125th Anniversary Year Sunday 14th July 2024 - PAST v PRESENT

The opening event got proceedings off to a fine start with a 40 over game between Past and Present Players. An excellent squad of players made themselves avaailable and although the main attention was on the Past XI credit is due to the the present team for the way they entered into the spIrit of the occasion. The combined teams PAST V PRESENT 14th July 2024

Past v Present Back Row: Neil Cox, Andy Finlay. Steve Cope. Simon Walker, Steve Cokayne, John Aldred, Martin Starr, Graham Farnsworth, Adam Leigh, Mark Starr, Rob Wilkinson (umpire), Paul Aldred, Grahame McDonough, John Whitaker, James Cokayne, Matt Murfin Front Row: David Shaw, Steve Walker, Jack Murfin, Jake Cherry, Joe Lacey, Jake Storer, Harriet Parkin, Kevin Farnsworth, Arthur Lacey, Neil Parkin, Dylan Moorhouse, Charlie Murfin. The captains for the day were Matk Starr (Past (it)) and Jake Cherry and upon winning the toss Mark asked the Present XI to bat

Graheme McDonaugh and Paul Aldred opened the bowling with both showing that their enthusiasm had not been dampened. Paul still has the cLassical action of his county cricket days and any aspiring bowler should take note of the easy run up, high arm action and follow through.

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Here are a few of the past XI players

David Shaw- who hit his first ever six for Shipley

Graham Farnsworth of leg theory fame

Martin Starr

Stve Cope

Simon Walker

It must be said that the Past XI bowling was treated with scant respect by the Present batsmen and the final total of 239 from the 40 overs sent both teams off to tea in a contended state of mind. To add to their contenment the ladies had produced a delcious feast (it cannot be described as anything less as the tables groaned under the weight of the goodies) which had the players and guests frequently returning for seconds, thirds and more. Sue, Carole, Merell and Christine weRe responsible and are deserving of the highest praise. Suitibly sated the Past sarted their chase of the total and David Shaw and Adam got things off to a bright and breezy start with a stand of 42 during which David scored his first ever six whilst batting at Shipley. Frilly went on to 40+ when he took pity on the bowling and retired. A collapse of sorts was followed by an elegant 45 from Neil Cox ( living up to his Lord Edward title) and the score was mounting nicely. There followed the innings of the game from the ever fit Steve Walker who, in partnership with Graham,and, in true dramatic style hit a straight six off the inal ball of the match to win the game for the Past. Great entertainment enjoyed by all and a framed picture of the team,and a scoresheet signed by the players is a fitting testimonial to an event that epiomised all the good things about cricket at Shipley. One final word of thanks to Bob Wilkinson who umpired for much of the proceedings

One (unfotuneately) lasting memory

2024 - The125th YEAR

The club reached it's 125th year in 2024 and formed a small committee to consider how this achievement might be celebrated. Their ideas resulted in 3 distinct actions, a. A programme of events over a period of a fortnight from 14th to 28th July. b. The pubication of an Anniversary Book. c The production of a Anniversary Polo shirt. It was difficUlt to ascertain the strength of feeling within the club for the celebrations. Whether in this day and age such matters were important to members was perhaps debatable and the actual implementation was clearly going to fall on the shoulders of a limited number of volunteers. However a programme was agreed and published

The Anniversary Book was one for me to write and Andy Finlay to produce. It did not prove to be easy but eventuaLly production was completed

Steve Cokayne took on the task of polo production and the result was

The experience and input of Andy Finlay proved vital in many areas of the event planning and the whole was overseen by Steve Cokayne who needed considerable patience and perseverance.I will descibe the event in more detail in a subsequent post. The workload did fall on "the few" and their efforts were rewarded.

SHIPLEY TWO's in ACTION

Shipley two's were looking to improve upon their opening loss at Ambergate by whooping Riddings at Shipley. Batting first their cause was not helped by the loss of skipper ROB COKAYNE and OLIVER HODSON with only 8 on the board. BEN SMYTH with 30 played another good knock and with some dour defence from ANDY FINLAY ( pic very annoyed as he walks back) they took the score to 67 before disaster struck and the soreboard descended to 69-8. A mixture of airy wafts and poor skills appeared to be the main cause. However, there was no brotherly love on display when the skipper gave his brother out LBW. ( Pot calliNg the kettle comes to mind as the skipper must hold the batting record for most dismissals for LBW). DARREN CHERRY was showing that staying at the crease was possible. Not much more was expected when he was joined by ROSCO CYSTER (pic - looking very stylish) but he again dumbfounded his batting skill detractors until he tired of the whole thing having scored 14. A wild whoosh and goodnight vienna. That was about it ,with Darren falling soon after leaving PAUL TURNBULL on 0 not out -his first not out having not faced a ball.Final tally 88 all out. Replying,Riddings did not have things their own way with Rosco and JACK MURFIN (who consoled his zero when batting with a cream cake) bowling tidily. Wickets fell and Andy and HARRIET PARKIN with a brace apiece set the match up for a close finsh. Then the more experienced Riddings players came to the fore and they edged past the Shipley score with 6 wickets down. On balance some improvement, but the battIng needs a boost. Will next week produce the first batting point of the season ? Just had a horrible memory of the Shipley 1st XI I captained in 196?? not scoring 100 until the end of May.

