EAST RIDING CRICKET SOCIETY

Apologies from our chairman and a new opportunity to write down questions for the speaker were the prelude to a helter-skelter evening. Paul Farbrace gave no sign of needing anything as simple as breath as he took us on an engaging and entertaining rattle through his cricket life and memories. With a mother who made cricket teas, and a father and two older brothers who played, Paul usually started as the 'extra' for an opposition short of a man or two.  He signed for Kent in 1986 after a year as a would-be goalkeeper at Coventry City, which ended when Steve Ogrizovic told him that he lacked two attributes for this role: height and ability!  He played as understudy to keeper Steve Marsh and was lucky enough play with one of his heroes, Derek Underwood, in the great man’s last game.  Moving next to Middlesex, he was part of their Championship-winning team but his true calling has proved to be coaching. Kent's Colin Page was an example of an 'old school c...

W ell, there we were! We few, we happy few, we band of cricket fans – and not so few either. Around 7pm the gathering started, culminating in around 45 of us.  Familiar and welcome faces, new and equally welcome ones too.  The return of the smiles and greetings we’d missed out on. In a new venue, too.  Thanks to Simon Foster, we reconvened in Beverley Town CC's clubhouse alongside the pitch and scoreboard – how appropriate.  New venue, new private bar, new meeting day – and miraculously Brian's new confident handling of the PA system. I think he spent the last two years practising! Same format though, same expectations of a night of cricket talk and the airing of some robust opinions.  Not wrong there, then.  Mr Kevin Howells kicked us off for the new season – one of the voices of cricket. Familiar tones, familiar passion for the game expressed honestly and fluently. Essentially he dwelt on three themes during the course of the evening: intert...

An acclaimed schoolboy cricketer, John Barclay made his Sussex debut in 1970, aged just sixteen. Two years later John joined the county as a promising all-rounder, going on to captain the side from 1981 to 1986. After retirement he managed the England team on two major overseas tours and became Director of Cricket and Coaching for the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation , encouraging young people from less advantaged backgrounds to play and enjoy the game. To date, more than 200,000 youngsters have benefited from the scheme. John Barclay is President of the English Schools Cricket Association, President of the Cricket Society, and in 2009/10 served as President of the MCC. He is also the author of three books: The Appeal of the Championship , Lost in the Long Grass and his personal favourite, Life Beyond The Airing Cupboard - winner of the MCC and Cricket Society Book of the Year award.  Don't miss one of cricket's most distinguished and entertaining speake...

Jonathan Doidge, February 2020 Well, I was disappointed. Most emphatically not in our speaker – certainly not. But with Valentine's day in the offing, where were the strewn confetti hearts, long-stemmed roses in wineglasses, or Cupids hanging from the ceiling? Maybe Christmas set my expectations too high? But to our speaker – Mr Jonathan Doidge. A man equally at home talking over by over about Yorkshire CCC, interviewing Grimsby Town footballers on the fly ('Do you like wearing shorts?'), assessing the going at Cheltenham (it dries up by the final day, apparently), or even throwing in a quick impression – think David Coleman, Eddie Waring or Bill McLaren. In short, a man imbued with sporting history, knowledge and enthusiasm. Getting lost at Ripon races aged just two was the experience that got him hooked. And, it must also be mentioned, a world champion and Olympic organiser to boot. Although to put these last two feats in context, the Olympics in question feat...

Appointed cricket correspondent of BBC Radio Leeds in autumn 2018 in succession to the late Dave Callaghan, Jonathan Doidge has found his dream job as ball-by-ball commentator on all Yorkshire CCC matches. Join Jonathan to review his first season behind the mike, assess the county's prospects for 2020, and to learn more about this talented sports broadcaster. Read more about Jonathan here - http://www.jonathandoidge.com/ Everyone welcome - no dress code, no formalities, just a great evening talking cricket £15 a year / £5 a meeting **Join now: ' February/March Special ' - £10** Member benefits : enjoy free premium access to Emerald Headingley's East Stand / Long Room at YCCC matches in 2020 (normal charge - £5 a day) Venue : Brewery Bar, King William IV , Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD, 7.45pm   Map : here   Raffle : top prizes monthly - including 3 pairs of YCCC match ticket vouchers   E: ercsoc@gmail.com / T: 01482 861848 PROGRAMME 2019/...

Rich Pyrah, January 2020 It's a no-risk bet that if you hadn't met Rich Pyrah before tonight, within two minutes you found yourself drawn to him. It's his natural balance of personal modesty, a warm heart and a 'look-you-in-the-eye-and-tell-it-like-it-is' style. When your parents meet over a cricket tea, and your granddad and dad play for the club you also join at an early age, you grow up in cricket - as did Rich. His mates spring from that background too: Tim (Bresnan), Andy (Gale) and John (Sadler). But Rich received no favours from Tim’s dad Ray: two overs of outswing, an inswinger and a warning 'don’t get out LBW'. Ignored, of course, when Rich duly planted his leg between ball and wicket. Progress from Ossett CC to the YCCC 1st team (red and white ball) seemed 'natural' to him, although he confessed that he was a player who had to work hard to survive at the highest level. When not in the 1st XI, he often led, mentored and inform...