Thursday 28 January 2010

RACE NIGHT AT CAISTOR

Caistor Town Cricket Club is staging a race night on Friday, February 26 at Caistor Sports and Social Club. It's £4 per race card with nine races, including
a fish and chip supper. Wes Allison promises a great night out. It all starts a 8pm and those interested in attentding, or seeking further information, should contact him on 07533254058 or email through this link WES

Monday 25 January 2010

CHINESE FLAVOUR TO PRESSY NIGHT

Brigg Town Cricket Club's annual Presentation Night will be at Harry Kar's Restaurant, Old Courts Road, Brigg, on Saturday, 6th February, from 6 pm.
Tickets are £23 and those club members attending are asked to take along a raffle prize.
Contact Jack Richards on 01652657613 or 07952823528 for further details.

Friday 22 January 2010

APPEAL FROM THE E.C.B

One of ECB’s official charities is the World Food Programme (WFP) and the recent events in Haiti has meant they are urgently scaling up and managing a complex food relief operation for two million people.
We are passing on this message from them to you in the hope that you can help them make a difference...
"The reality of the devastation and profound suffering that the people of Haiti are experiencing is heartbreaking.
Each day the number of victims rises and medical facilities are being stretched beyond capacity. People are living out in the open and orphaned children are now in charge of their younger siblings.
WFP teams are mobilized and ready–to–eat foods have started to reach the hungry. And this is just the beginning. Planes and helicopters are being mobilized and WFP is spearheading a massive logistics and emergency telecommunications operation on behalf of the entire humanitarian community.
Many of you have given your support during these past days and the results have been incredible. We would like to extend to you our deepest gratitude on behalf of all the Haitians who have been helped, thanks to you.
We will continue to need your help! WFP’s Emergency Operation requires US$ 246 million to feed two million people for the next six months.
Even a small amount will ensure that at least one more person in Haiti will not go hungry."
Help Haiti Now! Donate via www.wfp.org/donate/Haiti or contact Natalie.Vaupel@wfp.org for further information.

Thursday 21 January 2010

BROCK NETS

Brocklesby Park Cricket Club nets will be on Wednesday, February 17, 8pm-9pm, at Ancholme Leisure Centre, near Brigg.

Wednesday 20 January 2010

ANN ADDS TO ONLINE DEBATE

By Ann Boulton

Having used the play-cricket system in the ECB Premier League since it was first introduced some eight years ago, I can assure Matt that it is fit for purpose, so long as one person is responsible for keeping an overall eye on things.
It is a registration system, it is a result recording system and it is a stats system as well as being a good way of getting league messages out to interested people via the news on the front page that everyone can access.

Registration
If the Lincs League adopts the full registration process then all players have to be properly registered with date of birth, address and postcode. This has the added benefit that ages of junior players can be checked very easily.
All ECB and South Lincs & Border clubs are told that, if registrations are done on line, then it is their responsibility to ensure that the player has read the Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket and abides by them.
There is still the facility for clubs to use a paper form (which includes the Code of Conduct) and send it to me to register the player, but very few do this.
When the South Lincs & Border League changed to electronic recording there were some reservations from a couple of people with sensitive jobs about their addresses being on the site, even though they can only be viewed by the accredited administrator. We got round this by allowing them to be registered c/o their club with its address and postcode.
Very few clubs use the team selection facility – this is not compulsory so there is no need for Cherry to reveal who is playing prior to the match! However, it does mean that when the administrator enters the scorecard after the match, all the players already registered come up automatically and it throws up any that aren’t registered so that can be rectified.
Finally, if the player is registered on the Lincs League play-cricket site, he is automatically registered with the Lincs League - play-cricket is merely the vehicle for doing this, not a player registration system in its own right.
As a league main administrator, I can check on any player at any club in the ECB Premier League with three clicks of the mouse. A club main administrator can do the same but only for his/her club not for the whole league.

