairy tales, never mind legend. From those very early almost ‘hand to mouth’ days when He is briefly mentioned in their history – the NYSD played a major role in helping the ‘Geoff Cook started his career in the juniors county get their foot on the first-class ladder and soon progressed to the first team where by hosting 60% of their county championship he scored a century’ – short and to the point! games as the Riverside was being built, to the Impressing all who saw him he was snapped last decade when 3 county championships up by Redcar – another NYSD team now and the Friends Provident Trophy have been possibly more famous for the redundant won. steelworks – to be their professional at the age of 19. He was there but briefly – A man of great humility and integrity, the managing to play three matches for them former secretary and chairman of the PCA before being whisked off to the bright lights has endeared himself to the North East of Wantage Road, where he began his public, and, importantly for the LCC and its lengthy career with Northamptonshire. members, he clearly understands and relates to the importance of grassroots cricket, As a player he scored over 23,000 first-class spending much of his time over the winter runs and played in seven Tests. He also took months supporting numerous clubs and 15 first-class wickets, his action being leagues in the region. described as left arm orthodox. But as he Geoff holds the County Championship Cup himself was once heard to say……..statistics As was the case with Tom Graveney, the are like bikinis – very nice to look at, but game of cricket at all levels certainly has a Geoff follows Tom Graveney as our they don’t tell the whole story. lot to thank Geoff Cook for, and the LCC is prestigious figurehead following Tom’s privileged that he agreed to support death last autumn. The word legend is often After being approached by Yorkshire in Conference and its work by agreeing to take over used – but it is demonstrably 1986, Geoff decided to stayed as Northants on the president’s role. appropriate for these two great men of captain and four years later joined Durham to cricket, coincidentally North-easterners both. oversee their entry into first-class cricket. He has been there ever since as captain, coach, Geoff is particularly revered in that part of second team captain and director of cricket. Prepared by Chris West – Chairman of the the world following his magnificent He played the crucial role in setting up their League Cricket Conference. achievements with Durham County Cricket Club. Born in Middlesbrough in 1951, he CROSS COUNTRY expect as we count down to the start of the and the Yorkshire Cricket Board attended a 2016 Season around the leagues? special dinner at York Cricket Club in February. They joined officials of the four In the words of Rudyard Kipling “the With all the many prizes on offer for the premier leagues, Yorkshire League North, flannelled fools” are about to replace the winners across the country perhaps the most Yorkshire League South, North Yorkshire & “muddied oafs” on our sports fields around the glamorous is that offered by the Yorkshire South Durham League and the Bradford country. Kipling was no great fan of cricket it Premier Leagues with “ the Race to Abu League, plus representatives of the competing has to be said, although he did accept that it Dhabi ” produced good skills in teamwork. So in what clubs. is the thirtieth anniversary of Europe’s record Leading figures from the England & Wales hit “the Final Countdown”, what can we Cricket Board, Yorkshire County Cricket Club ECB chairman Colin Graves said: “The rest of “In Conversation” is a Publication of the League Cricket Conference Page 1 of 11 the cricket community will be watching this Bingley. Asanga Weerasinghe joins BOLTON exciting development. The people who have Collingham having previously played for 2015 Champions - Egerton worked so hard to make this happen deserve Blidworth Colliery in the Bassetlaw League. the highest praise.” Divsion 2 outfit Skipton have made an Bradshaw, Farnworth and Farnworth Social exciting signing in talented South African all Circle are expected to be vying for the title YCCC chairman Steve Denison, who headed rounder Pieter Coetzers. ‘The Northerns’ following the 2015 champions move to the the county club delegation which included player is a top order batsman and right arm Greater Manchester Premier. Farnworth have chief executive Mark Arthur, commercial fast medium bowler. recruited Sri Lanka test spin bowler Dinuka director Andy Dawson, director of cricket Hettiarachchi (over 900 first class wickets) as Martyn Moxon, head coach Jason Gillespie, their professional, Pakistani leg spin bowler and new coach Richard Pyrah, said: “Who Shahzaib Ahmed holding the same position at would have thought this day would come. Bradshaw. All rounder Ryan Ayres has Brilliant leadership from Yorkshire CCC, moved to Farnworth Social Circle from Yorkshire Cricket Board and the leagues.” 