GREAT NIGHT FOR OWMBY

Owmby Cricket Club held its presentation night at Welton Village Hall, and Ciaron Deegan has kindly supplied pictures, describing it as a very enjoyable evening.

TROPHIES
Kev Bowring (1st team batting: average 57.8 runs 578)
Ciaron Deegan (1st team bowling: average 11.9 38 wkts)
Martyn Snell (Sunday batting, bowling and midweek batting)
Daniel Clark (midweek bowling)
Kevin Bowring and John Stanser (Lincs league batting record, 3rd wkt 232 v Messingham)
John Stanser (136 v Messingham)
Sam Atkin (most catches in all cricket)
Peter Gibbon (young player of the year award).

PICTURED
Top: Ciaron Deegan.
Second from top: John Stanser and Kev Bowring.
Bottom picture: Dan Clark.
Second from bottom: Martyn Snell.

DOING OUR BIT FOR CHARITY

Jimmy Snee - that very well-known cricketer from the Gainsborough area who spent this summer with Upton and Kexby in North Lindsey League division three - joined myself and 30-or-so other veteran footballers to do our bit for charity last night.
We took part in a special floodlit match at Brigg Town FC which raised more than £800 to assist Help For Heroes fundraising.
A very fine footballer in his day, Jimmy was a member of the Brigg Town X1 which beat Brigg Amateurs Vets 8-4. Typically he scored at one end and cleared off the line at the other. Some of us were unable to cover that sort of distance and there was lots of substituting by Brigg Amateurs!
An exception was Colin Mumby - still turning out for Broughton 2nds in Lincs League division three - who showed he's still got something to offer with the ball at his feet. Indeed, he's still playing in the Scunthorpe Saturday League, despite being very nearly 60.
The match was refereed by Brian Clark, who many will remember as long-serving general secretary and one of the founding fathers of the sadly-missed Broughton and District Evening Cricket League.
Among the good-sized crowd were Graham Day, the former Appleby-Frodingham CC wicketkeeper; Peter Douce, vice-chairman of the Scunthorpe and District Cricket Umpires' Association; and (as you'd expect, given the venue) many ex-Brigg Town CC players.

ENGLAND STAR CHIEF GUEST

The Lincs ECB Premier League/Lincs Cricket Board/Lincs County Cricket Club joint dinner and presentation night will be on February 5 at the Bentley Hotel in Lincoln. England's Shaun Udal is the speaker.
The event is open to anyone who would like to come along - £25 per ticket including very good three-course meal.
For further details contact Ann Boulton via this link LINCS DINNER

STILL TO RE-ARRANGE

Lincolnshire County Cricket League

PREMIER DIVISION

Cleethorpes 2nds v Barton Town (clash with Yorkshire League on Bank Holiday May 31st)

LINCS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Hykeham v C Willingham (Hykeham ground unavailable on date set April 17th)

Cleethorpes 3rds v Scothern (awaiting Lincoln league Sun fixtures for free date?)

Cleethorpes 3rds v Louth 2nds (could be played at Louth as Cleethorpes home game Sat June 12th?)

Cleethorpes 3rds v Nettleham 2nds ( initially thought to clash with Yorkshire League. Nettleham 2nds given game at C Willingham on that date so Cleeth v Nett or C Will v Nett will have to be rearranged )

Cleethorpes 3rds v Alford ( clash with Yorkshire League ? )

DIVISION FOUR

South Kelsey 2nds v Hykeham 2nds

BAT LIKE THE PROFESSIONALS

Many newspapers and magazines, about this time of year, run Christmas Gift Guide articles/features/supplements, resulting in a host of press releases - most of which never see the light of day. So here's an early present for Dylan Holman, Junior Account Executive, Performance PR Ltd, who won't have expected his offering to surface on Lincs Cricket Latest.

Launched this year, the Mongoose cricket bat is a must-have for any cricket fan. Its revolutionary, short blade has been specifically designed to enable players of all abilities to hit the ball harder, faster and further than ever before.
Following an action-packed summer of cricket, which saw England win the Ashes, the Mongoose is guaranteed to cause a stir at the local cricket club. Follow in the footsteps of your cricketing heroes as you score more sixes and wow team-mates with increased batting averages.
Custom-made bats are available, made from top grade English Willow and come in weights ranging from light (size 4, junior bats) to heavy (3lb).
The Mongoose costs from £49.99 for junior bats and £159 for adults and are available from www.mongoosecricket.com - or over the phone, 01244 644 466.

WE'RE GETTING THERE

Much correspondence and hard work continues on the Lincs League fixture front, with re-arrangements aplenty - all being overseen by fixture secretary Glen Sands (pictured).
Below is the latest provisional list, with much still to be done until we get the final version.
It's all a far cry from the fixture meetings held by the now defunct but fondly remembered Broughton and District Evening League.
As a club representative you went round the room and spoke to the reps of all the other teams in your division, agreeing when you'd play each other. Some clubs liked to have home games on a Tuesday, some liked Wednesday, and others went for Thursday.
You then scribbled out a list of your matches and handed it in to the league.
Simple as that - and it worked. We didn't leave the meeting until everyone was happy.
If we employed that system within the Lincs League, with all the other factors involved, we would have to pitch tents on the outfield at Rase Park, Market Rasen, where meetings are held, and prepare for a week's stay at least!

LINCOLNSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE FIXTURES 2010
SATURDAY APRIL 17TH
Hykeham v C Willingham
Louth 2nds v Alford
Nettleham 2nds v Holton-le-Clay (HLC)
Scothern v Outcasts

SATURDAY APRIL 24TH
H L C v Hykeham
Louth 2nds v Broughton
Nettleham 2nds v Cleethorpes 3rds
Outcasts v Alford
Scothern v C Willingham

SATURDAY MAY 1ST
Alford v Scothern
Broughton v Outcasts
**Cleethorpes 3rds v Louth 2nds (clashes with Yorkshire League game)
Hykeham v Nettleham 2nds

SATURDAY MAY 8TH
HLC v Broughton
Nettleham 2nds v Hykeham
Outcasts v C Willingham
Scothern v Alford

SATURDAY MAY 15TH
Broughton v Alford
C Willingham v Scothern
**Cleethorpes 3rds v Scothern (clashes with YL fixture)
H L C v Nettleham 2nds
Outcasts v Louth 2nds

SATURDAY MAY 22ND
KO CUP 1ST ROUND

SATURDAY MAY 29TH
Alford v H L C
C Willingham v Cleethorpes 3rds
Louth 2nds v Hykeham
Scothern v Broughton

SATURDAY JUNE 5TH
C Willingham v Broughton
H L C v Outcasts
Hykeham v Cleethorpes 3rds
Scothern v Louth 2nds

SATURDAY JUNE 12TH
Alford v C Willingham
Broughton v Hykeham
*Cleethorpes 3rds v Louth 2nds (@ Louth?)
Nettleham 2nds v Outcasts

SATURDAY JUNE 19TH
KO CUP 2ND ROUND

SATURDAY JUNE 26TH
H L C v C Willingham
Louth 2nds v Cleethorpes 3rds
Nettleham 2nds v Alford
Outcasts v Broughton
Scothern v Hykeham

SATURDAY JULY 3RD
Alford v Outcasts
Broughton v Louth 2nds
C Willingham v Nettleham 2nds
**Cleethorpes 3rds v Nettleham 2nds (clashes with Premier fixture)
Hykeham v H L C

SATURDAY JULY 10TH
C Willingham v Outcasts
H L C v Louth 2nds
Hykeham v Alford

SUNDAY JULY 11TH
Cleethorpes 3rds v Broughton

SATURDAY JULY 17TH
Alford v Cleethorpes 3rds
Broughton v Nettleham 2nds
H L C v Scothern
Louth 2nds v C Willingham
Outcasts v Hykeham

SATURDAY JULY 24TH
Alford v Broughton
C Willingham v Hykeham
Louth 2nds v Outcasts
Scothern v Cleethorpes 3rds

SATURDAY JULY 31ST
C Willingham v Alford
H L C v Cleethorpes 3rds
Hykeham v Broughton
Nettleham 2nds v Louth 2nds
Outcasts v Scothern

SATURDAY AUGUST 7TH
Alford v Nettleham 2nds
Broughton v C Willingham
Louth 2nds v Scothern
Outcasts v H L C

SUNDAY AUGUST 8TH
Cleethorpes 3rds v H L C

SATURDAY AUGUST 14TH
C Willingham v Louth 2nds
**Cleethorpes 3rds v Alford (clashes with YL fixture)
Nettleham 2nds v Broughton
Outcasts v Cleethorpes 3rds
Scothern v H L C

SATURDAY AUGUST 21ST
Broughton v Cleethorpes 3rds
Hykeham v Outcasts
Louth 2nds v H L C
Nettleham 2nds v Scothern

SATURDAY AUGUST 28TH
Broughton v Scothern
Cleethorpes 3rds v C Willingham (no ground clash!)
H L C v Alford
Hykeham v Louth 2nds
Outcasts v Nettleham 2nds

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH
Alford v Louth 2nds
Broughton v H L C
Hykeham v Scothern
Nettleham 2nds v C Willingham

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH
Alford v Hykeham
C Willingham v H L C
Scothern v Nettleham 2nds

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH
Cleethorpes 3rds v Outcasts

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH
Cleethorpes 3rds v Hykeham
Louth 2nds v Nettleham 2nds

BRIGG MEETING

Brigg Town Cricket Club has announced its annual general meeting will be held on Thursday, December 3 at the Nelthorpe Arms (Scanlon's), on Bridge Street, Brigg (7.30pm).

FASCINATING HISTORY

Brocklesby Park Cricket Club's history may have been traced back as far as 1872.
The club - based on the Earl of Yarborough's ancestral estate - has a super website administered by Richard Bedwell, whose research into BPCC's history remains ongoing.
"I've been busy myself, with a visit to the Lincolnshire Archives in Lincoln to try and turn up some more information on the early days of the Club," he comments. "So far I've established that a game was played at Brocklesby Park between Kirmington and Caistor in 1872. This might be a case of mistaken identity on behalf of the Caistor scorer, and further research is needed to see if this was actually a Brocklesby Park team."
Club stalwart Michael Davey, back in 1995, wrote a brief history of the club - a very interesting read. You can download copies in PDF format direct from the website. It's well worth doing so.
Bedders reveals the Lincolnshire Archives contain scorebooks from Hainton Cricket Club, 1868-96 (that will be the Hainton club from the East Lindsey League, not the one based for some time at Healing), plus information about Britannia Works CC, Gainsborough, 1896-circa 1959; Lincolnshire Clergy Cricket Club, 1923-50; Lindum Cricket Club (Lincoln), 1872-1957; plus others.
Here's the link direct to the relevant page of the Brocklesby Park website so you can take a look BROCK PARK

STILL TIME TO ENTER

Next Saturday (Nov 28) is the closing date for entries to the ECB National Club Championship 2010. For details and an application form follow this link we've created for you ECB ENTRY

CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Barton Town Cricket Club will be holding its Christmas party and quiz night on Friday, December 11 at 7.30pm.
As a change from the usual festive season nibbles, mince pies and sausage rolls the club is offering something a bit more substantial to soak up the Marsh Lane clubhouse beer - pie and peas!
There's a very nice Christmas greetings 'card' on the Barton Town website, alongside details of the seasonal get-together. Well worth a visit, fellas. Just follow this link for a look at the Christmas cracker, who I can't remember seeing at any of their matches this summer. Still eyesight's not what it was!
CHRISTMAS CRACKER

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

There's going to be an umpires' course staged at Lincoln University, drawing officials together from a very wide area, with overnight residential accommodation provided on the campus.
A sign of the times, and we are sure it will prove worthwhile for those taking part.
Many of us gained our cricket experience through the University of Life and have never been involved in the exalted levels of higher education.
I'm giving this opportunity a miss.