Results
Clubs need to take responsibility for entering their own scoresheets (preferably the home club) as it is a big task for one person, unless they can devote themselves to it full-time.
Whoever puts them on will have access to the names of players registered for both teams, although not personal details.
As Matt says, the benefits are substantial - the site automatically calculates statistics so these can be accessed by anyone at any time (not just clubs and players) via the link on the home page. This definitely generates a lot of interest in the league.
However, scoresheets do then need to be submitted and checked and the South Lincs & Border League has a nominated person for each division to whom they are sent. This means that he/she checks a maximum of six scoresheets each week which is not too arduous. Any discrepancies are immediately sorted out with the clubs and the scoresheet is then locked down, preventing any alterations.

General
If it is of any assistance, I have an instruction sheet on registering players that the SLBL used when the change was being made. Also the same for entering results.
Almost all clubs have someone within their ranks who is pretty computer literate and is willing to take on administration of their site.
If the club already has its own site, this can be linked in to play-cricket and information (results, stats etc) automatically appear on both. Anyone going on to play-cricket will find a link to the club site.
I am sure a demonstration could be set up in the right venue but it is probably better done individually by trial and error! While not having the time to get fully involved, I would be more than happy to help any club that found a problem.
We all had our doubts about play-cricket at the beginning and there were initial problems but after eight years it is pretty well bedded down and if there are any glitches, the help desk is really good and very efficient at sorting out difficulties.
From a personal point of view, I really hope that Lincs League clubs will go over to the electronic system.
The league is one of the top three in the county and is also the largest so it is a shame that interested people can’t access full results, stats and news as they can from the ECB Premier League and the SLBL, who have visitors to their sites from all over the world.

BIG BUCKS FOR EX-HAXEY STAR

By Don Lange, Haxey CC

Thought you might not have picked up that Keiron Pollard, who played at Haxey three years ago, was the most expensive player in this week's Indian Premier League Auction @ $750,000 (£458,000).
I hasten to add, we got him a little cheaper!

CHURCH SPREADS WORLDWIDE


Having long since emigrated to Australia, Simon Church, the ex-Brigg Town batsman, emails to suggest joining the Simon Church Fan Club on the Facebook social networking site.
Visit the said site and you discover it's about another well-known sporting star - Simon Church, the Wales footballer. And that our Simon Church has joined the network as a Friend. It looks like he's persuaded a few other ex-cricketing mates in the Brigg area to join up, including Billy Eaton and Brian Markham.
Simon returned to Brigg for a visit last summer, with his wife, and met up with a number of old mates during a friendly cricket match at the Recreation Ground and a light drinking session (by old standards) at several hostelries afterwards.

Monday 18 January 2010

OWMBY GET-TOGETHER

Omwby Cricket Club players will be meeting on Sunday 31st January at the Bottle and Glass Pub, Normanby by Spital, at 7.30pm. This is an informal gathering to enable all players from the Saturday, Sunday and midweek teams to come together for a chat and drink. The club will be using this opportunity to appoint a first team captain and a vice-captain, Sunday team vice-captain and exchange news on developments taking place at the club, including pre-season nets.

CHERRY PICKING

Last Wednesday's debate at the Lincs League winter meeting about whether the county's 50-team competition should move over to online scorecards and registrations prompted much discussion on the night - and since. Here's the first for public consumption - courtesy of one of those club reps who attended on the night and then gave the matter even more thought afterwards. Just to remind you, Haxey's Mark Atkins put the case at the meeting for a move into the digital age, while possible pitfalls were laid out by league statistician Andy Sharp (Keelby CC).

