GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN......BLACKWELL MW FC

BLACKWELL MW FC AND PRIMROSE HILL GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

PRIMROSE HILL BLACKWELL MW FC

From a first formed date of 1890 Blackwell MW FC after a difficult few years finally dropped out of Saturday senior football in the 2012/13 season.  A club and surrounding area rich in history and industrial endeavour that saw its Primrose Hill ground share sporting prowess with cricket with the ground holding a 9th wicket record stand gained from a county cricket match between Derbyshire and Warwickshire.
In this very occasional series the visit came about following an attempt to cover a local cricket match between Morton and Blackwell MW upon arrival the game had been called off due to the morning rain so a brisk 45 minute walk would see me arrive in nearby Blackwell.

THE HEADSTOCKS FROM 'A' WINNING PIT

Having taking a well used country track footpath the short journey brought me right to the junction of Primrose Hill and the first visible sign of the villages history were the large headstocks from 'A' Winning the local pit of which there were 2 including 'B' Winning.  I remember visiting for a Blackwell game probably 5 or so years ago when the headstocks were officially opened and popping along to see a display of local pictures in the community centre before making a 3pm kick off just a short walk away at Blackwell MW FC.  Directly over the road on the crossroads stood the Blackwell Hotel a signpost regularly referred to for directions to the ground, sadly now this is a derelict piece of land with the former commanding building reduced to rubble.

TURN RIGHT AT THE BLACKWELL HOTEL

Having opted for a tantalising round about approach a quick visit to the former Coop store for a walk through Central Drive estate and onto 'The Ridge' a road that while walking to the ground develops into a cart track.  To the right can be seen the former pit site and some buildings still in use as industrial buildings today and on the hillside beyond Blackwell's sharp rivals South Normanton Athletic and their Lees Lane ground.

SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC FC VISABLE IN THE DISTANCE

Coming to ground after a short amble the first thing that stands out is the whole is surrounded by a brick wall around 8 foot in height, bricks apparently from the Collieries own works.  Coming to the wall that runs down the touchline that houses a couple of put together stands and dugouts for this thee sided ground the impressive wall becomes even more evident and more relevantly now we are on Colliery Lane.

PRIMROSE HILL GROUND FROM THE RIDGE

At the end of Colliery Lane the wall continues to the left and at the end of the wall is a large set of meshed metal gates that allows vehicular entry to the ground.  To the right is the former Cottage Restaurant which was the old Brigade Hall in the two wars and just past here is the current Miners Welfare.

THE FULLY WALLED GROUND AT PRIMROSE HILL

The ground had indeed staged quite a few sports and as ever with mining communities you can only imagine the support of the local people of the area for their teams when travelling was not as easy as today.  One interesting fact was that the football club took a gate of £40 at sixpence apiece equating at the time to an attendance of 1,600.  In local footballing prowess William Foulkes former England, Sheffield Utd  and Chelsea goalkeeper was born and lived in Blackwell and at 6ft 3in tall and 26 stone one would guess he was easy to spot around the village.
The cricket club celebrated their 125 year anniversary in 2015 and as far as I'm aware still play at the ground a ground that saw a tremendous record 9th wicket stand.  Derbyshire County Cricket Club used Primrose Hill for county games and a game against Warwickshire in 1910 saw the home side needing this stand to deny defeat the of 283 was made amazingly in 3 hours between Derbyshire captain John Chapman and Arnold Warren.
The history is clearly there in this village but on a sleepy Sunday afternoon you had to scratch the surface to find it is disappointing to see the ground needing a lot of love nowadays.

THE CHANGING ROOMS IN THE DISTANCE

The changing rooms for the cricket and football are situated in the far corner of the ground, I believe there was formerly a pavilion for the cricket but this is now demolished.  The changing rooms were apparently built as a firing range for the Home Guard during the two wars who also used the previously described Brigade Hall.