FIRST CLASS LIST REVEALED

Many Lincolnshire-based cricket fans will be spectating at Test matches, One Day Internationals and county games during what promises to be a long, busy and enjoyable 2010 season.
The ECB has now announced the official list of fixtures, and you can download a PDF or XCEL file for yourself through this helpful link 2010 FIXTURES
Some groups from the Scunthorpe area like to make a sort of late season pilgrimage to Scarborough, to watch Yorkshire in action. Many clubs from our area also like to make a day of it at an international. Big breakfast on the way, much beer supped under a blazing(?) sun, etc, etc
Whenever the first class fixture list is announced I always look to see whether there just might be a Notts game at Chichester Road, Cleethorpes. Can't spot one for 2010 but that won't stop me hoping the Midlands county might be heading for the seaside the following summer. Cleethorpes is a traditional holiday/day trip venue for folk from the Midlands - going back decades - if you were wondering about the connection. There's even a pub called The Nottingham near the seafront. Notts have played games there in the past, and I remember watching Northants play there many years ago, when I seem to recall Sarfraz Nawaz - founding father of reverse swing - was in the visiting line-up.

19,000 NEARS

The surprise (to me) success of Lincs Cricket Latest continues and shortly the site counter will tick round to 19,000. Just to say thanks to each and every one of you for taking the trouble to browse our content, and thanks to all our valued contributors - regular and occasional.
We fully intend to keep posting during the close season. So, if you have any club events going on, such as presentations or fundraisers, or winter nets are under way, just let us know by email scoopfisher@aol.com

SIGN UP TO UMPIRE

A cricket umpires' training course will get under way at the Brumby Hall cricket pavilion, off Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, on Monday, January 11 (7pm).
Over the weeks that follow, trainee officials will receive expert tuition on the many laws of the game.
Having completed the course there will be the opportunity to take a test, following which successful candidates will be eligible to stand in matches on Saturdays and Sundays next season.
For further details contact the Scunthorpe and District Cricket Umpires' Association. Ring secretary Jo Walker on (01724) 762082, or use this link JO WALKER

NEVER TOO EARLY TO START

On-the-ball Hykeham CC have just posted me a batch of Lincolnshire League player registration forms for 2010. It's a good idea for teams to start reviewing their playing strengths now for next summer and to get the paperwork in order.
Why leave everything until next April and be in a pre-season rush?

IMMINGHAM LAUNCH

Historian Maurice Barrick has been through his files and located interesting information relating to the formation of a cricket club in Immingham - just a few months before the start of World War Two.

Immingham Cricket Club: Minutes of Meeting held in Church Mission
At 7.30p.m., Monday 24th April 1939.
The meeting attracted 31 members of the public who had an interest in Cricket. It was agreed that initially the Chair should be taken by the Vicar, Rev A.G. Summers.
Others present, Rev C.J.W. Whiteside. Dr.S. Bedford. H.M. Meakin, and Messrs Bacon, Power. Lea, A. Mooney, Bolton, Bullivant, Day, Owen, Hewins, E. Power, Thomas, York, Bryant, Anderton, Boom, Healey, Dix, Dobson, Agnew, Turpin, Welton,Tailby, Ross, Cottingham, C. Robinson, Gould and Barker.
It was proposed by J. Mooney, seconded by R. Thomas, “That a Cricket Club be formed”. This was carried unanimously.
Proposed by H.M. Meakin, seconded by Mr Owen, “That for the coming season the Young Men's Club ground in Queen's Road be used." Carried unanimously.
Proposed by Dr. S. Bedford, seconded by Mr Dobson, “That the subscription be five shillings (25p) per season, payable by the end of May, or at the rate of 6d (two and half new pence) weekly as from May 1st and that members of Young Men's Club to pay two shillings (10p). This was carried unanimously.
The following official were elected:-
President The Vicar, Rev. A.G. Summers; Vice-Presidents: Dr. S. Bedford, Rev C.J.W. Whiteside, Messrs G.E. Bacon, H.M. Meakin, Owen, Jubb, Proctor, Allenby and Fisher. The committee be authorised to invite other gentlemen to accept being Vice-Presidents. Chairman, Rev C.J.W.Whiteside, Secretary, James Anderton, Treasurer, Mr Dobson, Captain, W. Ross, Vice-Captain, J. Mooney, Ground Committee James Anderton, Walter Ross and Dr. Sydney Bedford,
It was proposed by Mr Mooney, seconded by Mr Owen, “That the Club be named, Immingham St. Andrews”. Carried unanimously.

Unfortunately the story is tinged with sadness for secretary James Anderton, who served in the Royal Air Force as an Air Gunner with 83 Squadron, was lost on night of 11/12th June 1943 over Munster. He was 31.

WHO WILL SUFFER?

There's much debate at present about which level(s) of cricket might suffer if the top Tests are removed from Sky Sports by Government edict and returned to conventional TV channels, with a big forecast drop in income.
First class counties do very well from the share-out of cash, and have a very big say in how the game is run. So there are real fears 'grassroots' cricket is going to see funding reduced, if TV dosh is lost.
I know my MP, Brigg and Goole's Ian Cawsey, is a keen supporter of cricket (with Alkborough connections), and that he visits Lincs Cricket Latest from time to time.
So let's hope he can find out what's going on and will maybe be able to put in a word on behalf of grassroots cricket, if that proves necessary.

CHANGING FACE OF BRUMBY HALL

Attending a recent umpires' meeting at Brumby Hall, Scunthorpe, I was struck by the removal of the trees on the entrance to the Appleby-Frodingham sportsground. This is being done to make way for a large sports development being spearheaded by North Lincolnshire Council.
I came past again this morning and a building site has now developed on the edge of Brumby Hall, just off Ashby Road, near the Civic Centre.
It's not affecting the cricket ground, but the vista will never be the same.