By Matt Dobson, Cherry Willingham CC

The key to all of this is making sure the system is fit for purpose and before doing that we (the league) need to make sure we know and agree exactly what purpose the system is being used for!
Is it a registration system?
Is it a system to record online results?
Is it both?
I have my reservations whether it meets the registration requirements which are currently in place. All an administrator has to do to register a player for their club on Play Cricket is select ‘new’, type forename and surname and that’s it – the player themselves hasn’t necessarily physically signed up to anything (the code of conduct etc).
My recommendation would be for nothing to be completed online prior to the game (our 1st team is not always known until Friday teatime let alone the 2nd XI) and for the home side to submit all details (including player’s from both sides) within a given deadline once the game has been completed (in the same way that the home side was responsible for completing the entire paper form – including both teams).
I can think of clubs whom I am sure would not necessarily want an opposition to know their side in advance – this to me is a complete non-runner! For me, player registration should remain as is. The term 'registration' is being banded about but I’m wondering whether there are some crossed wires – when Mark (Atkins) spoke about registration I belive he was talking about registering a player with Play Cricket (as a user / available to pick on scoresheets) not physically registering a player with the league!
As for recording of results – I’m all for it – play cricket is fairly easy to use and the benefits are substantial. The Lincoln League has been very fortunate in the past three years as one man enters all the results onto Play Cricket – he does this following receipt of all scoresheets from the clubs (effectively the job is being done twice). This way though, the League are still in control! I know the Lincs League does not currently have someone with the time or inclination to do this but perhaps somebody at a club would be willing to? Even if this is not possible then individual clubs should really be asked to enter their results online.
The nature of my work and the clients we provide services for revolves entirely around data coming into the office – the key is the quality of the data. Obviously electronic data is greener and things should happen quicker! However, we as a company have had some problems implementing electronic systems – there will always be resistance. When I speak to someone in IT they believe that not being able to use a computer is, in historical terms, now on a par with not being able to read. I don’t necessarily subscribe to this as there are still many folk (usually within the older generation) or are not familiar with computers, have had no exposure to the internet and therefore will understandably be much more resistant! Will the Lincs League offer a paper alternative if a club cannot find someone to record results online?
I’m not an IT techie but have worked on projects where e-forms have been developed and rolled out. I wonder whether a demonstration to the full Lincs League meeting may have been a better option (these have always been popular when we have run them). I’m not sure if the room at Rasen has an internet connection/wireless but if so then I’m sure it would be possible to project onto the wall or something like that. If this option was investigated – would recommend those involved tested the It side before the night (speaking from experience!).
Teams should be responsible for ensuring players are ‘registered’ on the website so when it comes to entering the scores the home side can find the starting X1 for both. The home side then continues with the scoresheet and fills all the details in.
Have to say all of this is based on the version of Play Cricket that I am aware of, not necessarily the new improved system which Mark made reference to.

We should make it clear these are Matt's personal observations which may, or may not, reflect those of Cherry Willingham CC.

Feel free to join the debate. Email/post your views, if you wish, to add to this discussion.

PUBLICISING THE CAUSE

Broughton Cricket Club has established a new website on the Facebook social network, and posted some interesting pictures from the past.
If you have access, visit http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=270087594496&mid=1bd9292G247ca82cG3caef78G6.

Saturday 16 January 2010

SPOT ON, MR CHAIRMAN

At Wednesday night's meeting in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire League chairman Bob Welton (pictured) praised the support given to the competition by umpires, saying many players, like him, had turned out in midweek matches (not Lincs League) without appointed officials and so could appreciate the benefits of having two neutral umpires.
Generally, players in our local leagues accept the decisions given, whether or not they might agree with them. Incidents of serious dissent are few and far between, and even those that do take place are, in almost all cases, settled by apologies being tendered and accepted once things have cooled down.
At international level, of course, things are going from bad to worse. New technology undermines the decisions of umpires almost on an hourly basis, with Hawkeye and the slow motion replays. Today things moved on even further, with questioning of the third official's ability to turn up the volume of his monitoring equipment to hear a snick. It won't be long before international umpires do nothing more than carry the bowler's jumper. Probably they won't even be trusted to count the balls in the over.
Before Wednesday's meeting I showed my newly-bought camera to Gordon Turner, representing the Grimsby Umpires' Association, and explained it had video capability. I suggested sticking it on the front of my hat this summer to record the action and then replying the moving footage to show the ball was, after all, going to miss leg stump.
The way cricket's going, it might come to that in a few years!

