Great Match – 1990 Heavy Woollen Cup Final - Mirfield CC v Shepley CC

One of the most memorable matches in Mirfield CC’s recent history was the 1990 Heavy Woollen Cup final. The tie was played out on the 5th August against Shepley at Ossett, with Mirfield eventually victorious. The triumph was particularly momentous as Mirfield had lost to Batley in the final the previous season. It was also the first time that the club had lifted the cup since 1963.

Mirfield made it into the final after a hard fought and fiercely contested semi-final victory over Skelmanthorpe (having defeated Lascelles Hall by 13 runs in the quarter-final). Mirfield completed the 50 overs with 259-4 and Skelmanthorpe responded with 149-7 before rain halted play. The game resumed the following day and went to the wire as Skelmanthorpe fell short of Mirfield’s final total by just six runs. Mirfield’s victory was helped greatly by the performance of Iqbal Khan, who notched up an unbeaten 141 during Mirfield’s innings. Shepley made it to the final by beating the previous season’s winners Batley following a convincing performance.

The final was predicted to be an extremely tight contest with Mirfield’s consistency over the previous seasons matched by Shepley’s ease in reaching the final. However, the match proved to be far from even as Shepley collapsed and were all out for 165, prompting the Mirfield Reporter to lead the sports page for the following week with the headline: MIRFIELD COAST TO CUP GLORY.

Mirfield batted first in front of an impressive crowd of 850, and completed their 50 overs with a score of 245 for 6. As in the semi-final, it was Iqbal Khan who led the scoring with 103, before he was eventually bowled by Holliday in the 25th over. Mirfield went into the tie confident, with captain Derek Johnson claiming: “We are running into more consistent form and in our last four games we have played better than at any time this summer.”
Khan narrowly missed out on the man of the match award which went to Andy Bolt, who scored 67, stumped two and caught one. Speaking after the game, an ecstatic Bolt stated: “I have been at Mirfield for 20 years, - it is my only club – so you can imagine how delighted I feel to win the cup.” On what turned out to be a bad day at the office for Shepley, Kulkarni still managed to put in an inspired performance scoring 70 in just 84 deliveries, including three sixes and six fours. It was not enough though, and a solid fielding performance from Mirfield saw Shepley all out after 44.3 overs. Three of their players went for a duck including Andy Goodier, who was bowled by Khan - the final wicket to fall. Commenting on his side’s downfall, Shepley skipper Geoff Gill said: “At 31-4 we had always left ourselves too much to do.” Mirfield’s delighted captain Johnson spoke after the match on the effort of his players: “We have a marvelous team spirit and I was proud to be their captain.”

The day was a great success and the game was played out in front of a sell-out crowd that generated gate receipts of £615. The victory was a fantastic achievement for Mirfield and more then made up for the disappointments of the previous season, which had seen them narrowly lose three cup finals and the league title to Batley. Club legend Clive Brook, who incidentally captained the side that had last won the Heavy Woollen cup back in 1963, was overjoyed with the result: “The victory is particularly satisfying after our disappointment at losing all four competitions to Batley last season. Then we peaked too soon. This year it has come right at the right time.”

Mirfield also went on to win the league to complete what proved to be a memorable and highly successful season for the club.  

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Great Match – 1994 Jack Hampshire Trophy Final - Mirfield CC v Methley CC

The phrase 'in the face of adversity' is used relatively frequently when it comes to reporting on triumphs and achievements in sport. However, it could not be used more fittingly than to describe the truly courageous performance put in by the Mirfield starting eleven in the 1994 Jack Hampshire Trophy final.

Adversity is certainly what was staring the Mirfield players square in the face as they took to the field on 7 August. Having been decimated in the Central Yorkshire League by Gomersal the previous day, after succumbing to an eight-wicket defeat, they were also forced to play the final without inspirational captain Russell Heritage. They had also lost their match the weekend earlier, when they lost by 51 runs to Liversedge. To make matters worse, their opposition in the final was table-topping Methley who had lifted the Heavy Woollen Cup the previous weekend. Unlike Mirfield, Methley had seen off their opposition on the day prior to the final in extremely convincing fashion.