COLLIERY ROAD SIDE OF THE GROUND

Looking at the football club and the pitch looks nice and green and reasonably well kept and to this the point has to be made I believe the pitch is used by a Sunday League side taking on the Blackwell MW FC name and performing in The Alfreton Sunday League.  Referring back to the senior non league side they were formed in 1890 and its roots were clearly with the mining company and its community.  In recent times the club had been one of the longest serving sides in The Central Midlands Football League [CMFL] in its days of Premier and Supreme League the club rose on a couple of occasions to the latter level.  Indeed for the 2008/9 season they took on the challenge of entering the East Midlands Counties Football League as founder members.  The initial struggle saw the side battle in to get a very creditable 8th placed finish at the end of 11/12 season.  In July though the club resigned from the league and after a short period of though a side was entered in the CMFL South division but following varying problems the clubs records were expunged during this following season.

FORMER TURNSTILE ENTRANCE

Quite a few visits were spent watching a game at Primrose Hill and with the Sunday League side still using the pitch it remains in steady condition.  The furniture is gradually deteriorating but I guess if anybody had the energy to reform a side for step 7 would not take too much to re-instate although what the changing rooms are like cannot be clarified.  The set of floodlights that ran alongside the cricket pitch were always taken down at the end of the football season with the pitch siding up to the wicket and these remain down to this day, although the Colliery Lane side remains intact.
A dreamy quiet afternoons visit to Blackwell and a more than enjoyable drift back in to the times when Blackwell featured high on the sporting calendar.

EASTMOOR DRAGONS ROAR TO VICTORY OVER OLDHAM ST ANNES

EASTMOOR DRAGONS 36 V OLDHAM ST ANNES 24
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIVISION 3 @ KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELDS
11 JUNE 2016 --- 2.30PM

DRAGONS CELEBRATE VICTORY

An amazing game of 10 tries with all converted, including half a dozen for Dragon's Adrian Mulcahy, went the way of the home side after a storming first half had seen them lead 24-6 at the break.  After the interval Oldham came back at the Wakefield based side with more determination and physical prowess and managed to secure a moral boosting second half 3 tries to 2 success.
Weather watch was in play at base again with heavy rain the proceeding evening making rugby league a must again today and after last weeks one sided game at Dewsbury Celtic we opted to visit Eastmoor Dragons a club who had come up on the radar many times but we had never quite made it too.  Strangely we had saved an easy visit for quite a while with just a short 15 minute walk from our summer departure point of Kirkgate station this is an easy ground to access.
Fellow traveller Mick has a Welsh cap, not in the international variety you see it was one he bought in a shop in Newtown Powys while it threw it down on a visit for a Welsh Premier League games last season and today was the chance for a re appearance of the 'Wakefield Brollies'.  So called after a mad dash to purchase some on a visit to Horbury a few weeks ago. Thankfully though although raining heavily upon departure by the time we travelled through Sheffield it had turned into a dry scene.

ELEVATED VIEW OF EASTMOOR DRAGONS CLUBHOUSE

Early arrival just before mid day allowed us to walk out to Eastmoor a large council housing estate to the north east of Wakefield city centre and sitting adjacent to he local Pinderfields Hospital.  We called in for a Greggs delicacy before taking a little tour around the estate arriving at our destination of Eastmoor Dragons just after 1pm.  As ever rugby league clubs are a hive of activity with many teams gathering after their morning games and officials and early arrivals for the NCL game starting to come into the clubhouse too.  We had a quick tour of the ground and its well railed off with dug outs on opposite sides of the pitch, the pitch is floodlit and in an open park area although the ground is right by the side of the clubhouse which is an advantage.  Its quite difficult for the club to secure their pitch with the surrounding park area being open and this does give them a litter problem.
Back inside for a pint of pop and savoury snack while the ladies are stapling up todays programme which once again it has to be said is a sterling little effort, well done, we catch up with club Chairman Dave Roberts.

TODAYS PROGRAMME

Mr Chairman clearly has a big enthusiasm for the Dragons and tells us about the kids rugby, Dragon Tots, right through the open age side to their Masters team.  The club house Dave tells us has had a refurbishment with painting, new carpet and seating upholstery and inside it is a smart affair.  It always seems difficult to the blog to keep clubs tidy because they are so well used and this is a credit to the rugby league clubs we visit.  We discuss the merits of summer rugby and many clubs still have doubts but like many clubs Eastmoor also operate a winter side in The Pennine League.  As ever the clubhouse has many fantastic historical pictures of past teams and Dave also talks proudly of the Lindops including of course Fred Rugby League referee who are all from Eastmoor.