LET'S HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS

A surprising number of emails have come my way since Wednesday night's Lincs League meeting on the topic of the suggested switch to online scorecards and registrations.
So much so that I've decided to create a forum on Lincs Cricket Latest and seek comments and suggestions from those for and against the move.
If/when the league creates a working party to look further into this issue, information posted on this website may well prove useful.
If you want to comment, add your views to this post or email through the following link NIGEL FISHER

Friday 15 January 2010

CALLING ALL OLD BOYS

There aren't many Old Boys v School cricket matches still played - they used to be popular across Lincolnshire - but we keep ours going in Brigg. This year the Briggensians' Association (for ex-pupils) will take on a Sir John Nelthorpe School team on the school field in Brigg on Tuesday, 15th June (6pm for 6.30pm start). Yes, it's on a Tuesday, not the usual Friday, although I'm not convinced a midweek match will help the turnout of players.
Brigg Town keeper/batsman Lee Fielden will be skippering the old boys (as a former head boy of the school) and the game will be followed by a beer at the Yarborough Hunt, Bridge Street, Brigg.
Just turn up on the night if you want to play, or give your name to Lee next time you see him. Failing that, put a comment on this post and I'll pass on your details to him on your behalf.

MUCH ADO ABOUT EVERYTHING


Just finished penning three different and comprehensive articles for the Lincolnshire Echo, the Grimsby Telegraph and the Scunthorpe Telegraph about Wednesday night's winter meeting of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League.
Read all about it next week in your local title - and see pix of the coveted divisional championship pennants being presented by chairman Bob Welton!
There was much discussion about the idea of switching over from old-fashioned scoresheets and registration forms to an online, or digital, system, plus interesting information about marking umpires and their expenses for 2010.
Even England's World Cup football fixtures managed to get a mention during one of the longest January get-togethers on record.
Clubs send a variety of wise men to Lincs League meetings, and all that experience can prove very useful. Things run very smoothly, considering we have 50 teams and five divisions to oversee.
There were a few loose ends. Treasurer Bryan Simpson (Broughton) still needs one or two clubs to settle their dues and confirm their match ball orders, while general secretary Mike Savage (Old Lincolnians) urgently needs information from clubs about contacts, telephone numbers and emails. This is needed for the 2010 Handbook which will go to press shortly. It's annoying for everyone involved with the league to ring/email a club contact listed in the handbook and discover that he, or she, is no longer the secretary. Clubs have only themselves to blame if they don't give Mike their most up-to-date list.
Speakers for March 18's annual dinner at Grimsby Town FC have yet to be confirmed, but it's likely a well-known former first class cricketer will top the bill.
Mike Savage will send details to clubs once everything is sorted so ticket orders can be processed. This year it's the turn of the Lincolnshire League to host the event; we alternate with the Grimsby League, who present their prizes alongside ours.
Some of the club delegates reported driving through snow to get to Rasen on Wednesday, and by the time we finished it had arrived at Rase Park, although getting out of the car park was OK.

Our picture, taken on Wednesday, shows (left to right) Mick Walker, Scunthorpe and District Umpires' Association; Steve Massingham, Lincoln; and Peter Douce, Scunthorpe. Somehow I just managed to miss getting Gordon Turner (Grimsby) in the frame.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

GOOD ON YER, MATE!


Report and pictures courtesy of Nigel West

Team-mates, colleagues and friends braved the wintry weather to wish a fond farewell to Wade McCall, who has returned to Australia after nearly a decade playing for Skegness Cricket Club.
The party marked the end of an era as Aussie Wade and his wife Jo said goodbye before flying off to Melbourne.
Tributes were paid to a great cricketer and great leader who has helped put the Skegness club on the map.
His influence has helped them reach the dizzy heights of the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, in which they finished runners-up in their maiden season.
Club President Stan Watson led the tributes, saying he was proud to have known Wade, who he felt was responsible for Skegness having one of the best teams in the county.
In response, a tearful McCall thanked everyone for making him welcome during his time in Skegness. He underlined his competitive spirit by reminding those players present that they should never give up their Saturday to come second. He urged the club to continue to move forward.
He thanked those who persuaded him to stay on for a second season because that was when he met his wife Jo. They married in May 2003.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ve had a great time and if it wasn’t for your awful weather I would probably stay a bit longer,” he said.
The club presented Wade with a number of mementoes to remind him of his time in England.


Wade McCall (right) has returned to Australia and handed the captaincy over to Tony Santini.


Skegness Cricket Club President Stan Watson says farewell to Jo and Wade McCall.