Mirfield looked up against it and were led out at Ossett to field first by stand-in skipper Andy Bolt. In truth, however, the game would not turn out to be the one-sided affair that many people had predicted. Instead, it would become the second closest game in the history of the cup final. With Methley batting first, they were relying heavily on their three main batsmen: Steve Bourne, Peter Oldham and Kevin Rich. By the time Methley were halfway through their 40 overs, they were 92-2. But more importantly, they had lost all three of their key batsmen.

Bourne was bowled by Eric Bell and Oldham was caught by Simon Geldar before Rich followed soon after. With their top three batsmen gone, Methley struggled to put runs on the board. They were particularly frustrated by the bowling of Eric Bell who conceded just 15 runs in 8 overs, and man-of-the-match John Westerby who took 3 for 13 in 7 overs.

Following some skilful Mirfield fielding and some sloppy Methley batting, the favourites were eventually dispatched after 37.5 overs for 143.

While the total looked beatable, Methley were still regarded as the clear favourites due to Mirfield's indifferent form in the league and cups over the season. Mirfield had looked likely to go out in the first round of the competition, after they scored only 109 against opponents Ossett. With the game looking in Ossett's favour, Russell Heritage produced a match-winning performance to save the game for Mirfield, taking an incredible five wickets in eight balls. Meanwhile, in the semi-final they had to rely on Saeed Azad to help them into the final after he scored an unbeaten century against his former club, Gomersal. Azad was also extremely influential in the final, scoring a vital 47 which included eight boundaries. It was a fitting finale for Saeed, as it was his last game for Mirfield before he returned to his native Pakistan.

Mirfield were slow off the mark with Andy Bolt out for 14, while Westerby made 23 before being caught behind. But with the help of Azad, Mirfield pressed on to score a promising 82 for 2. They began to lose wickets quickly after this, however, and by the time they had pushed their score up to 138, they had lost 9 wickets. Mirfield needed 6 runs of 15 balls and were relying on Simon Geldar and 54- year-old Eric Bell, who was planning to retire at the end of the season. Bell said: "Although I opened the batting for Mirfield years previous, I was very nervous. But I was determined not to let it show and rely on my experience to give Simon Geldar the support he needed." Eric Bell formed a good batting partnership with Geldar that helped secure the trophy for Mirfield. But the finish proved to be a nail-biting one for all concerned. This is best summed up by Andy Kaye who commented: "I couldn't watch the closing stages. The tension was almost unbearable!" With three runs needed to seal the contest for Mirfield, Geldar added an important single to bring his score up to 36.

Eric Bell took guard knowing that one mistake could be the difference between victory and defeat. The tense finale was accentuated when the ball was bowled towards Bell, clipping his pads in the process. He and Geldar managed to run two leg-byes, securing a famous victory for Mirfield. "I had every confidence in Eric and when he set off on the leg-bye I've never shouted so loud on a cricket field as when we went for a second," adds Simon Geldar. It was Eric Bell's first major trophy of his career: "I was trying to turn the ball down the leg-side; it struck my pads and we were able to sprint the winning leg-byes. It was a marvelous feeling." The victory was a case of third time lucky for Mirfield. They had been beaten in the final by Gomersal the previous season, and in 1989 they had also lost in the final to Batley. Man-of-the-match John Westerby summed up what the momentous triumph meant to the Mirfield players: "To win as one of the Mirfield lads in the team was something special." The cricket was not the only thing on display during the final. The game was momentarily interrupted by a male streaker, prompting the PA announcer to announce over the tannoy: "The light must be bad out there. I can't see anything!"

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Great Match – 1962 Heavy Woolen Cup Final - Mirfield CC v Hanging Heaton CC

The cricket season of 1962 will forever be remembered fondly in the minds of all those associated with Mirfield CC. For this particular summer saw Mirfield lift the Heavy Woollen Cup for the first time. The victory came during a purple patch in the club's history - Mirfield had previously claimed the Central Yorkshire League title in three consecutive seasons between 1958 and 1960.

Despite Mirfield's league dominance, they entered the 1962 Heavy Woollen Cup final as underdogs against the highly fancied Hanging Heaton. Heaton were going well in the league and would eventually go on to capture the title. However, following an epic clash a Savile Town, it was Mirfield who emerged victorious.