CONCENTRATING ON THE LEAGUE

Caistor Town 3rds' scheduled home game against Scunthorpe Town 3rds in Lincs League division four will now take place at Hibaldstow CC on Saturday, May 22.
That's the day when most Lincs League teams will be in action in the first round of either the George Marshall Trophy or Bob Welton Cup.
However, the third strings at Scunthorpe and Caistor do not qualify to take part, as their respective first and second teams will be in action.
Just in case you are wondering, Scunthorpe 3rds use Hibaldstow as their base for home games.

OWMBY DOUBLE

From Ciaron Deegan
Owmby CC's presentation night will be on Friday 20th November at Welton Village Hall. Trophies to be given to junior and senior teams (7.30 start).
The Owmby AGM will be on Sunday 22nd November at the Bottle and Glass, Normanby-by-Spital.

FOUR IN, FOUR OUT DOWN SOUTH

From Ann Boulton
Burgh le Marsh have been admitted to the South Lincs & Border League for 2010 along with North Luffenham, Stamford 2nds and Spalding 3rds.
The league has "lost" Boston to the ECB League, Caythorpe through resignation and Oakham 1sts and 2nd who are going to play in Leicestershire.
For the first time this year, the league has awarded a trophy to the umpire with the best average mark; it went to Roger Alderton, who comes from the Spalding area.

TAKE YOUR MARKS

It's possible umpires throughout the Lincolnshire League will be marked next season.
Currently only those in the premier division are graded - but there's a move within the umpiring ranks to try to get additional marking introduced in divisions one, two, three and four from next season.
Another alternative is to grade officials in the premier, division one and division two - but not the lowest two sections.
It will obviously need all three associations representing umpires in the Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Lincoln areas to agree, or it's a non-starter. And one of those has yet to consider the matter.
The Lincolnshire League will also have to sanction whatever proposal the umpires collectively may decide to request.
The issue was raised, briefly, at the league's AGM last month by one of the umpires' representatives, who explained there was an idea to grade officials not only in the premier but also in divisions one and two - something which fitted in well with the national policy to help spot, and fast-track, up-and-coming officials.
The immediate response was very positive. Indeed, two club reps suggested it would be better, and simpler, if marking was done for all divisions - not just premier, one and two.
Should all three umpires' associations be in agreement, the proposal should re-appear at the Lincs League's mid-winter meeting in January at Market Rasen CC.
If the majority of clubs approve it - and it will be surprising if there's much, or any, opposition - the official league scoresheet will require only a slight amendment to bring the change into force from next April.
It's long been the practice to mark all umpires in matches in the North Lindsey League on Sundays - a trophy going to the official with the highest marks at the end of the season. The same applies in the Lincs League premier division.
So it is somewhat strange the other four sections of the Lincs League - that's the majority of games played in the competition - have not seen the marking of umpires in recent years.
It was the case some time ago, and for many years, that captains throughout the Lincs League were asked to comment on the scoresheet. But there was no marking system: We skippers made comments like "Very Good" or "Good" to sum up the match officials. Not very scientific, which is probably why it was dropped. However it did give at least a guide.
Currently, with no marking in divisions one to four inclusive, umpires have no idea what the teams really think of the way they have performed.
True, captains aren't usually qualified umpires but markings given collectively, and evened out over a full season, will offer a reasonable reflection of how officials have performed.
It will help those - and there may be only a few - who are considering moving up a level to begin umpiring in the Lincs League premier division. The marks will also assist those who make appointments to matches and also the people who oversee umpires' development - locally and at a higher level.

LINCS MEMORIES FOR CRICKET LOVERS

It was great to be offered a second chance this year (as late substitute) to talk about our favourite sport at a monthly meeting of the Lincolnshire Cricket Lovers at Chichester Road, Cleethorpes.
This time we wound the clock back 20-25 years to look at Lincolnshire Minor Counties cricket - grounds, players and performances. That was during the period when Geoff Robinson (Ross Sports, Grimsby) was just coming to the end of his stint as captain, to be replaced by fellow veteran Harry Pougher (Lincoln Lindum). Among the audience were two Meggies who played for Lincs during that period - Jeff Todd and Bob Leafe.
Highlight of this period for Lincs was the NatWest Trophy tie at Old Trafford, the Test ground, when our boys, Minnows of the competition, managed to bowl out the mighty Lancashire...after they'd topped 300!
There was also reference to some notable performances in local club cricket, including the 1,000th wicket taken for Caistor by Wes Allison, and ex-Grimsby Town wing-half Brian Clifton riding high in the South Humberside Alliance with SCM.
A few questions came from the floor at the end of the talk, with Howard Swain (Cleethorpes) and Chris Keywood (Hartsholme) among those raising their hands.
We also got in a quick "plug" for Lincs Cricket Latest and a few members of the audience who had not heard of the site might now pay us a visit. If you are one of them: A warm welcome aboard!
Last night's talk/discussion centred on my bulging scrapbooks packed with cuttings from the period. I was asked whether the information could be made available online.
Now that would be a labour of love!

BANANA BOOST

We mentioned Brigg Town's Tony Glossop recently for what must be a record run of successive ducks for a club in northern Lincs. Well, just to redress the balance, here he is (back row, extreme right) in the mid-1980s in trophy-winning form, having collected the Golden Banana at the presentation night, held at the Ancholme Inn. Next to him on the back row is medium-pacer bowler, Andy Willey, 2nd X1 skipper. Left to right on the front row are Derek Chambers, who famously hit 89 on his debut, and first team opening batsman Tony "Diker" Bailey, who many well remember from his days with Broughton.

CORKY'S PUZZLER

I've just spent a very enjoyable hour looking through my scrapbooks for the period 1985-9 ahead of tonight's talk on Minor Counties cricket to the Lincolnshire Cricket Lovers at Cleethorpes CC (7.30pm).
A few things I'd forgotten about have surfaced, and I've found the long-lost cutting for the match when a certain Mr Cork took four wickets for Staffordshire against Lincolnshire at Bignall End. But was it a young Dominic, later to play for England?
I'm looking forward to giving the talk but there's such a wealth of interesting information in our archives that I wonder how much we will fit into the time available.