OPENING MATCH 2023

I managed to pop down to the opening match of the 2023 season where our 1st Xi were entertaining Denby II's. The Shipley side included two newcomers in JAKE CHERRY and DIVAN MEYER, a South African replacement for the homebound Timo. After a wet Friday, which resulted in several League cancellations, Saturday dawned dry but decidedly chilly. The covers had done their job and play was able to get away on time wirth Denby inserted. A green tinge to the wicket ( image 1) promised help for the bowlers A slow start against accurate fast bowling from Reece and Charlie( image 4) with the first wicket going down at 30. A good knock of 58 from Morgan Torr (I remember that surname) was the highlight of Denby's batting but some vital runs from the tailenders was to prove vital. Shipley's bowling and fielding was tidy but a skyer was dropped by one of our youngsters ( nameless to avoid mum's wrath) Shipley's openers GEORGE ESSEX and OWAIN PARKIN seemed happy enough as they walked out( image 2) with Owain particularly anixious to score against his Denby mates and his brothers club. Not to be. the ginger lad left a straight one. Meanwhile a slimmer George played some excellent pull shots- I don't think he knows where the offside is!) before sticking his pad in front to be palpably LBW. Its no good banging on to him about HEAD-FEET -HANDS you would probably need to tattoo this on his kit to make him remember. Talent wasted? JAKE CHERRY on debut was sound in defence and lookd set. He was joined by DIVAN also on debut but he had no answers to a Shipley low bounce wicket and his 4 ball misery ended with him clean bowled. Asking a bit much of him only 48 hours after his flight in and an ENGLISH chilly April day to boot. There will be better days and he might even get some South African warmth and bounce - come July. Probably still a bit sleepy (I really do apologise for that). Two big lads share a drink (3) JC and Jake looked in control but they both went in quick succession to be followed equally quickly by Charlie and Mark(the real veteran who should know better than play cricket in April). Reece provided the best of the Shipley batting with 42 proving what an excellent all-rounder he has become. Although our later batsmen rallied round him the Denby score was beyond them and an all out score of 144 left us 22 short. There will be better and warner days but the maxim "Cricket in April is HOPE above EXPECTATION rings as true today as ever was !! Man of the Match : REECE WIDDOWSON

ALAN REAVILL - CRICKETER AND AUTHOR

ALAN REAVILL I featured Alan Reavill's poem in praise of Shipley Hall some years ago and it was pleasant to catch up with Alan recently. He is hale and hearty and has two lovely books of poems published, which in this world of hustle and bustle reflect a peaceful abnd tranquil view of life. The books have misleading cricket titles EXTRAS AND A.N. OTHER but they are certainly not cricket related. I am pleased to republish Alan's epic SHIPLEY HALL SHIPLEY HALL. The scent of freshly mown grass .. The warmth of the early summer sun … Birdsong ; a gentle breeze - The scene is set ....I am relaxed : This rural idyll unlikely to be outdone.## The velvety sward before me a verdant green... Could anyone wish a more perfect rural scene ? Derbyshire at its beautiful best : Paradise at my behest Could anyone wish for more reason ? Ah, Yes ... The first day of the cricket season ! The pavilion retains its familiar format, though larger now … Resplendent with added wings, balconies .... And, a separate scoreboard building.....Whow ! But the changes are in keeping with the remembered scene... Changes which I could not have foreseen .... It's more than fifty years ... But no need to rush .... I wonder what happened to the old 'Bull and Bush' ? The fielding side. - it's Shipley Hall I see - take the field … The sun so bright my eyes I must shield.. I look for those I recall : Names and faces from that happy past Baker, Bottomley, Priestley, Grainger, Sumner, Hunter, Waltham, Young .... and Cokayne ....he really was fast. And, Mellors the 'keeper - 'Butch' of that ilk -but unrelated to he of Chatterley fame. 'Though the Hall was the setting of Lawrence's novel all the same. I feel foolish as I remember - it's all so many years ago ..... Though a Cokayne , third generation, now plays it seems. I close my eyes .... drift into nostalgic mode .... Games and events from those early years ...All those teams.... Fifty years ? All those matches.... All those dreams. The Hall has gone though the grounds remain .. But the cricket field is still my memory's domain.

It says it all and heres to your next edition. The two published books are available from the club's book collection

Drone on High

An interesting overhead of the ground with the Lakeside Development . Taken September 2022

AND THEN TWO BUSES COME ALONG !!

My usual trip to the ground where the first session of the summer school was taking place. Timo and Chris were doing a grand job with a bunch of enthusiastic youngsters Three of these youngsters were brought along by Matthew Hardwick and it was great to talk of yesteryear . Tempus fugit -his older lad is now 22. but I remember him as a tender chicken

And there we were chatting away when another oldie appeAred on a dog walking errand . However, I can only remember this episode involving Danny