This blog is
dedicated to my Twitter pal Ian
Willis who, at the age of 53, was pressganged into action for Chester Le Street
thirds on the last Sunday in May, as three quarters of the team had opted for a
day at the Test rather than Washington away. Ian made 6 not out and bowled 1
over for 6 runs; I don’t just admire him for this landmark appearance, I’m
insanely jealous!
Almost from
the minute the 2015 cricket season ended back on September 13th when
Chester Le Street seconds beat Tynemouth seconds in the final of the Banks Bowl
at Ropery Lane, I started counting down the days until the 2016 season was due
to start. I had fully intended to take
in as many games per week as I could manage, from the starting date of April 16th
onwards, with my stated intention being to “tick off” as many NEPL grounds I’d
not been to as possible. However, the proviso would be I’d do my best to see as
much of Tynemouth and Newcastle as possible; by a process of elimination, I’ve
started to follow both sides, not just because South North are so well off they
don’t need my support. Despite their magnificent beer festival, they have shirt
sponsorship from Fosters, which may
have something to do with Marcus North, but it means they’re doing just fine
without me. Whereas Tynemouth and
Newcastle are both glorious citadels of the local club game, where I always
feel my presence is welcomed. Additionally, I maintained my Northumberland
membership, so there are also county duties to adhere to, with Bedfordshire
visiting Burnopfield at the start of July, for instance.
Unsurprisingly,
considering the winter we endured, the weather intervened early on, washing out
the first weekend of the cricket season completely. The second weekend saw
South North score 248/2, before Tynemouth replied with an honourable, plucky
237 all out. The game was at Preston Avenue, but heading straight home after
Benfield’s 1-1 draw with Guisborough, I wimped out from seeing the last session,
preferring to take in the FA Cup semi-final from the comfort of my sofa less
than a mile away instead; I can’t even remember which one now. Mea culpa; mea maxima culpa.
April 30th,
I was down at West Auckland watching Benfield draw 1-1 again, so I got back too
late to see any play at County Club, where Newcastle beat Whitburn by 10
wickets, or Gateshead Fell where the home side’s 84 meant they lost by 15 runs
to Tynemouth. It was a canny day on the
Saturday, so I’d resolved to take in some cup action on the Sunday; typically
down it came again and every Banks Slaver game was off.
We move on
to May 7th, which was the day Wallsend Winstons won the Over 40s
Echo Cup; I started drinking at noon, then boozed all the way through my final
Northern League game of the season as Whitley Bay trounced Durham City 4-0.
Meanwhile, Tynemouth were completing a routine win over Durham Cricket Academy
that I predictably missed. Finally, on Sunday May 8th I saw my first
game of the season; disappointingly Northumberland’s 198 all out at Benwell
Hill was overhauled by Norfolk, who got 202/6 to win by 4 wickets. Despite the
result, it was wonderful to be back; the weather was stunning, the ground
impeccable, the reserved nodded greetings from regular acquaintances as modest
as ever. Plus I got to chat with Chris Youldon and his dad about his future
Northern League plans. My lips remain sealed.
On May 14th,
we held the Tyneside Amateur League Shield final at Benfield; Bedlington Town
beat North Shields Athletic 2-1, deservedly so. A glorious day; the sun blazing
down. Tynemouth were thrashing Chester Le Street by 8 wickets, while Newcastle
squeezed home at Jesmond by 1 wicket against Durham Academy. I was sat in the
beer garden of The Northumberland Hussar
with a pair of fellas from County Kildare who weren’t much keen on the garrison
game. Bloody philistines….
Saturday May
21st, I got the Man of the Match award for the first time ever in 11
years of playing for Winstons as we saw out the season with a 0-0 against
Houghton Cricket Club. It was the only connection I had with cricket that day as,
Tyneside Amateur League duties at North Shields Athletic 2 Wardley 1
notwithstanding, I had a serious drinking session to attend in Durham with my
ageing team mates. I still got up in time to see my second game of the season
the next day; Northumberland doing really well to bowl Cambridge out for 142 to
win by 80 runs. Nice to catch up with Jacques du Toit as well; Captain Nicotine
has added regular cups of coffee to his strict Marlboro Lights warm up routine. It must be working as he took 9
wickets the weekend after, and then engaged in a Twitter chat while waiting for his supper of meat and rum. Some boy…
Finally,
with the end of the football season in sight, there was the sheer joy of the
return of the NEPL 20:20 competition, even if the draw was a mite unfortunate,
pitting Newcastle, South North and Tynemouth in the same group as Blaydon,
South Shields and Willington. The first
fixture pitted Tynemouth with South North; a tough opening, but the Croons were
magnificent, restricting the Gosforth galacticos to 80/9, partly because of
fabulous fielding, then knocked of the runs for the loss of 2 wickets, winning
it with a 6 into Percy Park with more than 5 overs to spare.
Immediately
I set foot inside Preston Avenue, I felt right at home. It was great to be
back; great to chat with people I’ve seen all around the north east non-league
football scene over the past dozen or so years, and also to be welcomed back by
Tynemouth members. What a superb set-up they have there; I’m looking forward to
going back regularly. Indeed, having
missed out on a Saturday game because of Birtley St Joseph’s 1 Felling Magpies
2 bringing down the curtain on the north east non-league season and The Wedding
Present at Brudenell Club in Leeds taking precedence, I followed Tynemouth to
Boldon, by means of the number 9 bus, on a freezing Whit Monday, to watch their
innings in a Banks Salver second round game. I still haven’t tracked down the
final score, but Tynemouth, who were 175/7 from 40 when I left, came out on
top. I’d passed Boldon’s ground innumerable times in the past, but had never
been in. Like almost every local cricket ground, bar a few unkempt bits of
terracing at County Club that could do with a few RGS detainees weeding them,
it was loved, treasured and immaculate. The sense of community at so many of
the places I’ve visited is tangible to the touch.
I could have
gone to any of the days of the Test at the Riverside, but frankly it didn’t
occur to me. Prices are prohibitive and the commercialisation so rampant as to
be nauseating, but it’s more to do with falling in love with local club cricket
rather than rejecting the First Class game. Unlike football, cricketers are
still humans who interact with the fans at a normal level, so please don’t see
my enjoyment of club cricket as being some kind of fake bullshit perspective;
it’s just where my cricket love-in is right now.
So, after
Boldon, I’ve visited 8 grounds in the Premier Division, but only 3 in the First
Division. The choice is this; after 4 games so far in 2016, should I try to
visit every ground, visit new grounds or simply follow Tynemouth? Plenty to
think about, but with 3 months of baking weather forecast, plenty of
opportunities to follow whichever course of action I choose. That said, the
idea of paying £20 to watch Durham against Notts on a freezing Wednesday night
doesn’t appeal. Shamefully, this weekend
will see me miss out on Friday because of Winstons’ AGM and Saturday on my
annual pilgrimage to the Scotch Juniors. However, Chester Le Street v Newcastle
in the Salver on Sunday looks enticing….
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