The victory was nothing more then Mirfield deserved after a gritty and hard fought performance against tough opposition. It was a match in which no one player particularly stood out from the others, but instead pulled together to produce an inspired display on both batting and fielding fronts.

The 'Mirfield twins', Colin Peacock (left) and Clive Brook (right), opened the batting but the legendary pairing were unable to even begin notching up the runs as Brook was caught for 1. It was a huge shock for the Mirfield eleven, as the form of the pair had been one of the major factors in the club's success over the previous seasons.

But while many teams may have collapsed after losing such an important player so early on in a cup final, Mirfield stood firm. They lost Grace to a catch by Smith, and were 4 for 2, but they soon managed to improve after this, however, and a successful stand developed between Peacock and Rigg.

Despite a couple of anxious moments for the pair, including a missed catch behind the wicket and a shout for lbw against Peacock, they were able to notch up 64 between them before Peacock eventually succumbed to an lbw appeal on 46. Rigg was eventually bowled for 23, leaving Mirfield 76 for 4. Ellis and Hodgson continued to frustrate the Hanging Heaton attack, and Mirfield eventually finished their innings on a respectable 110 for 5. Hanging Heaton must have fancied their chances, especially considering the form they had shown in the cup and league throughout the season. They were, however, overcome by a stubborn Mirfield bowling attack that was quick to take advantage of some sloppy batting from the league leaders. Clive Brook was quick to make amends for his poor batting performance with an impressive bowling effort. He bowled five maidens in 17 overs and took four wickets at a cost of 35 runs. Bert Wilcock was equally influential, taking four wickets for just 23 runs

Many spectators in attendance at Savile Town predicted the final would run into a second day. This was not the case, however, as Hanging Heaton were all out for 81 to complete a convincing and famous victory for Mirfield. The trophy was presented by the Mayor of Dewsbury to proud captain Clive Brook who was delighted that Mirfield had won the prestigious trophy for the first time in their history.

The victory proved to be a catalyst for more success at Mirfield. The following season saw them retain the Heavy Woollen Cup, as well as securing the league title to complete a memorable double for the club.

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1963 – Double Winning Season

If you could look back at any single season in Mirfield CC’s history that demonstrated the club’s resolve, character, fortitude and ultimate success, you would have to glance no further than 1963. For this was a season when Mirfield were rewarded for their hard-fought and gritty performances with a level of success rarely seen before, or indeed after, in the Central Yorkshire Cricket League.

Following on the back of a first Heavy Woollen Cup final victory, over Shepley the previous year, Mirfield’s players entered the 1963 season confident that they could emulate and even surpass the triumphs of the previous campaign. They would not disappoint.

Despite the imminent success which would arrive at the club come the end of the season, the fight didn’t begin smoothly for Mirfield. The opening match of the season was a home tie against newly-promoted Dewsbury. However, like many of the matches that weekend, the game was called off due to rain and the points were shared.

The next match saw Mirfield pitted against Chickenley. Mirfield were huge favourites for this contest, but it was Chickenley who emerged as the emphatic victors. Having declared on 159, the Chickenley attack took the game to Mirfield, whose first four batsmen were out for just ten runs. All four wickets were taken by the opposition’s deadly bowler Farrar, and Mirfield eventually succumbed to a below-par 87 all out.

Mirfield quickly made amends for the previous week’s disappointing showing, with the annihilation of Ossett. Perhaps it could be argued that the signs of what was to come during the rest of the season were first visible that day at the Memorial Ground. Mirfield declared at 154 for 4 with Colin Peacock grabbing an impressive 92 for the home side. Barry Wood was also influential on that day, contributing 70 runs to the total. The Ossett attack had begun quite brightly, managing to frustrate the Mirfield attack with their conservative bowling. However, the bowlers quickly tired and Wood and Peacock accumulated a commanding lead for their side. The opposition were on the end of a real thrashing when their final wicket fell on 57. This was largely down to the top-class bowling of Mellor and Bert Wilcock. Wilcock took 6 for 28 while Allan Mellor took 3 for 20.