SOME SUPERB HISTORY AROUND THE CLUBHOUSE

Moving forward the club appears to have a good selection of teams and is in a healthy position and with future clubhouse developments in the offing things can only be on the up.  The club are also planning a sponsored rugby league game for The White Ribbon Campaign which will include players gaining enough sponsorship to play and then keep their special kit from the day.
Talking of kits I loved the Oldham St Annes kit which through the back of the number on the back of the shirt is the 'Saint' symbol reminiscent of Simon Templar from the famous TV programme.

THANKS TO CALLUM CASHIN FOR THE 'SAINT' SHOT

Before the game it was good to catch up with a couple of hoppers including our friend from Ossett Town who we had seen last weekend and also today a Garforth fan whom I had met a few years ago at a local non league game.
Last week Eastmoor suffered a narrow defeat at home to Gateshead Storm and their seemed a determination about the club to put any wrongs right against todays visitors Oldham St Annes.
To the game and by half time the home side were certainly in the ascendancy leading by 24 to 6.

Dragons tries came from Joe Burns, Danny Johnson, Mulcahy and Jamie Creed with the visitors effort from Callum Cashin an early 9th minute effort that at the time levelled the scores.  As mentioned in the introduction Mulcahy converted all four for the home side, the latter on 33 minutes a superb kick off the left and Matt Whitehead added the 2 points to Cashin's effort.

After an energetic half time team talk for St Annes they came out with a real determination to get back into the game and pushed back Dragons getting a try within 5 minutes of the re start through Josh Denbeigh, Whitehead doing the necessary to make it 24-12.  A little against the run of play on 54 minutes the lead was extended when Kevin Brown went over for Mulcahy to convert.

OLDHAM WERE ON FIRE

The game fluctuated into alternate penalties Denbeigh again and then for the home side Kevin Brown before with 8 minutes left Whitehead went over between the sticks.  With Mulcahy and Whitehead converting we ran into the final stages at 36-24 and as the pressure mounted from Oldham the temperatures on and off the pitch gradually increased but just avoided boiling point as both sides supporters energetically urged their teams on.

When the referee blew his whistle for time at just after 4pm the score line remained the same and we hade seen a tremendous full on affair that both sides deserve credit for and once again left both Oldham and Eastmoor with plenty of creditable things to take from the game.
Todays referee Adam Gill, if the NCL website is correct, was one of the younger up and coming officials under observation and supervision by a senior colleague on the touchline something that the blog had not come across before.  Not easy to referee in any sport but we must try to encourage the new lads of course its not always easy in the middle of a game but without them the game will stop.  Overall he got around the pitch well and believe me I'm always happy to be the right side of the barrier its a tough game on the pitch.
An enjoyable game which was mainly spent on the touchline side with the Oldham supporters and an encouraging bunch they were too with a quick return the direct way to Kirkgate we managed to catch a delayed train at 4.30pm arriving back in base station just short of 5.30pm.

CHESTERFIELD SUFFER QUICK DEFEAT TO DARLEY DALE

CHESTERFIELD 2XL V DARLEY DALE 1XL
DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIV 4N @ QUEENS PARK
5 JUNE 2016 --- 1.30PM

OVERVIEW OF QUEENS PARK WITH THE CROOKED SPIRE JUST IN VIEW

A red hot afternoon at Queens Park saw Chesterfield feel the heat too when they suffered a comprehensive loss to visitors Darley Dale by 10 wickets.
As ever a bit more on the match shortly but a little about the ground and surrounds and the blog has to say its always difficult to cover any sporting ground near to home base because you tend to miss out things that when visiting grounds further a field you describe so hear goes.
Chesterfield is famous for St Marys Church otherwise known as The Crooked Spire, for obvious reasons, its also the gateway to the Peak District with its many attractions and of course its beautiful Queens Park.  Todays journey was a short 10 minute bus ride and was the opportunity to cover this lovely arena on a sunny Sunday afternoon.  The park marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 with the park establishing in 1897.  The cricket side of the park is surrounded by a slightly banked former cycle track that runs around the small but well maintained outfield.

