I hadn't been to Normanby Park, near Scunthorpe, for a cricket match since the 1980s when Dave Marshall, the Lincolnshire left-arm spinner, was in their ranks and the club still sported two teams in the Lincolnshire League.
Normanby Park then had a long spell out before returning in recent years with youth cricket, then the North Lindsey League and the Broughton Evening League.
We were there on Sunday to umpire the North Lindsey game against Broughton and no-one could fail to be impressed by the friendly welcome, the excellent and new clubhouse/changing rooms and the standard of the teas.
Out in the middle, there was "much evidence of groundsmanship" - to use the oft-quoted phrase. And things looked pretty tidy. It's to be hoped that, in due course, they decide to go down the route of Saturday league cricket.
After playing for Lysaghts(NPW) for a couple of years I joined Normanby Park and spent 14 happy seasons with the club before joining Cleethorpes.It's great to see them making the arduous journey back and wish them the best of luck , the club will always have a special place in my cricket life.I played with some very special people in my time there far too many to mention really but a few to remember :the Coulthursts ,Martin Thompson ,Barry Bassindale,Ron Flear,Roy Sutton,Robin Sumpter,Terry Genney,Roy Todd,Dick Burton,Alec Hill,Brian Hobson .Apologies to all those not mentioned but space is limited.GOOD LUCK NORMANBY
ReplyDeleteHi Bob. I found this after looking at scunthorpe memories (group) on facebook. I remember those days fondly; Roy is my dad. Shame the old pavilion was lost.
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