Lincs Cricket Latest extends sincere thanks to Nigel West for permission to use this fine feature on a fine cricketing character. Strewth! Club cricket in our county will not be the same without Wade. Those wishing to avail themselves of Nigel West's undoubted talents with pen and camera can contact him by email - nigel.west37@ntlworld.com

HE WILL BE MISSED

Today sees the funeral of Immingham cricket stalwart John Schofield, who has died aged 60. He had been suffering from cancer for some time.
The service is at St Andrew's Church, Immingham, at 1.30pm. Donations are requested for MacMillan Cancer Support, to be forwarded to Huteson & Sons, The Old Chapel, Bluestone Lane, Immingham, DN40 2DX
'Schoey' was a fine competitor on the field, and good company off it. Many of us will have fond memories of playing against him, and with him, in various competitions down the years, and also officiating games in which he took part.

MEETING STILL ON

Confirmation has been received from general secretary Mike Savage that tonight's mid-winter meeting of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League at Rase Park, Market Rasen, in still on (7.30pm start). Fingers crossed for no snow!
One of the items for discussion is a suggested switch over to online results/scorecards/player registrations.
Full details to follow on Lincs Cricket Latest later in the week. So please keep reading.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

LINCOLNSHIRE CRICKET GROUNDSMEN

By Martin Deans, ECB pitch adviser - Lincolnshire
Would it be possible through your excellent website to inform any interested parties of our next meeting which is on January 20 at 7.30pm at the Lincoln Lindum sports ground, when our speaker will be Anthony Asquith.
He has first hand experience in the preparation of first class and Test match wickets through his time with Yorkshire at Headingley, has considerable knowledge on the science of soils used in cricket pitches both here and in New Zealand, and is currently technical director at Amenity Land Solutions, one of the country's leading ground product suppliers.
Our membership is £5 per year and we meet on average four times through the winter months with a wide variety of speakers on all aspects of groundsmanship. Meetings usually last for 1hr 30 mins and are well worth a visit for all of the valuable advice given by some of the country's leading figures in the industry.
Further information can be obtained from our chairman Howard Swain at Cleethorpes CC or myself by email through this link MARTIN DEANS
Incidentally, as the ECB pitch adviser for Lincolnshire I am often privileged in obtaining results from research, new initiatives in ground prep, and requirements for grounds wishing to host or play a high standard of cricket, and can offer advice to clubs whose grounds are under-performing.

GREAT FUN - OH YES IT IS!

By Steve Skipworth, Keelby CC
In 1981, Keelby Cricket Club were looking for a novel way to raise funds and keep the club together through the winter months. The outcome was the birth of the Keelby pantomime and despite a couple of years off the tradition has continued and preparations are now well under way for the 27th production.
In the early years the cast were predominantly club members, wives and girlfriends and it only ran for three shows. Through demand the number of shows gradually increased but unfortunately the number of cricketers willing to put themselves up for ridicule diminished. Nowadays the cast is mainly village based but the pantomime retains its attraction to the community. However anyone coming to the show might just recognise a wicketkeeper as the dame.
This year's offering is Mother Goose and will be running for eight shows between January 29th and February 6th, including two Saturday matinees. Tickets are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for children and OAPs and are on sale from the local newsagents.
Tickets are selling fast with a couple of shows already sold out, so if you wish to come along to cheer, boo and join in with the fun don’t delay.

Monday 11 January 2010

DAVID STEELE AT CLEETHORPES

By Ann Boulton
Former Northamptonshire and England batsman David Steele is the speaker at the January meeting of the Lincolnshire Cricket Lovers’ Society.
His visit to Cleethorpes brings an opportunity to be entertained by memories of 22 years of first class and international cricket, including famous matches against Australia and the West Indies, as well as stories about some of the great characters of the game such as Brian Close, Dickie Bird, Ian Botham and Allan Lamb.
The evening takes place at Cleethorpes Cricket Club on Thursday, January 21 at 7.30pm and there will be a question and answer session after the talk. Admission is free to society members and £5 for non-members, payable on entrance.