THE PAVILION AT QUEENS PARK

The pavilion is dominant and after a recent facelift Chesterfield welcomed back Derbyshire County Cricket club for an out ground festival in 2006 and indeed next Sunday Yorkshire will be in 'the park' for a one day game.  Previous to this the county side had done a 100 year stretch from 1898 before retiring back to Derby for an 8 year break away from the north of the county. 
The old terracing to the left, as you look towards, of the pavilion is now replaced and stages temporary hospitality for DCCC games while to the right a part bench seated terracing remains.  In the sunny days of the 70's when the blog was a regular for the cricket the old wooden staged seating sections sat atop the tarmacked running track which offered a days viewing, if somewhat uncomfortably.  The green and black scoreboard remains but is now remotely operated with digital display prominent.  The two bowling ends being the pavilion end and the romantically named lake end of which a few players have launched a maximum into the depths. 
The blog well remembers the tourists matches were allocated to Chesterfield an as a youngster meeting many of the West Indian players from the great days and of course Sir Geoffrey Boycott.  There were many others who have graced the turf and today was a nice chance to pop along and see a Chesterfield Cricket Club game albeit today was a 2ndxl game that is a Saturday fixture being played on a Sunday.

STEEP AND NARROW ENTRANCE TO THE PAVILION STEPS

What do football referees do in the summer well some play cricket and here was a chance to catch up with Jamie O'Connor.  More or less immediately on arrival I caught up with Jamie and within a few minutes I had managed to get an invite upstairs onto the balcony which offered a good opportunity to have a catch up chat and take some picture of the Town Hall and Crooked Spire from a height.  In a sign of the times moving on in the blogs younger years these could be viewed from ground level but now with tree growth they are not as clearly visible even from the balcony.  The changing rooms are now upstairs, I believe previously they were downstairs, I guess the new room gives more room but its a tight steep narrow stairway to descend with all your padding on for any new batsman. While 'up top' was a little discussion of the former BBC presenter Peter West who I well remember presenting John Player League Sunday matches from the balcony at 2pm on TV or at the ground looking up towards this TV star presenting.  In the heady days of collecting autographs, which doesn't seem to be as popular now at county grounds, amongst the people I captured were Richie Benaud and Jim Laker while commentating the latter had Queens Park as one of is favourite grounds.

On to todays proceedings and Chesterfield lost the toss and were invited to bat and they were soon in a mess something that never stabilised all afternoon finally being dismissed for 83 with a top score of 22 from opening bat Chris Worthy the total was made slightly more respectful with a last wicket stand of 15 as well.

It didn't seem enough for Chesterfield to defend but cricket, like most sports, is a funny old game and the home side could hope for a tight finish.

After the obligatory tea break Chesterfield hoped for a positive start with referee O Connor opening the bowling from the pavilion end.

JAMIE O CONNOR OPENS THE BOWLING

But after 2 overs the score was set fair for Darley Dale at 23 without loss and the game was only going one way.

By the half way stage of the 11th over it was all over 84 for 0 with Briggs [D] scoring 31 to go along with bowling figures of 4 for 31.

So just before 5pm it was all over in a short afternoon for both sides but a happy afternoon for Darley Dale one of whose players had commented during the latter stages of Chesterfields innings that they thought they may have been chasing leather round this afternoon probably expecting a total in the 200 plus mark.
A steady 3 hours or so close to base and a good chance to see some cricket in a fantastic setting.

HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE MARCH ON AT DEWSBURY CELTIC

DEWSBURY CELTIC 0 HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE 60
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIVISION 2 @ CROW NEST PARK
4 JUNE 2016 --- 2.30PM

ACTION FROM CROW NEST PARK

Hunslet Club Parkside stormed to a too nil victory and made it 10 wins out of 10 as they overpowered Dewsbury Celtic at Crow Nest Park on a warm afternoon.  The 80 minutes produced 11 tries and also mustered 7 conversions from Jamie Fields, the other one from Andy Hullock.
[as ever the players are taken from the team sheets on some occasions last seasons they did not always tally so hopefully today we will credit the correct player]
So here we are back in Yorkshire after last weeks football finished with Beeston in the West Yorkshire League Premier Division game featuring St Anthony's v Carlton Athletic and its time to take up summer sports.  After the bank holiday T20 cricket at Eckington it was time to dip back into my favourite The National Conference League which over the previous 2 seasons has provided some good entertainment as well as quite a few interesting clubs to visit.
Journey to Kirkgate today was disturbed by a cancelled Northern train so the blog ended up changing at Sheffield and arriving via an all stopping train at Wakefield Westgate.  This allowed a quick hop over the road to pick up the '268a' service to todays destination Dewsbury.  I wont go through a descriptor again of Dewsbury because it has been covered on a few occasions previously indeed todays Celtic game completes the set with Dewsbury Rams, Dewsbury Moor Maroons and Shaw Cross Sharks already visited for a game recently.

