Vitai Lampada
There’s a breathless hush in the Close tonight –
Ten to make and the match to win –
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame,
But his captain’s hand on his shoulder smote
“Play up! play up! and play the game!”
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Sir Henry Newbolt (1862 – 1938)
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Tuesday 2nd July 2024
Pre-Season Friendly
Appleby Frodingham 0
Lincoln United 4
Henry Moore 14, Jack McMenemy 26, 28, Grimes 77,
Referee: James Day. Attendance: 92
Admission: £5.00. Programme: NONE
The hosts play on the football facility of the old British Steel sports complex. Overlooking the ground is a huge social area with snooker and pool tables, two large bars and a ballroom dancing area. The ground, itself, was very basic. Accessible on three sides and with a small stand for perhaps fifty souls. Lincoln United, as befits last season’s runners up in the UCL North division, were stratospheres higher than the hosts, who have just won back their place in the NCEFL after a ten year sojourn in The Lincolnshire League. Three first half goals proved the point, but only one second half strike due to a much better home performance and some woeful misses from the visitors!
With John Main and Stuart Long.
Although there were no programmes for this match, the hosts said that they do intend to issue for all home league games.
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Tony Morehead commented: “I worked at Appleby Frodingham from late ’68 till April ’74. The complex was a hive of activity culminating each summer in the famous show. Funfairs, entertainments of all colour and hue. Even the Red Arrows putting in an appearance”.
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Sunday 7th July 2024
East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 1
Kirkby Portland Women 96 all out (39.5 overs)
lost to
Kibworth Women 98 for 4 (36.4 overs)
by 6 wickets
Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown
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The rare sight of a cricket tea at Kibworth CC!
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Monday 8th July 2024
Ashbourne Summer League
Bramshall 2
Joe Lobosco 40, Josh Ellis 42,
Vaults 3
Freddie Murphy 57, 81, Jake Edge-Lucas 76,
Referee: William Maskery. Attendance: 15
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
I found the ground, eventually, on the outskirts of Uttoxeter. Little more than a field with a wooden hut for changing rooms – oh, yes, and a stand with seating for about five spectators behind one goal! The playing surface was surprisingly good and well maintained, and the match was a good one, as these two teams – second and third in the league battled it out. The hosts held a two goal interval advantage, but the visitors took the victory and the points with three unanswered strikes in the second half. A smattering of hoppers in attendance, including Martin Hayden and Bob Lillyman.
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The changing “hut” at Bramshall
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The main stand with seats for maybe half a dozen (thin) spectators.
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Tuesday 9th July 2024
Pre-Season Friendly
Opening match at the NEW Ground
Shawbury United 1
Ollie Wispen 45+1
AFC Wulfrunians 5
Ryan Bright 1, 45+2, Freddie Cockerell 54, 74, Jake Webb 88,
Referee: Scott Davies. Attendance: 56
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
The first match at Carradine Road, the new home of Shawbury Town, perennial groundsharers, they have finally, after a twenty year journey, reached a home of their own inside the town. There was a very friendly reception, but no alcohol, this evening, as they have yet to arrange a licence. The lady behind the bar told me that when the project for the ground commenced, her children were toddlers and that they are now in their twenties! There is also the possibility that the pitch at the new ground will be replaced with a state of the art artificial surface in the future. So, there is still much to be achieved, but there are two fifty seater stands, a substantial metal rail and hardstanding around the pitch, a large bar and refreshment area and floodlights. Their opponents this evening were from a step higher in the pyramid and it showed. Ryan Bright scored the first goal at the new arena in the first minute and scored again in the final minute before the interval. Three further second half strikes completed a comprehensive victory. With John Main and Graeme Holmes.