One must feel a certain level of sympathy for Ossett player Vernon Grace. Grace had transferred from Mirfield to Ossett two days previously, and had also been part of the Mirfield eleven that was so comprehensively beaten by Chickenley the week before. The first victory of the season saw Mirfield lying seventh in the league and five points behind early leaders Hanging Heaton.

Any attempt by Mirfield to gain momentum from the victory over Ossett was hindered when their match with Cleckheaton fell victim to the typical English weather. The following week, Mirfield met Heckmondwike in the first round of the Heavy Woollen Cup. Mirfield batted first and made 151 before the innings was suspended. The ever important partnership of Peacock and Clive Brook put on 69 before Brook was run out for 41. Heckmondwike made 168 in reply before Mirfield resumed their innings. The necessary runs were quickly accumulated with Jones making the last two to secure a deserved Mirfield victory and passage into the second round.

The fourth league game of the season saw Mirfield travel to early title contenders Batley. In a close, hard-fought encounter it was Batley who emerged victorious, thus putting a big dent in Mirfield’s title ambitions. Batley looked beatable when they finished their overs on 101 for 8, but a strong bowling performance from the home side left the Mirfield batsmen frustrated. The Batley attack of Lyons and Burnley were too much for Mirfield, and at one point they were seriously struggling at 63 for 5. Throughout the game Mirfield failed to take their chances and, as a result, they were punished by the ruthless bowling of Lyons who took six wickets during the contest. The result could have been worse if it had not been for the fact that leaders Hanging Heaton were beaten by Thornhill.

In the following match, Mirfield were once again frustrated, this time against Thornhill. Despite Peacock picking up an impressive 136 not out, Mirfield were unable to see off the stubborn Thornhill batsman with the game eventually being tied. The result left Mirfield with just one victory in their opening six league matches, and the league title was beginning to look highly unlikely.

Mirfield were given the chance to rectify the situation the following night, when they met their first round Heavy Woollen Cup opponents, Heckmondwike. A big performance was needed to get Mirfield’s title hopes back on track, and that is exactly what the players provided. The Heckmondwike batsmen were quickly and convincingly despatched for a total of just 56 runs. Mirfield responded with 57 for 7 as Brook scored 33 in what was both a deserved and important victory.

The next weekend saw the visit of Chickenley as the two teams met in the league for the second time of the season. With their thrashing at the hands of Chickenley earlier in the season fresh in the mind, Mirfield went about gaining revenge. Chickenley took to the wicket first and notched up a score of 146 for 8. They looked confident of doing the ‘double’ over Mirfield. Things looked even more in Chickenley’s favour when Mirfield opening batsman Clive Brook was forced to retire early in the innings after the ball struck him in the face. However, Wood and Peacock put on a solid opening partnership, which put Chickenley to the sword in the process. Peacock scored 88 not out and Wood 46. In the end Mirfield were victorious with a commanding score of 146 for 1. The win lifted Mirfield to fourth in the table, and took them to within five points of leaders Batley, who had narrowly scraped past Dewsbury.

The next two league games were both played against Wakefield. In the first clash Mirfield scored 147 for 3 to overhaul Wakefield’s score of 146 for 7. Mirfield bowler Wilcock was particularly influential in this game, taking 4 wickets for 58 runs. Wood continued his impressive scoring form with an unbeaten 54. Following on from his awesome form for Mirfield, Barry Wood began playing first-class cricket the following season and would go on to play for Lancashire and Derbyshire. He also went on to represent his country, opening the batting on a number of occasions, playing in 12 Tests and 13 one day internationals, and scoring 768 runs in the process.   

The second game the following weekend once again saw Mirfield victorious. Mirfield produced a stunning attacking display, with Wilcock again haunting Wakefield with a match-winning performance. The in-form bowler took five wickets for just 18 runs. This completed a run of four consecutive victories for Mirfield and they were beginning to catch up with the ‘pack’ in the league table - in what was actually proving to be an extremely exciting season in the Central Yorkshire League. Mirfield’s old nemesis, Farrar of Chickenley, did them a favour when he led his side to victory over Batley, demolishing the opposition batsmen in the process.

