EAST RIDING CRICKET SOCIETY

Geoff Cope has been involved with Yorkshire cricket for over half a century. His story is full of ups and downs: early success followed by repeated bans for 'throwing' and time spent remodelling his bowling action; a Test match hat-trick snatched from his grasp by captain Mike Brearley at Lahore in 1977; his friendship with Colin Graves and part in the 'Gang of Four' that rescued Yorkshire from bankruptcy; and the gradual loss of eyesight through retinitis pigmentosa that now leaves him reliant on a guide dog. Geoff has long been one of cricket's most accomplished raconteurs, with a wonderful memory and a gift for bringing the past alive. Now, in his new biography, In Sunshine and in Shadow , he talks movingly and humourously about his life and the many characters he has known - Close, Boycott, Illingworth, Trueman, Wardle and all.  Signed copies of In Sunshine and in Shadow will be available on the night - price £16 (cash OR cheque payable to Geoff Cope)

Robinson, Cope, Moxon, Gale and more ... get closer to the action this winter with our top-class line-up of speakers. Celebrate with Farokh Engineer , India & Lancashire wicket-keeper; go backstage at Yorkshire CCC with Martyn Moxon , Director of Cricket, and Andrew Gale , 1st XI Coach; reminisce with Geoff Cope , a modern Yorkshire legend; debate the shape and future of the game with David Smith , ex-Warks opener and Chief Exec of Leics and Northants; and explore father/son relationships in elite cricket with author/journalist James Buttler .   David Smith opens the innings on Wednesday 11 October - read more ... Join the conversation - everyone welcome! £15 a year / £5 a meeting     Venue : Brewery Bar, King William IV , Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD, 7.30pm for 7.45pm Map : here   Raffle : top prizes monthly - including YCCC match tickets   More information : email ercsoc@gmail.com / call Maggie Sumner ( 01482 861848 ) PROGRAM

Tyneside-born opener David Smith played regularly for Warwickshire between 1973 and 1985 alongside captain Bob Willis and team-mates Dennis Amiss, Alvin Kallicharran, Eddie Hemmings, Gladstone Small etc. After nine years' on the Warwickshire committee, David then moved into full-time cricket administration, as CEO of two of the smaller county clubs, Leicestershire (2008-10) and Northants (2012-14). David will look back on his career, before sharing his strong views on the direction of the modern game - tackling hot topics like the future of county cricket, the new t20 city franchise competition and the Sky/ECB broadcasting deal. Humpage, Willis, Smith, Asif Din, Amiss Join the conversation - everyone welcome! Members : £15 a year  Guests : £5 a meeting* *Upgrade to member on request   Venue : Brewery Bar, King William IV , Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD, 7.30pm for 7.45pm  Map : here   Raffle : top prizes monthly - including YCCC match ticke

Rochdale Online Congratulations to ex-Test umpire John Holder , one of a select group of fifty Barbadians chosen in 2016 to receive the island's Golden Jubilee Award, celebrating the 50th anniversary of independence. John was honoured for his contribution to Anglo/Barbadian relations as well as his cricketing achievements, and on hand to present the award - at a Gala Dinner at London's Savoy Hotel - was none other than Sir Garfield Sobers, a one-time opponent during John's county career. Introduced to the game by his father, John was involved in the first-class game for over 40 years - first as a pace bowler for Hampshire, then following a back injury as a leading Test umpire. 'I loved umpiring because it suited my personality,' says John, 'and I got to meet great players and see their techniques.' Even in retirement John remains in demand as resident expert for Test Match Special's 'Ask the Umpire'. Come along to meet John and

Ex-Middlesex & England paceman, now national selector, journalist, pundit, and director of cricket for county champions Middlesex - Angus Fraser MBE has enjoyed an unmatched involvement with international and domestic cricket over the past 30 years. 'The most controlled and consistent England bowler of the 1990s,' for Wisden editor Lawrence Booth, 'Gus' played 46 Tests and 42 ODIs. His best Test performance of 8-53 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain came in a losing cause, but his 8-75 in Bridgetown in 1993/4 set up a famous victory over the same opponents. Meanwhile with the bat, he and Robert Croft defied fearsome the South African Allan Donald in a famous rearguard action at Old Trafford in 1998. A Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1996, Angus retired in 2002 to write for The Independent and was appointed a Test selector in 2014.    Don't miss this special evening with a star of the modern English game. All welcome! Join at any meeting - £15 a yea

A middle-order batsman and off-spin bowler, John Abrahams played 1st class cricket for Lancashire CCC from 1973 to 1988. Appointed First XI captain in 1984, he immediately led the side to a notable Benson & Hedges Trophy victory over Warwickshire at Lords, when he was named Man of the Match by Peter May despite a duck and no wickets! Since retiring, John has played a pivotal role in England youth cricket, responsible for teams at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 levels, coaching England to victory in the inaugural ICC Under 19 World Cup in 1998, and later serving as the Under 19s Operations Manager. Many of his charges have since gone on to achieve international success - among them current Test stars Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Haseeb Hameed. All welcome! Join at any meeting - £15 a year/ £5 on door .   Venue : Brewery Bar, King William IV , Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD, 7.30pm for 7.45pm   Raffle : £2/ticket - prizes include 2017 Yorkshire CCC m

Mark Arthur, December 2015 A chance to quiz Chief Executive Mark Arthur and Commercial Director Andy Dawson , alongside spinners Azeem Rafiq and Karl Carver , and paceman Ben Coad . For YCCC, 2016 was a season of near misses - with semi-final losses in T20 Blast and RL 1-day competitions to set alongside a third place finish in the County Championship. And, looking ahead, 2017 will see changes at the club, with new 1st XI coach Andrew Gale replacing Jason Gillespie, and a new captain, as yet to be announced. Elsewhere within the county, 2016 brought innovation - with the Yorkshire Diamonds featuring in the inaugural Women's T20 competition, and the introduction of a pyramid structure for club cricket, culminating in an Abu Dhabi final. Add the international success of Yorkshire players, county cricket finances, problems over the planned redevelopment of Headingley Stadium, MCC's red card proposals ... a lively evening is guaranteed! All welcome! Join at any meeting -