CELTIC'S CLUB HOUSE

Having departed we approached the Westtown district of Dewsbury and climbed the steep incline to the row of shops that proceeds The Dewsbury Irish National League Club which from the outside is looking well lived in but within is a spacious and smart affair with as usual a fantastic collection of historical pictures adorning the walls.  Below the club are the changing rooms which front out of the building.  We called in for a light refreshment and then went in search of todays teams which we managed to obtain with thanks to Hunslet and then Michelle the fixtures secretary of Celtic.

CELTIC WARM UP

The history of the club stems back to the mid 1800's when Irish mill workers and labourers came to work in the mills and surrounding areas and based themselves in Westtown and a rugby club followed before a slight diversion into football and then back to Rugby.  Originally playing as Shamrocks they changed their name in around 1910 to Celtic.  The pitch is reached from the back of the club car park via a large wooden gate which leads onto a track that takes you up to the pitch 5 minutes walk away.

SURROUNDING VIEWS

The pitch is situated  in a park and is railed off on 3 sides with grass standing on all 4 sides although the far side is a narrower verge with tarmac standing at the rear being part of the parks footpath.  The ground offers some commanding views of the surrounding area and on todays clear skyline nearby Ossett's large Holy Trinity Church can be seen.

HUNSLET CLUB MATCH SHIRTS READY FOR ACTION

We were well in time to watch both teams warm up and they were looking up for the battle.  Mick had gone off in search of conversation and amazingly managed to catch up with a gentleman who remembered us from the Ossett football derby 2 seasons ago and then a Carlton Athletic player who had played in last Saturdays previously mentioned game.

RICHARD TILLOTSON OF CELTIC TRIES TO FORCE HIS WAY THROUGH

The game started at a fair old pace for the visitors who were took the lead as early as the 5th minute when Dale Harris went over for Jamie Fields to convert.  This being a park Celtic rely on people buying a programme and hopefully a raffle ticket too and with a healthy crowd of around 150 I hope people supported the club.  As at Shaw Cross Sharks club officials come round with programmes and we made our way to the lady who was travelling round the inner rail of the ground to secure ours, thankfully we didn't win the raffle as we could not have carried the alcohol back on the train!

PROGRAMMES AND RAFFLE 'YES PLEASE'

The early shock for Celtic did seem to bring them to life and although they had possession they could not break down Hunslet and it was the visitors who stormed away to a 20-0 half time lead thanks to tries from Fields, Omar Alwari and Jake Corney two of the three were converted and it was looking all too comfortable a result.

The second half went much the same way with Parkside piling on a further 40 points without reply.  Tries for Jack Carille, Adam Biscombe, Andy Hullock x 2, Luke O'Mally, Jamie Bradley and Harris for his second.  With half a dozen converted by Fields and the first one of the half by Hullock while Fields was off the pitch.
From a neutral point of view it was a one sided game that doesn't always make the best of viewing but this Hunslet side will take some stopping they looked stronger all over the pitch and it would only have been a lapse of concentration that would have allowed Dewsbury any points on the board today.  Dewsbury will go again and I'm sure be more competitive against teams in and around the in the table but for Hunslet barring a slip they are looking odds on for the top of the table.

CARL BRIGGS OBSERVES

The return was swift at the final whistle with a bus back to Wakefield leaving at just after 20 past 4 and thankfully the steep downhill [!] journey got us into the town's bus station with 10 minutes to spare.
Back in the familiar surrounds of Kirkgate station, even though big monies have been spent on the fascia it is still not an attractive proposition for the travelling public, we awaited the 1723 that was soon on platform 2 and around an hour later we were departing at base station just over the border from Yorkshire.
Good to be back watching some rugby league and interesting club with a rich history at Dewsbury Celtic but today on the field was just not going to be their day against such strong opposition who look favourites for the title.