2015 Champions - Mansfield Hosiery Mills Walden. 21 teams will compete in one division to determine the new two divisions in It has taken more than two years to create the Whoever ends up as league champions are set 2017. new league set-up, with the NYSD League, to go head to head with the winners of the with its own well established structure South Nottinghamshire League on 17 th BRADFORD unaltered, providing significant input and September for the accolade of the top side 2015 Champions - Pudsey St Lawrence support to help the other three leagues become below the premier league in ’Robin Hood established as new ECB Premier Leagues. County’. The league has secured sponsorship Apart from a possible trip to Abu Dhabi , for each of its nine divisions. Papplewick and Lightcliffe will have extra incentive to win its NYSD president Chris West, a member of the Linby having narrowly missed out on first ever Division 1 title, as its opening Premier League Management Board as well as promotion by just three points in 2015 will batsman Chris Taylor, the former Yorkshire being a director of the Yorkshire Cricket start as favourites. Farnsfield relegated from player, is the managing director of the league’s Board, is delighted on all fronts to see the hard the Nottinghamshire Premier League will look new sponsors. Matt Walker has joined work pay dividends: “The many trips to and for an immediate return. Bradford and Bingley from Lowerhouse of the from Doncaster over the last couple of years Lancashire League. Methley hopes for seem all the more worthwhile – the ultimate BIRMINGHAM PREMIER promotion to the premier league have been prize is now on the horizon. I’m delighted that 2015 Champions - Shrewsbury boosted by the recruitment, as captain, of our own Yorkshire clubs, their players and highly experienced league all rounder Grant supporters, have now been handed the Defending champions Shrewsbury has looked Soames from Woodlands and the import of opportunity of a lifetime. to re-build its batting following the loss of South African fast bowler Sammy Mofokeng. Shropshire skipper Steve Leach, who has The semi final draw sees the Yorkshire moved to Shifnal, by signing 18 year old BRISTOL & DISTRICT Premier North champions playing the Worcestershire County Academy player, Ollie 2015 Champions - Pak Bristolians Yorkshire Premier South champions at Westbury from first division Himley and 26 Scarborough and the NYSD champions facing year old Ben Stebbings, who also plays for The re-structure in the West of England sees the the Bradford League champions at th Herefordshire in the Unicorns Competitions. the top division admitting second team sides Headingley with both matches on 17 Westbury scored 1,000 runs for Shrewsbury from Downend and Keynsham. It will be September. The winning teams from each nd School in 2015, whilst Stebbings has had interesting to see how they cope in what will semi-final will travel to Abu Dhabi on 22 previous premier league experience with be a high standard division as four, club first October for the final. During their stay on the Halesowen. Warwickshire pace bowler Oliver teams Bristol West Indies Phoenix, Chew all-expenses paid trip for 14 lucky Hannon Dalby is set to play for Kenilworth in Magna, Congresbury, and Shirehampton have representatives of each club, the two teams the Premier League with county colleagues had previous West of England league will practice and play in one warm-up match Richard Jones , Jonathan Webb, and Sam Hain experience. each against a local team, before meeting in scheduled to play for Berkswell, Knowle and the day/night final in the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Dorridge & Walsall respectively. CHESHIRE COUNTY Stadium. Worcestershire starlet Joe Clarke has agreed, subject to county commitments, to play for Let us now visit the leagues of Conference to premier side Wellington. The right hand assess the season ahead. batsman was selected for the England Lions 2015 Champions - Hyde following his maiden first class century last AIREDALE AND WHARFEDALE summer. Newport promoted from the 30 yard fielding restrictions will be introduced st 2015 Champions - Otley Shropshire County League welcome back star in 1 XI league matches where two panel bat Rajat Bhatra.