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Wednesday 10th July 2024
Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League (@Irthlingborough)
Finedon Dolben Women 102 for 6 (20 overs)
defeated
Irthlingborough Women (won toss) 96 all out (17.1 overs)
by 6 runs
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
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Saturday 13th July 2024
Heritage Cup
Cray Wanderers 0
Sheffield 4
Alfie Smith 45, Jack Watson 54, 62, Luke Aldrich 58,
Referee: Jack Smith. Official Attendance: 466
Admission: OMGDS: £5.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00
This was a match between the two oldest clubs in England, and, also, marked the opening of Cray Wanderers new home at Flamingo Park. The new stadium is an impressive work in progress. A 3G surface with hard standing all round and a three hundred seater stand down one side and an older club house with ample bar and catering facilities. It was a pre-season friendly and not too much credit should be put to the score line as Northern Premier League Sheffield overcame their Isthmian League rivals mainly because they were more clinical in their finishing. The hosts hit the woodwork at least three times, but were unable to score. With John Main and a fair smattering of hoppers!
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The Heritage Cup
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Matchday Programme – £2.00
Programmes will be issued for all home matches this season, but it is likely that the price will rise to £3.00
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Sunday 14th July
Cricket U-13 National T20 Cup Competition (@Burton Latimer)
Regional Final
Horton House U13 (won toss) 126 for 3 (20 overs)
defeated
Little Shelford U13 100 for 7 (20 overs)
by 26 runs
Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown
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Tuesday 16th July 2024
Pre-Season Friendly
ON Chenecks 1
Tom Tyrell 12,
Wellingborough Town 2
Joe Blowers 7, Neo Richard-Noel 13,
Referee: Chris Walton. Attendance: 42
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
This match was played on a 3G pitch in a cage in the grounds of Northampton School for Boys, a couple of hundred yards down the road from Chenecks usual haunt. Both of these clubs have been promoted this season, Chenecks to the premier division of The UCL and The Doughboys from the UCL to the NPL Division 1 Midlands. All the goals came in the opening fifteen minutes of an entertaining encounter and I expect that both teams will be challenging again this season!
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Wednesday 17th July 2024
Northants Midweek Women’s League (@Thrapston)
Thrapston Women’s CC Green (won toss) 117 for 3 (20 overs)
tied with
Thrapston Women’s CC Yellow 117 for 4 (20 overs)
I didn’t realise it at the time, but this match turned out to be very controversial. Thrapston Women’s Yellow team had won all their games this season and were champions. This match was tied and, at the time, I thought it was an exciting match with the last over being a maiden (I could have given a wide, but decided against it!). Later in the month, I got an email from the league (Fay Robinson), suggesting, strongly, that the two teams had conspired to effect a tie so that a) the champions would remain unbeaten all season and b) that Thrapston Greens would gain an extra point to give them a play off place in the league CUP rather than the league PLATE. This was not how the match felt to me., but did the two teams conspire??? If so, I was completely unaware of it.
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Thursday 18th July 2024
Rothesay 2nd Test Match
Day One @Trent Bridge
England 416 all out
Freddie and I took the train from Corby and were inside Trent Bridge by 10.00am. Great day’s cricket in glorious sunshine and Freddie got what he wanted – to see England bat. In fact, he got to see all of them bat, because, at the end of day one, England were 416 all out! Apparently, Freddie even managed to get himself on TV on one of his walks around the ground. To be fair, although they scored 416, England didn’t bat particularly well. There was an early flashing innings from Ben Duckett (71), a watchful 121 from Pope and 69 from Ben Stokes, the skipper. Zac Crawley was ducked early on and Joe Root managed just 14. It was a very good day out! We only saw Day One. On Day Two, The West Indies scored 457 all out and by the middle of day four, England had replied with 425 all out. Then The West Indies collapsed to 143 all out before the end of Day four and England won by 241 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
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Freddie Arthur McGeown
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Freddie and grand dad, Ed
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Saturday 20th July 2024
Northants Cricket League Division 7
@Bowden CC
S&L Corby CC IIs (won toss) 224 for 8 (45 overs)
defeated
Bowden CC IIs 159 all out (39.5 overs)
By 65 runs
Bowden is a pleasantly eccentric ground with a tree on the infield, which garners four runs each time it is struck. Adjacent to the ground, East Midland Railways have regular services. This match pitted third against second. S&L batting first set a reasonable, but not too daunting a total, however, young Freddie McGeown, bowling with pace and zest, took four for 29 off nine overs and it was this contribution that settled the tie! Proud grand dad was umpire for the match!
