SUMMER 2023
FOREWORD
E
very year for more than a decade, we have put up a yearly review on New Year’s Eve; not necessarily the best photos that we’ve taken during that year, but certainly images that mean something to us, to the people in the photos, or in a few cases, to the friends and family of people in the images. We continue to be amazed at the amount of grassroots sport that happens during the week and at weekends but doesn’t warrant coverage from news outlets. Games that are seen by some at one level, to be simply statistics – one line of text and numbers that appear somewhere on a website, social media posting, or a yearbook - but in reality are so much more. Sport is about passion, excitement, competition, anger, despair, laughter, fun and frustration - and those elements are present at all levels, from world championships to grassroots. We hope that the images of the 2023 grassroots cricket season in and around Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and York – provide you with a glimpse of some of those emotions and inspire
you to get involved either by playing, joining a club or simply going along to watch a game in 2024. A big shout out to John Fuller at Cricket Yorkshire who continues to provide superb coverage of the Yorkshire cricket scene, and someone we love working with to help shine a light on some of the lesser-known grounds, smaller teams and big personalities. If you have read this far, can I ask you (when you’ve finished reading this publication) to share the post on whatever social media platform you use and to tag in clubs and people that appear in these few pages. I would like to thank my family for supporting me over the last decade…only seeing me fleetingly, passing like ships in the night as I head out to football, rugby, athletics, hockey or cricket (and all the other sports and news jobs that I am asked to cover). Finally, have a wonderful 2024 and please go and support your local club.
APRIL
CONTENTS
Goldsborough CC v West Tanfield Knaresborough Forest CC v Thornton Watlass CC Ashville CC v Poppleton CC Harrogate CC v Hartlepool CC - National Cup
MAY
Beckwithshaw CC v Knaresborough CC - HDAECL Pannal CC v Ovington CC Bilton CC v New Rovers CC Goldsborough CC v Burton Leonard CC Bilton CC 2XI v Rodley CC 2XI Harrogate CC v Woodhouse Grange CC Harrogate CC 4XI v Newby Hall CC Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Guiseley CC 3XI Beckwithshaw CC v Adel CC Harrogate CC v Richmondshire CC - ECB Cup
JUNE
Pannal Ash CC 1XI v Ben Rhydding CC 2XI Blubberhouses CC 1XI v Studley Royal CC 2XI Beckwithshaw CC 3Xi v Otley CC 3XI Follifoot CC 2XI v Leeds Modernians CC 2XI Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Collingham & Linton CC 3XI Burnt Yates CC v Pateley Bridge CC Rufforth & Marston CC v Stillington CC
JULY
Harrogate CC Women v Driffield CC Women Knaresborough CC v Whixley CC Killinghall CC v Masham CC Goldsborough CC 2XI v North Stainley CC (George Greaves Cup Final) Harrogate CC v Knaresborough CC
AUGUST
Ouseburn CC v Goldsborough CC Beckwithshaw CC v Goldsborough CC (Addison Cup Final at Knaresborough CC) Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v New Rover CC 3XI Beckwithshaw CC 2XI v Colton Institute CC 2XI Otley CC 3XI v Ilkley CC 3XI (Chappell Cup Final at Beckwithshaw CC)
SEPTEMBER
Starbeck CC 1XI v Studley Royal CC 4XI Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Burley in Wharfedale CC Glasshouses CC v West Tanfield CC 2XI
INTRODUCTION The 2023 local cricket season started in April, not so much with a bang but a whimper. The main reason for this, was that many grounds were waterlogged from what had been a rather wet winter.
could, taking in places that I hadn’t been to since before the pandemic, and to cover as many teams as I possibly could. It didn’t matter if they played at the top of the leagues or at the very bottom.
On the opening Saturday, players turned up and willed the outfields to somehow miraculously dry and allow a first ball to be bowled. However, in those opening weeks that often didn’t happen and fixture after fixture fell to the conditions.
I tried to make sure that I covered the main leagues in and around where I currently live, including the Theakston Nidderdale League, Airedale & Wharfedale Senior Cricket League, the Harrogate & District Amateur Evening League, and the Yorkshire Premier League.
Frustrating for all involved. The rain continued to fall sporadically during the early weeks of the season, interspaced by spells of sunny weather that raised everyone’s hopes that games could go ahead. It seemed that slowly, games got played and league tables started to take shape with those in contention for titles; those looking to avoid relegation; and those teams that were going to do well in cup competitions. My aim in 2023 was to visit as many grounds as I
I also tried to get to as many cup games as was possible – but the main issue was time and not having enough of it. I wanted to cover the various women’s leagues around Yorkshire, but to my shame, I was unable to fit in many games as they clashed with commercial photo commitments. I will be working to make changes to my schedule in 2024 to be able to provide a consistent and committed level of coverage of the various women’s leagues, and you will be seeing this reflected in the number of sets of photos published on our social media. PTO
Why Grassroots? I provide coverage of grassroots cricket because I want to give back a little of something that I received when I first started taking photos professionally. I learned my trade at the side of grassroots cricket, football, rugby, hockey pitches and athletics tracks; allowing me to make mistakes and learn from them, gain experience, and earn those licences that would allow me ultimately to cover professional sport and sit at the side of World Cup pitches taking photos. But to be honest, I’m happy at the side of any sporting event, as I know there is at least one thing that connects the top athletes playing at the very pinnacle of their sport and the man or woman playing at grassroots level; that is a passion to play, to enjoy, to compete. I hope that I capture just a little of that passion in each and every picture I take. The images in this book are not necessarily the best photos that I have taken during the cricket season, but hopefully provide glimpses of moments in the games that tell some sort of story or mean something to those in them.