WADE HEADS HOME

We've known it's been on the cards for a long time but Wade McCall - the Skegness skipper and key all-rounder - has finally sold up and returned Down-Under to Australia.
He was one of the real characters and great competitors of the Lincolnshire League before Skeggy gained promotion to the ECB competition, where he employed exactly the same qualities.
A going away party was held for Wade and his wife, involving many clubmates.
We hope to bring you more on that at a future date. Doubtless Wade will keep in touch with things via Lincs Cricket Latest from his new base in the Land of Oz.
While we are talking about Aussies, this fixture has just caught my eye on the internet:
Australia Under-19s v West Indies Under-19s at Lincoln, Jan 11, 2010.
Clearly the weather has improved somewhat in our capital city!

Sunday 10 January 2010

TASTE OF INDIAN LIFE

Lincs Cricket Latest has made much of Vic Mills and his Project Front Foot, through which equipment donated by our county (and others) is helping poor people in India enjoy cricket. Vic is now recommending you view two TV programmes this week to get a taste of what life is like out there.
Thursday, January 14th: Channel 4. 9.00. Kevin McCloud: Slumming it. Part one of two. The presenter travels to Dharavi in India to experience life in Asia's biggest slum.
Friday, January 15th: Channel 4. 8.00. Kevin McCloud: Slumming it.
Part two of two. The reporter explores Dharavi's/Mumbai's recycling industry.

DEDICATED FOLLOWER OF FACEBOOK?

Barton Town Cricket Club has a Facebook social networking presence, established by Chris Turner, to which we've just been alerted.
The description reveals: "Barton Town Cricket Club was formed in 1849 and is the oldest sporting institution in Barton Upon Humber. The Club moved to its present Marsh Lane ground in the early 1920s and although there are no records of where the club used to play, scorebooks from the early days confirm the existence of the club. (more research is being done on the subject as I speak). No-one quite knows how many teams the club operated in its early days but at the present time the club operates four seniors teams, two of which play on Saturdays and two teams which play on Sundays. The club also operates a friendly XI when fixtures allow. The club also operates four junior sides, U11s, U13s, U15s and U17s. The two Saturday teams operate in the Lincolnshire League, while the two Sunday teams operate in the North Lindsey League. The junior teams play in the Scunthorpe and District Junior Leagues."
If you are signed up to Facebook, visit
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=242264989020

Saturday 9 January 2010

COVERS FOR SALE


Cleethorpes Cricket Club will be replacing the current Chichester Road covers over the close season so the existing heavy duty metal ones are available for sale.
Paul Hewstone (pictured) told Lincs Cricket Latest: "Anyone who has been to Chichester Road will know these covers are in good working order."
Those interested or requiring further information should not not hesitate to contact him on 07860 311181 - or email now through this link PAUL HEWSTONE

Thursday 7 January 2010

WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT IT

Two first class cricket matches have been played on the Rose Brothers Ground in Gainsborough.
Starting 17th June 1931: Minor Counties v New Zealanders.
Starting 4th September 1937: Minor Counties v New Zealanders.
You can work that into a good quiz question to stump your mates who haven't yet caught up with Lincs Cricket Latest.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

SENIOR NETS

Barton Town Cricket Club senior nets start Sunday 24th January, 4pm till 6pm, at the Ancholme Leisure Centre, near Brigg.
"Any players interested in joining Barton please come along," says spokesman Gaz Mellors.

Monday 4 January 2010

TIMELY REMINDER

Mike Savage, general secretary of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League, has asked us to remind all clubs that the mid-winter meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 13 at Rase Park, Market Rasen, starting at 7.30pm. All must attend.
Hopefully the weather will have improved by then. If it's still bad and league officers decide to cancel, we'll email clubs and put an immediate update on Lincs Cricket Latest.
Fingers crossed that proves unnecessary!

