Monday 18 March 2024

Speaker - Dr Jane Powell, Yorkshire, Sussex and England; 
President of Yorkshire County Cricket Club 

Start time 145pm, Holiday Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley.

This is our final event of the 2024/25 winter season, so please come along and support us for what is sure to be a very  informative and interesting afternoon with a very good speaker.
In the meantime, here is an interview with our guest to give you a flavour of what to expect !
 Women's Cricket Chat: DR Jane Powell (youtube.com) 

Monday 04 March 2024

Speaker - Peter Whiteley, President Yorkshire CCC Players’ Association 
Start time 145pm, Holiday Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley. 

John Peter Whiteley, born in 1955 at Otley, was a right-arm off-spin bowler and a right-handed batsman. He played forty-five first-class matches for Yorkshire County from 1978 to 1982, and in six List A one day games in 1981. He took 70 first-class wickets at an average of 34.42, with a best return of 4 wickets for 14 runs against Nottinghamshire, and he made a top score of 20 against Northamptonshire.  He also appeared for the Yorkshire Second XI from 1972 to 1982, and the Gloucestershire Second XI in 1974.  He also enjoyed a long and successful career with Harrogate Cricket Club.  He took on the mantle of President of the YCCC Players’ Association when he was handed his chain of office from the retiring president, Barrie Leadbeater, in April 2022. 

 
Full details of Peter Whiteley's career can be found via this link John Whiteley Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video (espncricinfo.com)

And more here:  WHITELEY NEXT PRESIDENT OF YCCC PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION - Yorkshire County Cricket Club (yorkshireccc.com)

And here is a link to the great work that Yorkshire Cricket Charitable Youth Trust do, of which Peter is a trustee.   20230122160501_YCCYTAnnualReport.pdf (yorkshireccc.com)

Thursday 29 February 2024 - 730pm 

Our Annual Junior Coaching awards

To be held at Shaw Lane Sports Club, Barnsley S70 6HZ
Guest speaker Matthew Milnes, Yorkshire CCC 

Please come along and show your support for all those who have attended our coaching sessions this year ! 

Monday 19 February 2024 - 730pm via Zoom 

Speakers - Richard Griffiths & Brian Sanderson

Cricket Memorabilia Evening - PART TWO

Following the great success of the memorabilia night held recently, Richard Griffiths and Brian Sanderson return with another instalment of their in-depth look at cricket and the Society in the 1970s.  Such was the huge interest generated at the meeting last week we did not get beyond 1972 so there’s still plenty to go at.  Everyone who attended was enthralled by the memories being evoked and the reminiscences that were being prompted.  
Once again the meeting is being held on Zoom which permits a close-up examination of the many photos, scorecards, programmes and other paraphernalia in Richard’s and Brian’s extensive collections.  

Monday 05 February 2024 - 730pm via Zoom 

Speakers - Richard Griffiths & Brian Sanderson
Cricket Memorabilia Evening

Our resident experts, Richard Griffiths and Brian Sanderson will lead another Cricket Memorabilia Night, this time following the theme of visitors to the Society in the 1970s.  We held our first memorabilia night last year and it was widely acclaimed by all who took part, evoking many memories, reminiscences and discussions.  This led to a general request to run more of these events. And the great thing is - you don’t even have to leave your armchair to take part, whilst the Zoom screen enables each item to be shown close-up and in detail.

The 1970s was something of a 'golden age' both for cricket in general and the Society in particular.  Overseas players were prevalent in the domestic competitions of which there were four - all happily co-existing (unlike today) - in the County Championship, two knock-outs in 60-over and 55-over formats and the 40-over Sunday league. Membership of the Society was high during the 70s (the 1975 Twelfth Man records 579 names), so plenty of rich material to enliven an otherwise dull February evening. 

Monday 22 January 2024 - 730pm via ZOOM

Speaker - Graham Hardcastle
A review of Yorkshire CCC season 2023 and a preview of 2024

Graham is no stranger to us now in what is becoming an annual visit.  In his roles as writer for the Yorkshire CCC website and editor of the YCCC Yearbook he is uniquely placed to present us with a review of the Yorkshire cricket season just gone and a preview of the 2024 season to come.  No doubt Yorkshire, with the fines imposed by the CDC last year behind them and a number of talented cricketers coming through, are hoping for a much better season, perhaps even eyeing a return to Division One.  These topics and many more always provide fertile ground for discussion and debate at the meeting.

More details about Grahams work can be found here
Graham Hardcastle’s Profile | Freelance Journalist | Muck Rack 

Sunday 03 December - Christmas lunch

Speaker - Paul Allott
Lancashire, England & SkySports Commentator
Paul Allott Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video (espncricinfo.com)

Please note this is a SUNDAY - the Start time 1200 for 1230, Holiday Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley.

You must prebook for this event. Please contact Andy Jones on 07773 918734 or by email [email protected] to reserve your place.
Absolute deadline for confirmed numbers and payment is Tuesday 21 November. Cost is £ 25 per person. 

