IN TOWN TODAY

It was pleasing to see Morton apply for, and gain, admission to the Lincolnshire League this season, as it's surely high time a major town like Gainsborough was represented in the county's long-established Saturday League.
I'm visiting the Trenside town today, weather permitting, for a North Lindsey League game involving Marshalls. Such trips always bring back memories of the very first game played by the South Humberside Alliance Representative X1, which was against Bassetlaw League Marshalls at this ground.
It was great to bring together players from various clubs, and somewhere I have a photo of the Alliance team, taken on a day when the weather was decidedly damp.
If memory serves me correctly, SCM batsman Brian Clifton was playing. A great bloke who was a notable footballer for Grimsby Town in his day.
Other names springing to mind are Roy Bamford; the Belton opening bowler, Don Tolson, the Norsk Hydro batsman; Scunthorpe Town 3rds' veteran leg-spinner Alan Wilson and keeper John Harlow; plus Brigg Town's Gig Smith and Alan Brock.
The Alliance ran this Rep side for a few seasons, latterly playing Cuxwold and Brocklesby Park in Sunday games. In one of the last I recall playing for Brocklesby when I had the misfortune to be in the covers when Andy Hardy (SCM, now Grimsby Town 2nds) was blasting the ball through that area.
Returning to Gainsborough memories, we had some enjoyable times down the years playing, and umpiring, at Chick Barratt's Roses - sadly no longer in the North Lindsey League.
In earlier times we crossed the Trent bridge to take on Holy Trinity - close to the Notts border.
The cross-country route I take to get from Brigg to Gainsborough takes me past Kirton Lindsey, who were once a force in the Alliance, Lincolnshire League and latterly the North Lindsey; and through Blyton, where the amiable Motty and Co, including Dicky Henderson, would take up for tea, and a beer, at the village club.
Worth taking the wife and kids there, too, to send them down to the famed ice cream parlour, not far from the ground, and bank a few 'brownie points'.
Happy days, now sadly gone for many of us, as Blyton no longer compete in the Lindsey League.