Sunday 3 January 2010

BRIGG TOWN CC 1974


Brigg Town Cricket Club 1974 - newcomers to the Grimsby Saturday League - courtesy of Caistor stalwart left-armer seamer Wes Allison, who's second from right on the back row of this team line-up taken at the Recreation Ground (Wes's solitary season away from Caistor during a long and very productive career). Batsmen Allan Kemshall (front, left) and Brian Parker (front, second left) can still be seen around Brigg. Many will remember the late Dave Foster, one of Brigg Town CC's greatest all-rounders (second left, back row), who was chief environmental health officer with Glanford Borough Council, and who lived in Burgess Road, Brigg, for many years. Wicketkeeper and Scunthorpe steelworker John Stead (front, extreme right) lived in Manley Gardens before moving out to the Isle of Axholme, where he drove buses. Very reliable opening batsman Bob Elwood (third left, back row) lived in Albert Street and is still connected with cricket today as a Lincs League umpire, living somewhere near Alford. Bearded off-spinner Gerry Holmes (centre, front row) lived in Grasby and was a stalwart performer with Brocklesby Park CC for many years. Unfortunately, Gerry is no longer with us. The same applies to star bowler Ian Geddes, ex-Redbourn and Appleby-Frodingham (third right, back row). I've seen 'Brod' Broddle (extreme right, back row) quite a few times in recent years while umpiring at Caistor Town CC, though always been on the adjoining bowls green. The others on the picture are (I think) John Strudwick (extreme left, back row) and Dave Cooper (second right, front). Brigg Town CC won Grimsby division three that season, ran two teams in 1975 and gained a spot in the Lincolnshire League the following season. Since then they've fielded two Saturday sides most years, drifting out of, and back into, the Lincolnshire League, with spells in the (South) Humberside Alliance, the Lincoln Saturday League (briefly) and the East Yorkshire Alliance, plus the North Lindsey League (in the late 1970s/early 1980s) when some games were still being played on Saturdays. There was a Brigg Town Cricket Club from mid-Victorian times (playing on a ground near the railway station), until the early 1940s when things folded, probably due to war call-ups. The club was re-formed at a meeting in 1973, largely due to the efforts of Brian Parker and Coun Bryan Robins. The club started back at the Recreation Ground and used that as a Saturday base for three seasons until gaining a foothold at Sir John Nelthorpe School, where Stan Beedham was still putting plenty of tender loving care into the renowned square. A successful move was then made to the Sugar Factory ground for first team fixtures, with the 2nds continuing at SJN. Closure of Brigg Sugar Factory in the early 1990s meant everything being centred back at the school ground until, in 2002, the old wooden pavilion was demolished. Much effort was then needed to get the Recreation Ground square back in order, with Jim Copson putting in a great deal of work on that project. The club has always had a good youth policy, introducting many cricketers to the game who have gone on to play at a higher level, particularly with Scunthorpe club Appleby-Frodingham.

Friday 1 January 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Best wishes for 2010 go to all Lincs Cricket Latest followers and contributors.
Among the Happy New Year messages we received was a text from Nadeem Yousuf, ex-Appleby-Frodingham and Scunthorpe Town, who left Lincolnshire a few years ago to take up a senior administrative post in the United States.

FIRST CLASS CONNECTIONS

Quite by chance we've discovered another Lincolnshire-born first class cricketer - and he hailed from the Brigg area.
Alfred Talbot Cliff, born in 1878, played as an amateur - right-handed batsman, slow left-arm bowler - in 39 matches for Worcestershire between 1912 and 1920.
He scored 986 runs at an average of 13.69 and took eight wickets, his first victim, against Kent, being England Test batsman Frank Woolley!
His highest first class score was 59 not out against Leicestershire at Worcester in 1914, when he and M. K. Foster shared in a partnership of 166.
He also shared a fine stand with Wing Commander William Harold Nelson Shakespeare OBE MC AFC, late of the Royal Flying Corps, in August 1919 against Warwickshire.
Alfred was born at Scawby Grove, and died in Oxford, aged 87, in 1966 - meriting an obituary in Wisden, the 'Bible' of cricket.
We are pretty sure he was the son, or close relative, of local dignitary Talbot Cliff, who lived at Scawby Grove and had strong connections with industry in Scunthorpe and with Brigg Grammar School.
The school's wooden cricket pavilion (demolished in 2002, forcing Brigg Town to move grounds) was opened by Mrs Talbot Cliff (a relative of the first class cricketer) on sports day, June 5, 1929. In declaring the pavilion open, Mrs Cliff expressed her delight in being asked to take part in the activities of the school, of whose progress she was so proud. She presented the Challenge Cups and vote of thanks was afterwards proposed by the head prefect.
There were Talbot Cliffs with ironmaking connections in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, so maybe Alfred Talbot Cliff was connected to them.
Any further information you might be able to provide about his Brigg area connections will be appreciated.