DIV ONE CHANGES

Due to a clash of fixtures at Mulsanne Park on Saturday, May 29, when both Nettleham teams were allocated home games, it has been necessary to amend three Lincolnshire League division one fixtures.
On May 29, Nettleham 2nds v Outcasts will NOT take place but will be played at Nettleham on Saturday, June 12.
Louth 2nds v Nettleham 2nds, scheduled for Saturday, June 12, will now move to Saturday, September 18.
A date for the outstanding Scothern/Outcasts encounter has yet to be announced.
Thanks to league fixture secretary Glen Sands for the latest update. Please amend your personal/club list if you are keeping a check on the 2010 dates for division one. From the information posted on Lincs Cricket Latest over the past few weeks - for all divisions - maybe some people will have had their eyes opened over how much work - at club and league level - goes into ensuring we all get cricket to enjoy during the summer months.

RACING CERTAINTY

Hibaldstow Cricket Club will be holding its presentation and race night at the Village Hall on Saturday, December 5, from 7.30pm. Contact Mel Oades or Jon Taylor for tickets and further information. You can reach Mel through this link MEL

FIRE ALARM STOPS PLAY

By Kevin White, Alford CC

There has been a further incident in the East Lindsey Indoor Cricket League following on from the ‘Rained Off’ match between Louth Cricket Club and Alford & District CC ‘B’ Team on 1st November, again involving the Alford Club.
The Alford & District Cricket Club ‘A’ against Graves Park match, due to take place after the ‘B’ team match against Louth on 1st November, was postponed and re-arranged for Sunday 8th November.
Alford batted first in the re-scheduled match and opener Dave Newman proceeded to hit the ball into the fire alarm, smashing the glass.
About 10 minutes later all the fire alarms in the building went off, causing a break in play as the teams had to go to the meeting point outside the building whilst the building was checked.
On confirming that there was no fire and that it would be safe to resume, players went back onto the pitch, but the sports hall staff were unable to switch the alarms off. Both teams were determined to finish this seemingly ‘fated’ match and play continued will alarm bells ringing. Luckily there were no thin edges to the keeper which the umpire had to decline through not being able to hear anything but the fire alarm bells!
For the record, Alford ‘A’ scored 190 for 1 off their 12 overs and beat the Boston side, who scored 100 for 5, by 90 runs.

NOSTALGIC NIGHT ON THURSDAY

Just a reminder 'yours truly' will be the guest speaker this Thursday when Lincolnshire Cricket Lovers stage their monthly meeting at Cleethorpes CC's Chichester Road clubhouse (7.30). All welcome - small charge to non-members.
The talk will be about Lincolnshire Minor Counties Players and Grounds (Home and Away).
I'll be taking along my scrapbooks from the 1980s - packed with newspaper cuttings of county games, and a lot more on the local club scene.
If you want to look through them, following the talk, feel free to do so.

IT COULD BE YOU?

The Lincs Cricket Latest site counter could well reach 18,000 today, which is amazing since we only started in mid-June...and it took some time for word to get round about our website's arrival on the local sporting scene.
Thanks go to all site visitors, supporters and contributors. We fully intend to keep going during the close season...with your valued support, of course.
So please follow "Chippy" Clay's example at Alkborough and email us pictures from your presentation night.
If you are involved in an indoor league, why not send us something from that?
Having your AGM? Email details before, and a list of officials (and decisions reached) after the event.
Lincs Cricket Latest is always happy to "plug" clubs' fundraising events of all kinds.
Contributions welcome now through this link LINCS CRICKET LATEST

FURTHER HONOURS

Two more pictures - courtesy of Andy Clay - from Alkborough Cricket Club's presentation night, with former England player Mike Watkinson doing the honours, as chief guest.
Above: Callum Render - most improved U17 (and also Lincs League fielder of the year).
Below: Ian Roden who claimed the first five-wicket haul of the season in a run out for the 3rd team in the North Lindsey League, to claim the Dave Newton Cup.

NEWTY'S RECORD

Chippy Clay's recent revelation in Lincs Cricket Latest that he played in the famous Alkborough match when Dave Newton took 10 for five prompted me to dig out the details from my collection of cricketing curios.
The game was in June 1988 and Dave (and a very young Chippy) were playing for Alkborough 2nds in a South Humberside Alliance division two match against Caistor 2nds.
Keeper Graham Bontoft managed four catches behind, Lee Brocklebank held two at silly mid-off, one batsman was caught and bowled, and Newty scattered the timbers on three occasions to finish with 8-5-5-10.
At the other end, Stu Sharp went wicketless but sent down seven overs for only eight runs - Caistor 2nds being dismissed for 16, which was only one run better than the lowest Alliance team total of all time.
With damaged knees, Newty, then 43, explained he'd had to cut his run-up down to just a few paces, but the tactic was "getting a few results."
Skipper Gordon McDaid revealed: "Dave had a bit of help from Pete Borrill who dropped a catch off Sharpy, but obviously not on purpose."

FAREWELL, TED

South Kelsey's Ted Sparrow has died, aged 82. The funeral service was held at the church in this well-known cricketing village yesterday. We hope to bring you a tribute to him at a later date.
Earlier this year, of course, Kelsey lost Walt Blackburn, former player and club secretary. I attended Walt's funeral but, unfortunately, was working in Scunthorpe yesterday.

