VETERAN TRIBUTE

Dennis Linford batted at number 11 for East Halton Cricket Club on Saturday, away to North Ferriby 3rds at Hull's Costello Playing Fields, in the East Yorkshire Alliance division three, being nought not out. And East Halton, the North Lincs villagers, lost an unremarkable game by six wickets.
But, to me, just seeing the name Dennis Linford on the scoresheet was the most interesting thing. For although we won't reveal Dennis's age, his half-century connection with East Halton offers a clue.
A check of the useful Play Cricket website statistics suggests Dennis didn't play in the league last year, but has made three outings already in 2009. So it's good to see him back at the crease.
In his day he batted well up the order, including appearing in the famous 1979 game in Lincs League division three - at Townside Farm - when champions-elect Brigg Town posted 232 for eight, only for Dennis and Co to knock them off with three overs to spare. Back then, 120 would have been a par score in most matches at that level.
The East Halton lads photocopied the scorebook after that game, and the 'card' was displayed on the tea room wall for many years.
This season has seen East Halton switch to pastures new - the Immingham Blossom Way ground - for home games, as the wet nature of their old rural venue meant too many matches were being called off.
I wrote a lengthy Townside Farm ground 'obituary' for In A Spin last year, for the benefit of Grimsby and Scunthorpe area readers.
Townside Farm was one of my most favourite venues. You went through the farmyard and over a cattle grid to get to the ground, surrounded on two sides by mature hedges. The changing/tea rooms had been fashioned from the booking office at the long-defunct East Halton railway station, and late in the afternoon play was held up by the cows trudging by on their way for milking.
Very few grounds in our area could hope to match its quaint charm.