Meanwhile, Mirfield were beginning to turn heads in the Heavy Woollen Cup with a series of impressive victories. After comprehensively seeing off title contenders Dewsbury in the third round, Mirfield booked a place in the semi-finals against league rivals Ossett. The cup holders’ chances of retaining the trophy looked like a distinct possibility.

The next Mirfield game was billed as a major clash in the race for the league title, as they met fellow championship contenders Batley. Mirfield looked to stretch their four- match winning streak to five games and, in doing so, cut the gap between themselves and the two top clubs, Hanging Heaton and Batley. The match was delayed at the start due to heavy rain, but when it finally got underway Mirfield looked unstoppable with the ever-impressive Peacock leading the scoring with 86 not out. Mirfield declared on 121 for 4 and had Batley at 71 for 6 before rain halted play for the final time. Mirfield were left frustrated as the points were shared, but they were still in contention for top spot come the end of the season.

Mirfield met Ossett in the Heavy Woollen Cup, with a place in the final on the line. Allan Mellor was the star of the show for Mirfield and took 4 wickets for 20 runs as Ossett were dismissed for just 96. Mirfield were confident of booking their place in the final. However, they soon found themselves on the back foot when their three key batsmen - Brook, Wood and Peacock - were all out for just 45 runs. Mirfield were able to stabilise after this and got to 73 for 3 before losing three more wickets. They managed to hang on, however, and won the match on 99 for 6.

As Mirfield began to close in on the top two, they encountered Cleckheaton at the Memorial Ground. They continued their winning form with a resounding victory. Once again it was Peacock who stole the show with 64 not out. Wood was also not out on 23 as Mirfield passed Cleckheaton’s total of 100. The visitors had been undone by some skilled bowling from Brook, who 5 wickets for 37. Wilcock also chipped in with three wickets for 23 runs. The win left Mirfield trailing the top two by two points with just three points separating the top four teams.

The first potential ‘title decider’ of the season came when Mirfield entertained league leaders Hanging Heaton. Mirfield were tipped by the Dewsbury Reporter to narrowly win this one, a prediction which proved to be false. In truth, Hanging Heaton were obliterated by the Mirfield batsmen before the Mirfield bowlers finished them off in what turned out to be an extremely one-sided victory. The home side opted to bat first and were led by Wood who scored 71 not out and Peacock who managed 63. The two managed a second-wicket partnership of 112. They eventually declared with a commanding lead of 176 for 4, with Heaton bowler Kilvington taking all four wickets. Hanging Heaton were dismissed for just 86 with Wilcock and Wood dominating the bowling effort. It was following this victory that people first began dreaming of the ‘double’.

The first stage in completing the double came on 9 August when Mirfield and Batley met in the Heavy Woollen Cup final. Mirfield went in to the game as the form team as Batley had endured a recent dismal run in the league. While Mirfield were favourites to retain the prestigious cup, few could have predicted the ease with which they would do so. What transpired that day was the second most one-sided final in the competition’s history. Batley were on the end of a humiliating thrashing as they were all out in just over half an hour. During this period they accumulated just 33 runs. The Dewsbury Reporter referred to the innings as “thirty-eight minutes of furious fast bowling”. The fast bowlers in question were Mellor and Peacock. Mellor took a staggering 7 wickets for just 15 runs, while Peacock took 3 for 10. Both managed to do this in 10 overs each. Peacock scored 21 not out to complete the nine-wicket demolition of one of Mirfield’s closest title rivals. The awards were presented to the proud players by Mr R.A. Sheard, President of Heckmondwike CC and the Dewsbury and District Cricket League.

Hanging Heaton had played on cup final day and, having been held by Wakefield, were now out of the title race. As were Batley, who could also only manage a draw in their penultimate game. This resulted in what the Reporter called a “photo-finish league championship” race involving Mirfield and surprise contenders Dewsbury. 