ECKINGTON CRICKET CLUB T20 SUCCESS

ECKINGTON V CUTTHORPE V DENBY
DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER T20 POOL B
@ STAVELEY LANE ECKINGTON
30 MAY 2016 11AM/2PM/5PM

Summer is here and so must be cricket.  Great opening delivery but as anybody who knows the English climate it was a chilly start! Upon arrival in Eckington on this Bank Holiday Monday morning the streets were pretty quiet, with some people clearly just waking.  But just a 1/4 of a mile away from the town centre the hustle and bustle of 20/20 cricket was about to begin.
The blog as ever arrived by public transport and this Sunday service meant a comfortable arrival for a little look around the centre and then spotting a superbly named tanning studio that also offered toning plate machines are you ready for it?  'Tan an Tone io', you couldn't make it up except somebody did.  After an early chuckle the rather sad site of the former Royal Hotel, which was looking anything like, was now unloved and closed.  The walk along Southgate soon found us at the gates to Renishaw Hall which is the home of the Sitwell family the landowners of the area and who are landlords to the Eckington Cricket Club our ultimate destination.

RENISHAW HALL ENTRANCE GATES

Access to the cricket club is by a separate track which serves the estates farm and is a little walk up a steep incline within 5 minutes we are at the entrance and soon the ground opens up before us with a little right hand turn.

ECKINGTON CRICKET CLUB.....WELCOME

A welcoming sign greets you and immediately to the right is the snug scoreboard and following on the clubhouse, groundsmans garage and separate changing rooms.  Moving around the boundary which is heavily tree lined there is selection of training nets, to the opposite side of the clubhouse is a stone wall which divides you from the Hall's vineyard.  Its a shame this is in the covers because if it was a bowling end I cant think of any other grounds that could announce 'the new bowler form the vineyard end is....'.

THE VINEYARD BOUNDARY

Coming back towards our initial entry point you now run in parallel with the track road of our entry point.  Other furniture here at Staveley Rd are a couple of nice sized sight screens, a lovely collection of bench and modern seats for spectators and a cracking old steam engine for heavy rolling duty that as probably found a resting place at wide and very deep long on.

SCOREBOARD AT ECKINGTON

On my return from the obligatory circuit I met Chris Drury a life member of Eckington Cricket Club who had been connected with the club since 1962.  Mr Drury had asked me about the camera swinging around my neck and upon telling him about the blog he proceeded to introduce me to club Chairman Andy Vaughan who was busy chasing around and who I would catch up with later.  Anyway Mr Drury clearly loved the club and living just down the road within the town he was proud of its achievements over the years in current terms he spoke proudly about the academy players and the development of a new clubhouse that the club had just received a grant for.  Indeed it was clear how important the club was too him as he got quiet emotional at their achievements.

ECKINGTON C C YAERBOOX

Eckington after a years away in 2014 had returned last season to the Premier League a place were they remain for this season and now entry into the Premier T20 were we see today's 3 teams compete against one another with a pool of 4 across Derbyshire.  Todays nearest and the only one in the North of the county had encouraged me and the appearance of the overseas players was a pull too, sadly upon arrival I found out that they are not eligible for the T20 tournament.  All three clubs have and overseas professional and the three players were all in attendance today to support their teammates.
Cutthorpe have South African Josh Savage who I believe is carrying a shoulder injury at present, with Eckington welcoming a fellow countryman in Johan Davell.  The latter is a 21 year old right hand bat and right arm off break bowler back home he plays for Sinoville, plus he drives a mighty heavy roller!  Eckington also have a Derbyshire County Cricket Club player allocated to them in Billy Godleman.  The other side in todays encounter are Denby and they have New Zealander Brett Randell and with Denby not due to start until the 2pm game we had a chance to catch up with him later.
Having retired into the clubhouse for a refreshment break I can tell you that of course the club want to renew the facilities but it has a warm and welcoming feel to it with a small bar area and snack hatch and kitchen alongside some toilets, which were nice and clean.  While inside I managed to take a look at Eckington's impressive little yearbook/magazine its always good to see teams make the effort this way.