Monday 27 November 2023

Speaker - Kevin Sharp
Start time 145pm, Holiday Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley
 
Kevin Sharp made his first-class debut for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1976, and was awarded his cap in 1982.
After retiring from the game he has worked as a batting  coach for Yorkshire, and also as an umpire.
He was appointed as Head Coach of Worcestershire 2018, and subsequently became Head of Coach & Player development, before retiring from that role in 2022.
 
More information about Kevin Sharp's career can be found via this link
Kevin Sharp Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video (espncricinfo.com)

Kevin Sharp to end 47-year full-time cricket career | The Cricketer 

New members are very welcome, please email Andy Jones our  membership secretary at  [email protected]. Alternatively just turn up on the day, and you will receive a warm welcome ! 

Monday 6 November 2023

Speaker - Mark Peel 
Author of Yorkshire Grit, The biography of Raymond Illingworth
Start time 145pm, Holiday Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley
 

Mark Peel is no stranger to the Wombwell in recent times.  He has spoken to us initially by Zoom during the Covid period and in person at a meeting in early 2022.  He is a renowned author whose knowledge of cricket is profound and extensive as his previous talks have shown.  Last year he spoke of his research into the life of Douglas Jardine for his book Never Surrender.  Prior to that he had written titles such as The Hollow Crown about England cricket captains since the Second World War,  Cricketing Caesar about Mike Brearley and Playing the Game about cricket’s tarnished ideals from Bodyline to Sandpaper-gate.  
Now he has brought out a much-needed work on Raymond Illingworth, telling the story of his all-round ability and tactical acumen; his bitter departure from Yorkshire, his success at Leicestershire and his greatest achievements as one of England’s finest Test captains.

Members who have heard Mark before will be well aware of the depth of knowledge that turns any Q&A session into a highly enjoyable and informative event.  We hope to see you there ! 

Monday 23 October 2023

Speaker - Dennis Amiss
Start time 145pm, Holiday Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley
 
For our 2nd "Live" meeting of the season, we welcome Warwickshire & England legend Dennis Amiss back to WCLS.
 
Dennis Leslie Amiss MBE was born in 1943 in Birmingham and went on to play for his home county, Warwickshire at the age of 17 before his success as a right-hand batsman took him on to a Test career in 1966.   He was a stroke maker, particularly through extra cover and midwicket, and it was generally held that once he had scored 40 he was very difficult to get out. He scored 43,423 first-class runs at an average of 42.86 and 3,612 runs at Test level at an average 46.30.  His Test career spanned 11 years from his debut in 1966 against West Indies until he made way for Geoff Boycott’s return to Test cricket in the 1977 series against Australia.  He made a century against Australia on debut in ODI cricket in 1972.  His England record amassed over 50 Tests ranks him with the best England has produced. 

Often seen as an establishment figure he was, nevertheless, quick to sign up for Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket where he was one of the first players to wear a batting helmet.  He took part in the rebel tour of South Africa in 1982, earning a three-year ban from Test cricket.  After retiring as a player in 1987 he continued to pursue a cricketing career off the field.  He served Warwickshire as Chairman of the Cricket Committee and then as Chief Executive from 1994 until 2006.  In 1992 he became an England selector and in November 2007 he became the deputy chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.  He has been a staunch supporter of the cricket societies’ movement for several years as President of the Cricket Societies’ Association.
 
More information about Dennis Amiss career can be found via this link
Dennis Amiss Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video (espncricinfo.com)

And here is a short video of Dennis talking about his innings of 188 in the test match against India in 1974 at Lords
Dennis Amiss speaks on his iconic 188 against India | Honour Board Legends (youtube.com) 

Monday 09 October 2023

Speaker - Frank Hayes
Start time 145pm, Holiday Inn, Dodworth, Barnsley
 
Frank Hayes, a native of Preston, Lancashire had the distinction of making impressive debuts both at County and Test levels.  In his first two matches for Lancashire in 1970 he scored 94 and 99; in his Test debut against West Indies at the Oval in 1973 he made 106 not out.  His subsequent on/off Test career was much less prolific given that all his nine Tests ended up being against the strong West Indies team of that time, ending with a modest average of 15.25.  He played his last Test in 1976 at Headingley.  His overall first-class career, which lasted until 1984, yielded 13,018 runs at an average of 35.86.  He also had the distinction of hitting Malcolm Nash of Glamorgan for 6-4-6-6-6-6 in an over, just a year after that hapless bowler had suffered six sixes in an over against Garry Sobers.  He captained Lancashire from 1978 to 1980.
After ending his playing career he had a stint as director of cricket at Oakham School, Rutland.

Members may recall that last year Frank Hayes was in the audience for the visit of Vic Marks to the Wombwell when, impromptu, he was invited to join Vic in answering some questions.  A very entertaining duo act ensued and so we had no hesitation in inviting Frank back for a session in his own right.

Please click on the video link below to see Frank in action in the 1975 World Cup scoring 52 at Edgbaston v East Africa.
Frank Hayes Best Fifty / ENGLAND vs EAST AFRICA / 1st Cricket World Cup 1975 / Rare HD Video (youtube.com)

More information about Frank Hayes career can be found via this link
Frank Hayes Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video (espncricinfo.com)