EX-ENGLAND STAR IS GUEST SPEAKER

Report and pictures from Andy Clay, 2nd X1 captain, Alkborough CC
Alkborough Cricket Club's Annual Dinner/Dance/Presentation Evening was at the Wortley Hotel, Scunthorpe.
Our guest speaker was director of cricket at Lancashire, ex-England man Mike Watkinson, who listened diligently to reports from 1st and 2nd team skippers, Steve and Andy Clay, on the fortunes of the sides through the 2009 season.
Steve explained that the first team, who one of few teams without a 'pro' in the top flight, led the league at various stages and with four games to go were still in the hunt of the championship, but two defeats in the run-in saw them slip to 6th in a very tight league and they were controversionally knocked out of the GM Cup in a bowl out!
John Knapton was crowned first team players' player and also collected the award for most runs scored within the club.
Lee Brocklebank (seen above with Mike Watkinson) took the most wickets within the club(spanning across 1/2/3 teams) and Ian Roden claimed the first 5-wicket haul of the season in a run out for the 3rd team to claim the Dave Newton Cup, in memory of our stalwart bowler who passed away but still holds the record for 10-5 in one innings(in fact a game in which, as a youth, I played).
Craig Ross (seen here with the guest speaker) claimed the first 60 cup within the club and the 3rd team player of the year award and young Liam Hebblewhite was the most improved U15 Player, with Callum Render the most improved U17 (and in fact Lincs League fielder of the year).
Neil Gray walked away with 2nd team players/player as I said a few words on our season.
Steve Clay collected the Kim Barker Cup from Kerry Barker, wife of James. Kim was father to James who sadly passed away 3 years, and this converted award has been keenly fought amongst the young and old at Alkborough in his memory.

FOOTBALL TRIUMPH FOR CAISTOR CC

From Wes Allison, Caistor CC
Here are two photos of Caistor Rovers FC (in red and black) and Caistor Town Cricket Club (in blue and yellow) who played in a charity match for Wish Upon A Star (the children's charity). The result was Caistor Rovers 3, Caistor CC 4.
There is also a disco and group at our club on Saturday, November 14.

WORTH A LOOK

If you enjoy visiting Lincs Cricket Latest, perhaps you might want to take a look at my other major website BRIGG BLOG, which has now received a new lease of life and is enjoying daily updates once again. Just follow this link BRIGG BLOG

HOPE ROSES WILL BLOOM AGAIN

Seeing Glen Sands' Lincs Cricket Latest reference yesterday to the Roses ground in Gainsborough leads me to hope they might, one day, be in a position to re-apply to join the North Lindsey League on Sundays.
Many of us down the years have enjoyed games against Chick Barratt and his team; some of us also played hockey against Chick who was a top-notch performer in the winter sport.
Roses CC still play in the Bassetlaw League on Saturdays but team-raising difficulties saw them pull out of the Lindsey League, and they haven't re-applied for 2010.
It's been good to get Morton into the Lincolnshire League (ground-sharing at Roses), and they did pretty well in their first season in division four - more than holding their own, and pulling off that shock 10-wicket George Marshall Trophy victory away to premier division Barton Town, of course. Sorry to keep bringing that up, old friends at Marsh Lane.
Will that ever be bettered as a giant-killing performance?
Hopefully some more teams in the Gainsborough area - a large town by Lincolnshire standards - may wish to apply for Lincs League membership in the years ahead.
The other week I drove over to Retford to meet someone getting off a London train, and while driving through Gainsborough passed over the Trent and glimpsed what I still call Holy Trinity's ground alongside the river (not sure if it's still in use).
I conceded many big sixes over 30-odd years as a slow off-spinner in league cricket, but back in the late 1970s one of the Trinity boys hit me for a really massive one on that ground in a Lindsey fixture.
I did get my own back a few years later on the much smaller Brigg Sugar ground by lifting one over square leg which clipped the top of a caravan parked in the road nearby. But it must have gone only half the distance of that six conceded at their venue.
If any Gainsborough area clubs are interested in trying out the Lincs League, it must be stressed that the rules of the county's biggest Saturday competition state membership is only open to those playing within the old Lincolnshire boundary. And once you cross the Trent it's only a very short distance before the "Welcome to Nottinghamshire" sign is encountered by the roadside.
The Scunthorpe and District Umpires' Association sometimes helps out the Bassetlaw League by sending officials to stand in games in that competition, when they are short of numbers.
On the topic of umpiring, we note our good friend Gordon Turner, who oversees appointments in the Grimsby area and is also a ground inspector for the Lincs League, has now gone online. Being able to email him will make things a lot easier for many clubs, league officials and, no doubt, his fellow umpires.
We haven't got Gordon's permission to post his address, but if he gets in touch and wishes us to put out his email details for 'general consumption' we'll be very happy to do so.
At last week's North Lindsey League AGM it was agreed to start sending all league correspondence by email, rather than post - something the Lincs League has been doing for some time. It speeds things up, particularly in view of the current postal situation, and saves a lot of effort (and expense) printing off loads of sheets and putting them into envelopes.
This struck home the other day when I received a request to print off all the Lincs League draft fixtures for 2010 and post them to someone in the Lincoln area who is without the benefit of email.
Turning back the clock, however, it was always a highlight every winter, as a club secretary, to receive a buff envelope from Jack Swain (Cleethorpes), the long-serving fixture secretary of the Lincs League, and open it to reveal your games for the following season - all neatly typed and displayed in A4 format.
Back then it was considerably easier to format the fixtures, as most Lincs League clubs had only one, or two, teams in the competition and did not play in others.
I seem to recall Jack used the Football Association mathematical model system, which I later used very successfully to format games for the Humberside Alliance (as fixture sec). I also passed the numbers square on to Glen who, I think, uses it today as the starting point for the Lincs League's five divisions.
Basically, you allocate numbers to clubs/teams and the mathematical chart takes account of those who share grounds (eg Scunthorpe Town 1sts and 2nds) to ensure when one is at home (in the premier) the other will be away (in division three).
It also put the fixtures in order - so you would play home, then away against each opponent until the mid-point of the season (early July) when the matches would reverse. The only downside, if you think it one, was that, mid-season, you would play the same opponents twice in successive weeks - at home and then away, or away and then at home.
I was informed about the FA fixture format model by Ken Stones - that magnificent servant to Scunthorpe Saturday League football - who loaned me his official copy received from FA HQ in the 1950s.
In Lincs League terms it's very much more complicated today, of course, as some clubs also have teams in other competitions, or have three sides using one ground, or we have different clubs sharing the same venue.
Plus, in decades gone by, we had the option of full fixture lists on bank holiday Mondays (May and August), which made sorting the programme must easier. These days, with most Lincs League clubs playing in competitive and extensive Sunday competitions, bank holiday Monday dates are generally unpopular. It's also true that many present-day players no longer wish to play Saturday, Sunday and Monday (a bit of wifely pressure?).
Getting Mondays off work is also a factor to consider in these times of recession.
The fixture secretary's task when you are working out games in five divisions, for 50 teams, is certainly not an easy one.
To paraphrase the fittingly-named Abraham Lincoln: You can please some of the cricketers some of the time, but not all of the cricketers all of the time!

