EAST RIDING CRICKET SOCIETY

The Red Rose meets the White on Wednesday 9th January when Lancashire's Gary Yates will be crossing the Pennines to join us .  Educated at Manchester Grammar School, where England captain Michael Atherton was a classmate , Gary has spent his entire career with the Red Rose county and was awarded a well-deserved benefit in 2005 . 'Gary has been a loyal servant to Lancashire County Cricket Club, said then chairman Jack Simmons. [He] is just the sort of cricketer benefits were designed for. ' Playing alongside the likes of Atherton, Andrew Flintoff, Wasim Akram, John Crawley and Neil Fairbrother, Gary's economical off-spin and reliable lower order batting made him a key member of Lancashire's all-conquering one-day side of the mid-1990s, winners of the B&H Cup in 1995 and 1996, the Natwest Trophy in 1996 and 1998, and the AXA League title in 1998 and 1999. In fact, in company with wicket-keeper Warren Hegg, it was Gary who guided his...

Enjoyable chat last week with John Fuller (pictured here with  Yorkshire's Gerard Brophy) whose Cricket Yorkshire website is essential reading for players and supporters alike. Interviews, features and reviews focus on cricket at both county and club level - John's Xmas present ideas and James Buttler's 2012 highlights are particularly good reads at the moment. John is busy working on a revamp of the site - due to go live next month - and is planning a feature on the East Riding Cricket Society, as well as interviews with some of our speakers. He's also keen to hear more from clubs across the county. So if any East Yorkshire club out there has a story to tell, contact John . 

Undeterred by the freezing weather, Jim Love made his way from Tadcaster to Hull last night for a really enjoyable evening. Jim's work as Regional Manager (North) for the charity Chance to Shine is keeping him very busy at the moment. Described by Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson as 'one of the most successful grassroots sports initiatives in this country', Chance to Shine aims to reverse the rapid decline in state school cricket experienced since the 1980s. The scheme has already given cricketing opportunities to over 1.5 million primary age children nationwide. And now with new funding from Sport England Jim and his colleagues are preparing to go into the secondary sector for the first time. It's a campaign which certainly means a lot to Jim, a one-time pupil at Brudenell School in Leeds, where a cricket-loving headmaster helped him take his first steps towards a professional career. Now Chance to Shine has produced its first county player in sixteen-year-old...

Yorkshire and England batsman Jim Love is making a welcome return to Hull on Wednesday 12 th December. The city holds happy memories for Jim. He played regularly at the Circle in the 70s and 80s, with an unbeaten century against Notts in 1986 a particular highlight. Jim last visit ed the East Riding Cricket Society in 1987, the year his match-winning 75* gained him the Gold Award in a thrilling B&H Final against Northants. The scores were tied but Yorkshire had lost fewer wickets and Jim successfully blocked the last ball of the match to secure victory. Retirement from first-class cricket came in 1993, but that was just the start of a hugely varied career in the sport . As Director of Cricket for Scotland between 1992 and 2001, Jim led the Saltires to the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and the 1999 World Cup. He is now Head Coach of the hugely successful York CC, winners of six consecutive Yorkshire ECB Premier League titles, and crowned as the best club side in the ...

It's all things Yorkshire on 14th November when the BBC's Dave Callaghan will be our guest. O ne-time Sports Editor of BBC Radio Leeds, Dave now provides ball-by-ball commentary on all Yorkshire's matches for BBC radio, giving him an unequalled view of the county's successful 2012 season. We'll certainly have plenty to talk about: promotion to Division 1; a marvellous T20 campaign; a trip to South Africa for the Champions League; the impact of new coach Jason Gillespie; Tim Bresnan, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root touring India; newcomers Jack Brooks and Liam Plunkett; youngsters Gary Ballance, Azeem Rafiq and Moin Ashraf; Hull's own Steve Patterson, and much, much more. Make sure you join us for a lively evening of cricket chat!  Our postponed AGM will also take place prior to this meeting, starting at 7.15 p.m. 

Micky Stewart (seen signing copies of his new biography, Micky Stewart and the Changing Face of Cricket ) entertained a packed audience of members and friends earlier this month. From his views on the Kevin Pietersen saga, via the inside story of the Shakur Rana affair, to his memories of Surrey greats like Alec Bedser, Ken Barrington and Tony Lock, Micky kept us enthralled for well over two hours. Other stories were less well known. But for cricket, Micky might have taken part in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Although selected to represent England at soccer, Micky was reluctantly withdrawn from the party when the Olympic Committee found out that he played as a professional with Surrey. And who should have taken part in Micky's benefit match at the Oval in 1972 but the crooner Andy Williams , signed up by his agent (and cricket nut) Vic Lewis after a TV appearance with Michael Parkinson. Join us next time on Wednesday 14th November for an evening with the BBC's Dave Calla...

Stop press. Former England cricket manager, ECB director of coaching and Surrey captain Micky Stewart will be joining Stephen Chalke as our guest on Wednesday October 10th. Intelligent, opiniated and insightful, few have such a comprehensive overview of the game as Micky, now in his 80th year. With candid takes on such household names as Botham, Gower, Gatting and Gooch, his long-awaited biography, published in July, makes for a compelling story. Micky also has a tale to tell about his last visit to Hull in 1968, when he bagged a pair (both lbw!) as Yorkshire defeated Surrey at the Circle to take their third County Championship in succession. He's looking forward to a more enjoyable visit this time! MEMBERS: don't forget we're holding our AGM at this meeting, starting at 7.15pm. Please turn up early and have your say.

We are pleased to announce an exciting and varied programme of speakers for 2012-13. Author and publisher, and spellbinding raconteur, Stephen Chalke makes a welcome return to the Society in October. Signed copies of many of Stephen's award-winning books will be available. Stock up early for Xmas! In November the BBC's Dave Callaghan brings us his popular season review. Dave will have seen every ball bowled by Yorkshire over the eventful 2012 season and will share his usual trenchant opinions. December sees the visit of Yorkshire stalwart Jim Love to Inglemire Lane. Mainstay of the Yorkshire middle order for 15 years and later Director of Cricket for Scotland, Jim is now Regional Manager with the Cricket Foundation and coach of York CC. Crossing the Pennines, Gary Yates, Lancashire off-spinner and now assistant coach with the club, joins us in January. As Second XI coach he was responsible for the development for many of the locally born players now starring with ...