At a rough count, there are images from just over 30 of the games I got to this cricket season, but in reality, I ended up at 50+ games and countless training sessions during the summer of 2023 and I can honestly say that I enjoyed them all. No grassroots club has had to pay for me to attend their game, as I understand that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting them all hard. If I could make one request of you, the reader; could you follow me on one or more of our social media channels please (Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram) and like and share what we do throughout the year. Prints are available to purchase – please drop me a message and I can sort for you. I make my living from taking photographs and supplying them primarily to news outlets, but we also supply images to companies and individuals; We’re always happy to discuss your photographic needs and see if we can work with you to provide the very best images for your new projects. And one final thing, if you see me at the side of a pitch – please come over and introduce yourself. All the best for 2024!
Mark
Beckwithshaw CC
APRIL
Goldsborough CC v West Tanfield CC First day of the new Theakston Nidderdale League and Rain stopped play...not on the day, but the rather wet winter that meant that the ground was waterlogged.
Knaresborough Forest CC v Thornton Watlass CC A quick switch of venues on the opening day meant an unplanned visit to nearby Knaresborough Forest CC.
A very wet outfield at Beckwithshaw CC
Ashville CC v Poppleton CC
Harrogate CC v Hartlepool CC
MAY
Beckwithshaw CC v Knaresborough CC Harrogate & District Amateur Evening League
Pannal CC v Ovington CC
A planned visit to Harrogate CC had to be changed to Pannal as one ground was waterlogged and the other just about playable. The local leagues were struggling to get games played at this early point in the season.
Bilton CC v New Rovers CC
Goldsborough CC v Burton Leonard CC
Bilton CC 2XI v Rodley CC 2XI
Harrogate CC v Woodhouse Grange CC
Harrogate CC 4XI v Newby Hall CC
Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Guiseley CC 3XI
Beckwithshaw CC v Adel CC
Harrogate CC v Richmondshire CC - ECB Cup
Harrogate CC v Richmondshire CC - ECB Cup
Ripley CC
JUNE
Pannal Ash CC 1XI v Ben Rhydding CC 2XI
Blubberhouses CC 1XI v Studley Royal CC 2XI
Blubberhouses CC 1XI v Studley Royal CC 2XI
Beckwithshaw CC 3Xi v Otley CC 3XI
Follifoot CC 2XI v Leeds Modernians CC 2XI
Follifoot CC 2XI v Leeds Modernians CC 2XI
Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Collingham & Linton CC 3XI
Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Collingham & Linton CC 3XI
Burnt Yates CC v Pateley Bridge CC
Burnt Yates CC v Pateley Bridge CC
Rufforth & Marston CC v Stillington CC
Rufforth & Marston CC v Stillington CC
Ripley CC
JULY
Harrogate CC Women v Driffield CC Women
Harrogate CC Women v Driffield CC Women
Knaresborough CC v Whixley CC
Knaresborough CC v Whixley CC
Killinghall CC v Masham CC
Killinghall CC v Masham CC
Goldsborough CC 2XI v North Stainley CC Evening League
Goldsborough CC 2XI v North Stainley CC Evening League
Goldsborough CC 2XI v North Stainley CC Evening League
Harrogate CC v Knaresborough CC
Harrogate CC v Knaresborough CC
Ripley CC
AUGUST
Ouseburn CC v Goldsborough CC
Ouseburn CC v Goldsborough CC
Ouseburn CC v Goldsborough CC
Beckwithshaw CC v Goldsborough CC (Addison Cup Final at Knaresborough CC)
Beckwithshaw CC v Goldsborough CC
Beckwithshaw CC v Goldsborough CC
Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v New Rover CC 3XI
Beckwithshaw CC 2XI v Colton Institute CC 2XI
Beckwithshaw CC 2XI v Colton Institute CC 2XI
Otley CC 3XI v Ilkley CC 3XI
(Chappell Cup Final at Beckwithshaw CC)
Otley CC 3XI v Ilkley CC 3XI
Otley CC 3XI v Ilkley CC 3XI
Follifoot CC
SEPTEMBER
Starbeck CC 1XI v Studley Royal CC 4XI
Starbeck CC 1XI v Studley Royal CC 4XI
Starbeck CC 1XI v Studley Royal CC 4XI
Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Burley in Wharfedale CC
Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Burley in Wharfedale CC
Beckwithshaw CC 3XI v Burley in Wharfedale CC
Glasshouses CC v West Tanfield CC 2XI
Glasshouses CC v West Tanfield CC 2XI
Glasshouses CC v West Tanfield CC 2XI
Glasshouses CC v West Tanfield CC 2XI
Glasshouses CC v West Tanfield CC 2XI
KNARESBOROUGH CC
GROuNDS
BECKWITHSHAW CC
BECKWITHSHAW CC
BECKWITHSHAW CC
RIPLEY CC
LITTLE RIBSTON CC
BLUBBERHOUSES CC
FOLLIFOOT CC
BURNT YATES CC
BECKWITHSHAW CC
BISHOP THORNTON CC
BISHOP THORNTON CC
GLASSHOUSES CC