CHANGES UNAVOIDABLE

Glen Sands, fixture secretary of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League, has now emailed all division four teams with a new set of fixtures for 2010.
He says: "Please note the changes that have had to be made now that the Bassetlaw League have released their fixtures. There were several clashes between Roses Leisure and Morton which have necessitated some changes to accomodate Morton's ground availability. Sorry for the changes but hopefully we have now managed to accomodate everyone."

SATURDAY APRIL 17TH
Alford 2nds v Keelby 2nds
Caistor Town 3rds v Old Lincolnians (@ Old Linc)
Morton v Market Rasen 2nds
Scunthorpe 3rds v Hykeham 2nds
South Kelsey 2nds v Brigg Town

SATURDAY APRIL 24TH
Alford 2nds v Scunthorpe 3rds
Brigg Town v South Kelsey 2nds
Hykeham 2nds v Market Rasen 2nds
Keelby 2nds v Caistor Town 3rds
Morton v Old Lincolnians

SATURDAY MAY 1ST
Market Rasen 2nds v Alford 2nds
Scunthorpe 3rds v Keelby 2nds
South Kelsey 2nds v Old Lincolnians

SUNDAY MAY 2ND
Caistor Town 3rds v Brigg Town

SATURDAY MAY 8TH
Brigg Town v Scunthorpe 3rds
Caistor Town 3rds v Hykeham 2nds
Keelby 2nds v South Kelsey 2nds
Morton v Alford 2nds
Old Lincolnians v Market Rasen 2nds

SATURDAY MAY 15TH
Brigg Town v Keelby 2nds
Hykeham 2nds v Alford 2nds
Scunthorpe 3rds v Old Lincolnians

SUNDAY MAY 16TH
Caistor Town 3rds v South Kelsey 2nds

SATURDAY MAY 22ND
KO CUP 1ST ROUND

SATURDAY MAY 29TH
Hykeham 2nds v Brigg Town
Old Lincolnians v Morton
Scunthorpe 3rds v Market Rasen 2nds
South Kelsey 2nds v Alford 2nds

SATURDAY JUNE 5TH
Alford 2nds v Brigg Town
Keelby 2nds v Market Rasen 2nds
Morton v Scunthorpe 3rds
Old Lincolnians v Caistor Town 3rds

SATURDAY JUNE 12TH
Hykeham 2nds v South Kelsey 2nds
Old Lincolnians v Brigg Town

SATURDAY JUNE 19TH
KO CUP 2ND ROUND

Market Rasen 2nds v Keelby 2nds (if both out of Cup)
Morton v Hykeham 2nds (if out of Cup)

SATURDAY JUNE 26TH
Alford 2nds v Market Rasen 2nds
Brigg Town v Caistor Town 3rds
Hykeham 2nds v Morton
Keelby 2nds v Scunthorpe 3rds
Old Lincolnians v South Kelsey 2nds

SATURDAY JULY 3RD
Market Rasen 2nds v Hykeham 2nds
Old Lincolnians v Keelby 2nds
Scunthorpe 3rds v Alford 2nds
South Kelsey 2nds v Morton

SATURDAY JULY 10TH
Alford 2nds v Old Lincolnians
Hykeham 2nds v South Kelsey 2nds
Morton v Brigg Town
Scunthorpe 3rds v Caistor Town 3rds

SATURDAY JULY 17TH
Brigg Town v Market Rasen 2nds
Hykeham 2nds v Old Lincolnians
Keelby 2nds v Morton
South Kelsey 2nds v Scunthorpe 3rds

SATURDAY JULY 24TH
Brigg Town v Old Lincolnians
Caistor Town 3rds v Market Rasen 2nds
Hykeham 2nds v Scunthorpe 3rds
Keelby 2nds v Alford 2nds
Morton v South Kelsey 2nds

SATURDAY JULY 31ST
Alford 2nds v Hykeham 2nds
Keelby 2nds v Brigg Town
Market Rasen 2nds v Morton
Old Lincolnians v Scunthorpe 3rds
South Kelsey 2nds v Caistor Town 3rds

SATURDAY AUGUST 7TH
Hykeham 2nds v Keelby 2nds
Market Rasen 2nds v Brigg Town
Morton v Caistor Town 3rds
Old Lincolnians v Alford 2nds
Scunthorpe 3rds v South Kelsey 2nds

SATURDAY AUGUST 14TH
Alford 2nds v Morton
Hykeham 2nds v Caistor Town 3rds
Market Rasen 2nds v Old Lincolnians
Scunthorpe 3rds v Brigg Town
South Kelsey 2nds v Keelby 2nds

SATURDAY AUGUST 21ST
Alford 2nds v Caistor Town 3rds
Brigg Town v Morton
**Caistor Town 3rds v Scunthorpe 3rds ( clashes with Prem League fix )
Keelby 2nds v Hykeham 2nds
Market Rasen 2nds v South Kelsey 2nds

SATURDAY AUGUST 28TH
Alford 2nds v South Kelsey 2nds
Brigg Town v Hykeham 2nds
Market Rasen 2nds v Scunthorpe 3rds
Morton v Keelby 2nds

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH
Brigg Town v Alford 2nds
Keelby 2nds v Old Lincolnians
Market Rasen 2nds v Caistor Town 3rds

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH
Caistor Town 3rds v Keelby 2nds
Old Lincolnians v Hykeham 2nds
Scunthorpe 3rds v Morton
South Kelsey 2nds v Market Rasen 2nds

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH
South Kelsey 2nds v Hykeham 2nds (to be confirmed)

CHANGES AT MARSH LANE

There's no change in the Sunday side North Lindsey League management within Barton Town CC - but, following the AGM, all the Saturday posts have changed hands.
Barton's first team is in the Lincs premier division and the 2nds in division three.