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East Midlands Railways run regular services from St Pancras to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
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Sunday 21st July 2024
Cricket @ Oundle School
Northants U12 197 for 5 (40 overs)
defeated
East & Central Yorks U12 (won toss) 167 for 8 (40 overs)
by 30 runs
Umpires: Adam Jeskins & Eddie McGeown
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Tuesday 23rd July 2024
Pre-Season Friendly
Biggleswade FC 1
Ethan Kessell.
Cambridge United XI 4
Sam Okoye 45,68, Mark Murefu 80, Randy Bulakio 85,
Referee: Johnny Lamb. Attendance: 94
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
Biggleswade FC, the youngest of the town’s trio of teams, actually groundshare at Bedford Town’s stadium in Cardington. Tonight, they were playing back in the town at a 3G plastic cage at Stratton Upper School. In a fine, free-flowing, pacy match, the hosts took the lead, but conceded on the stroke of half-time and conceded three second half strikes to give the youthful visitors a somewhat flattering victory. Several hoppers in attendance.
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Wednesday 24th July 2024
Cricket @ Oundle School
Derbyshire U12 (won toss) 177 all out (37 overs)
lost to
Northants U12 178 for 4 (40.3 overs)
by 6 wkts
Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown
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Saturday 27th July 2024
Velocity Wessex League Charity Cup FINAL
Moneyfields 0
Hamble Club 0
Referee: Ant Cross. Attendance: 128
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£8). Programme: £2.00
Reputed to have cost £10 million, Moneyfields’ new grounds (there is a separate enclosed pitch for the reserves), comprise of a 3G pitch in a glorified cage with a stand holding around 200 seats and a minimalist refreshment outlet and a bar round the back. Still to be installed is cover on the far side and the new upstairs bar facilities. The match was nothing to write home about. Hamble, the underdogs, a step below the hosts who had just won promotion to the Isthmian League, easily contained their rivals, but rarely made any impression on the home defence. Penalties decided the contest and Moneyfields took the spoils. With John Main.
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South Western Railways trundling past
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Programme
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Monday 29th July 2024
Area Pathway fixture @Marston St Lawrence CC
The tiny village of Marston St Lawrence, at the southern end of the county of Northamptonshire. Is home to around 200 souls and yet supports two cricket teams at its beautifully appointed cricket ground called Monk’s Piece. They are a very friendly club and certainly very competitive. This season, the first XI are unbeaten. Well worth a visit!
Kettering & Corby U13 (Won toss) 185 all out (32.4 overs)
lost to
Northampton & South U13 189 for 4 (33.4 overs)
by 6 wkts
Umpires: Colin Samuels & Eddie McGeown
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Tuesday 30th July 2024
County Youth Match @Oundle School
Northants U11s 198 all out (39.3 overs)
defeated
Notts U11s (won toss) 166 all out (36.5 overs)
by 32 runs
Umpires: Colin Samuels & Eddie McGeown
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Wednesday 31st July 2024
Northern Counties East League Division 1
South Leeds o
Horbury Town 1
James Cusworth 52,
Referee: Craig Atkin. Attendance: 255
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6). Programme: on line
This season, new arrivals in The NCEL, South Leeds (formerly Middleton FC) are plying their trade in The South Leeds Stadium, where Hunslet RLFC play their matches. It is a beautifully appointed arena, but, I may not be saying that on a cold, wet and windy January evening! There is a friendliness and a desire to succeed at the club and I really hope this promotion will work for them. This evening, however, they were defeated by another recent NCEL recruit, Horbury Town.
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Match ticket
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