JOHN BALFOUR ON HIS WAY TO A CENTURY

We were now ready for the first game which would feature Eckington, batting first, versus Cuttthorpe and this was probably the most exciting free hitting innings of the day with the home side reaching 222 for 5.  The main feature being John Balfour hitting 115 off of 38 balls including 12x6's and 6x4's, some big shots in there and a well deserved ovation when the player was finally dismissed just before the close of Eckington's innings.

BALFOUR TAKES THE APPLAUSE

In fairness this was a massive total and Cutthorpe batted out their 20 overs to reach 101 for 8.
During the first game it was good to catch up with Nigel Smith Football League assistant referee who had popped along to watch one of his mates playing for Cutthorpe.  It was also good to spot former Derbyshire wicketkeeper and Chesterfield goalkeeper Chris Marples who was also in attendance.

BRETT RANDELL DENBYS N.Z. PRO

Denby were now arriving for their game and there were a few moments to catch up with their overseas professional Brett Randell who had made his debut on Saturday at Cutthorpe after a delayed arrival which also saw him celebrate his 21st birthday in Derbyshire.  Randell is a former New Zealand under 19 international and current Mondial Auckland Aces state player while his club side remains Eden Roskill.  He is a right arm medium-fast bowler and right hand bat with an international top score of 51.  Today of course he Randell cannot play and he says he "would love to be playing'" but added he was just "pleased to be finally here to play some cricket".  Nice to have a quick chat thanks Brett for your time!

DENBYS FORMER DERBYSHIRE PLAYER BURGOYNE IN ACTION

Time for the second game and Cutthorpe amassed 133 for 8 with Denby surpassing that total with 4 overs to spare at 134 for 4.

TO RUN OR NOT TO RUN

It was also good to see former Derbyshire player Peter Burgoyne feature prominently for Denby with some confident stroke play and some timely big hitting too.

CHAIRMAN/HEAD CHEF ANDY VAUGHAN WITH CHRIS MARPLES BEHIND

During the end of Cuttthorpe's innings I rudely asked Eckington Chairman Andy Vaughan for a chat you see he was busy on the BBQ which was now doing a roaring trade, he probably needed a rest though.  We retired to the clubhouse were his enthusiasm for the club was clearly evident the excitement, with lots of hard work of course, in the new clubhouse development very prominent.  The club had worked hard to obtain a £75,000 grant from Sport England alongside additional fundraising to build the new clubhouse facilities.  The new build will have a club room, kitchen, bar, toilets and of course the big seller a balcony.  Cricket club and balconies always win the day for me it adds to the atmosphere I believe and with the work of club officials the plans are to have the new clubhouse in place for the start of next season this Andy tells me will be with the help of people connected with the club including club captain Tim Dawson who is a brickie and fellow members who are plumber, electricians and willing workers.  The club plan a party at the end of their season in September and then it will be all systems go, there will also be a new garage built with a scoreboard a top.  The Chariman happily tells of the clubs teams from under 9's upwards and of Eckington's enthusiasm for this being the way forward.  They have a major sponsor this season in Woolley Brothers and are very grateful for their generous support that clearly helps the club move in the right direction. 
While discussing the overseas players Vaughan tells the blog that their overseas player for the last 8 years have been South African and that current player Davel came well recommended and so far he has taken on coaching roles throughout the club alongside ground work to assist the club, indeed before the final game he jumped aboard the heavy roller to back up this observation.
To sum up Chairman Vaughan commented his 2 principles "the club will and have worked hard with the juniors" and the overriding unique selling point of Eckington Cricket Club "we are all in it together" 
Thanks to Andy for his time and our interesting conversation was full of his interest, commitment and dedication to the club but for now his dedication was needed as head chef at the BBQ!

So into the final game and both of the days winners would compete with Denby scoring 145 for 9 with Burgoyne hitting 57.  Eckington completed a successful weekend with had seen them go top of the Premier League with a win at Spondon on Saturday by scoring 151 for 4 for their second victory of the day, captain Dawson hitting 44 off of 24 balls.
An entertaining day with a welcoming club who have some excellent plans in place which hopefully their merry band of followers will be able to enjoy even more next season when the new clubhouse is in place for now though the on field success will keep them well fed.

PETER BURGOYNE AWAITS AT THE NON STRIKERS END