Outgoing Chairman - Dean Cressey replaced by Alan Sanderson
Outgoing Vice-Chairman - Alan Sanderson replaced by Richard Birch
Outgoing 1st X1 Captain - Ian Andrew replaced by Gareth Mellors
Outgoing 1st X1 Vice Captain - Gareth Mellors replaced by Gary Bell
Outgoing 2nd X1 Captain - Jeremy Evans replaced by Phil Burrell
Outgoing 2nd X1 Vice Captain - Andrew Tester replaced by Nick Whittaker
Barton Town Sunday X1 - same as last year, Andy Genney
Barton Vikings Captain/Manager - same as last year, Jeremy Evans.

We wish them all well in their new roles - on and off the field.

LINCOLN SUNDAY - FINAL PLACINGS

McKinnell’s (Solicitors) Lincoln Cricket League

Premier Division
Boston 1st 284
Cherry Willingham 266
Lindum 234
Market Rasen 224
Nettleham 209
Morton 1st 183
Hartsholme 167
Scothern 159
Martin 151
Blankney 105

Division One
North Scarle 273
Hykeham 1st 239
Middle Rasen 221
Saxilby 218
Old Lincolnians 217
Bracebridge 207
Carholme 196
Waddington 157
Bassingham 156
Washingborough 126

Division Two
Heckington 318
Boston 2nds 274
Heighington 266
Owmby 213
Nettleham 2nds 184
Branston 181
Fulbeck 172
Winthorpe 143
Bardney 114
Aisthorpe 85

Division Three
Caythorpe 302
Lindum 2nds 266
Timberland 255
Cherry Willingham 2nds 239
Rustons 178
Aswarby 178
Millers 172
Hykeham 2nds 169
Reepham 134
Nocton 43


To view the full tables on their website, follow this link Lincoln League

KEEPER HOLDS ONTO TROPHY

Callum Harrision, the North Wheatley with Leverton wicketkeeper, accepting a trophy on behalf of Jon Loates, leading batsman in division three, during the North Lindsey Cricket League annual meeting from league chairman Dave Willey (right).

INDOOR CRICKET RAINED OFF

By Kevin White, Alford CC
It sounds bizarre but the East Lindsey Indoor Cricket League Division One fixture between Louth Cricket Club and Alford & District Club 'B'on Sunday November 1 at Skegness was 'rained off' mid-way through the Alford innings with the game poised for a tight finish. Louth had scored 129 for 2 from their 12 overs and Alford's reply stood at 77 for 2 with in form batsmen Ross Dixon and Gary Allis setting up a close finish when torrential rain outside started leaking into the hall leaving three puddles on the pitch and a damp patch on the matting. After one mopping up session and further deliberations, the umpires and hall management abandoned the game due to safety considerations.
Does anyone have a spare set of covers they could donate to the hall?

BUTS AND BRADDERS GOING STRONG

From Ann Boulton

Nice to see mention of two Lincs stalwarts, Steve Bradford and Paul Butler, both still going strong in the Lincs ECB Premier League.
Steve (playing at Sleaford) took 25 wickets at an average of 29.54 (best of 6-59) and scored 384 runs at an average of 29.54 with a highest score of 65no.
Paul took 17 wickets for Skegness at 26.88 and hit 570 runs at an average of 51.82 (hs 72no).
Sleaford finished fourth in the league and Skegness were second.

WANT TO BE AN UMPIRE?

The Grimsby Umpires' Association is running an ECB ACO Level 1 course, starting at 7.30pm on Thursday, January 7 at Cleethorpes Cricket Club.
For further information contact John Tuck on 01472 220230, or Ian Wilkinson on 01472 872577

GEOFF REACHED 200 NOT OUT

Hard-hitting opener Geoff Robinson - one of the finest batsmen ever to appear for Lincolnshire's Minor Counties team - played his 200th match in July, 1986.
It was against Cambridgeshire at Burghley Park, Stamford. And during the lunch interval on the first day, county president Ken Portlock presented him with glassware to mark he milestone.
Geoff and Ken were both key members of Ross Sports Cricket Club in Grimsby (previously known as Ross Group).
I can't share a picture of the presentation with you, as back then sports reporters wrote copy and photographers took the pictures...if one happened to be in the right place at the right time. Which didn't happen on this occasion.
A few years later we acquired a Canon Sureshot camera (using film) and I remember trying it out for the first time to take a picture or two at Bourne during a Lincolnshire match (team manager Terry Bates was one 'victim'). Obviously the Sureshot was only capable of close-ups of players and officials, having no big lens suitable for action shots. Even if I'd had the skills necessary to take them.
These days the rapid growth of digital and phone cameras, with supporting software to "tweak" the images, allied to the internet and websites, means Lincs Cricket Latest can bring you a wide range of pictures.
Some 20 years ago we were amazed when a cricket reporter from a newspaper in Cambridge turned up at a Minor Counties game with portable computer, from which he filed his copy through a modem and the telephone network.
He showed us how he could locate all scorecards from that season to check how many a particular player had made in an earlier match, doing away with the need to keep a scrapbook full of cuttings and take it round the circuit with him.
Being without the help of such new technology in the mid to late 1980s I'm delighted I kept scrapbooks of my writing output, as these days they offer fascinating archive material, a small fraction of which we are sharing with you on Lincs Cricket Latest from time to time.