Mirfield entertained Heckmondwike in their second-to-last game of the season. And despite their massive cup final victory over Batley, Mirfield were lucky to come out of the game with anything at all. Heckmondwike stormed to an impressive 179 for 6. In reply Mirfield began to struggle and were soon 46 for 6. However, they settled and were saved by an impressive partnership between Barker and Hewitt, who frustrated the Heckmondwike attack. Hurst Barber scored 19 as Mirfield just about managed to hang on for a draw. Mirfield’s final score was 94 for 7. Dewsbury were, however, defeated by Ossett, which meant that the title would go to Mirfield if rain washed out the matches the following weekend.

In the end the final week’s fixture went ahead and Mirfield were presented with a tricky visit to Hanging Heaton. Knowing a draw would be enough to seal the championship, Mirfield went into the game full of confidence. They batted first but got off to a bad start when key batsman Colin Peacock was bowled for just 1. Mirfield did not collapse, however, and managed to build a total with the help of Wood who scored 74 not out. Mirfield were eventually all out for 142. Hanging Heaton made it to 96 for 3 before rain brought the game to a close and, in doing so, signalled the completion of a memorable league and cup ‘double’ by Mirfield.

Club legend Clive Brook would later go onto to say that captaining the side in 1963 was his greatest ever achievement in cricket. Colin Peacock won the league batting award. The Mirfield team that scooped the ‘double’ contained key individuals such as Brook, Peacock, Barry Wood, Bert Wilcock and Allan Mellor, who all put in consistent, match-winning performances. However, when these players were not firing on all cylinders, there were always players in the squad who could make the step up. The league season was a long slog and it was a major team effort that enabled Mirfield to take the championship at the end of the campaign.

Mirfield did not win the league title again until 1990 when they matched the success of 1963 by also winning the Heavy Woollen Cup in the same season. 

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1989 - The Season That Nearly Was

Sport carries a certain notoriety for its unpredictability and the notion that literally anything can happen. That is why it is so compelling to both watch and compete in, but there is also a very fine line between ecstasy and heartbreak.

The old saying ‘so close yet so far’ will arguably never be more fitting than when used to describe Mirfield’s campaign during the 1989 season. Despite a brave and inspired run in three cups as well as the league, Mirfield found themselves trophy-less after the final ball of the season had been bowled. In a season that was dominated by two of the best sides to have ever graced the Central Yorkshire League, Mirfield were caught up in an epic battle with close rivals Batley CC.  

Mirfield got off to a flying start in the league and soon found that they – along with Batley – were safely clear of the chasing pack. It was a similar scenario in the Heavy Woollen Cup and Jack Hampshire Trophy, where the club had reached the semi- finals of both competitions in convincing fashion. Club legends Iqbal Khan and Russell Heritage had both had sensational seasons and had helped to ensure that Mirfield remained in pole position as the club closed in on the business end of the summer.

Mirfield’s first major game of the season came against Liversedge in the Heavy Woollen cup semi-final. They competed in the match with the same form that had seen them claim top spot in the division, thrashing their opponents in a comprehensive eight-wicket victory. The match will be remembered for the intriguing battle of ability that took place between Mirfield’s Khan and Liversedge’s Kulkarni. Both men had left their mark on the other in the previous two meetings between the two sides that season.

It was, however, Khan who emerged from the clash with his head held high, as he put in a man-of-the-match performance scoring 84 runs. If his batting was exhilarating, his bowling was phenomenal as he put Liversedge to the sword, taking 5 for just 52. To his credit Kulkarni was the stand-out figure in the team, scoring 82 runs. But it was Mirfield who would go on to contest the first major final of the season.

It was a different story in the Jack Hampshire semi-final against Ossett. Mirfield had scraped through their league match 24 hours earlier with just two deliveries to spare, and seemed determined to overcome Ossett in similar fashion. The game had looked a foregone conclusion after the Ossett batsmen suffered a dramatic collapse. After looking comfortable at 143-2, Ossett lost another 6 wickets for just 21 runs. They finished their innings on 179.

However, with Mirfield starting well at 40-0, déjà vu struck as they lost seven wickets in 17 overs for just 47 runs. With the situation looking desperate, Mirfield found stability in the batting partnership of Simon Geldar and Pat Neal. The two batsmen steered their side to victory with a no-nonsense partnership of 84 that they notched up within 13 overs. While Mirfield narrowly scraped into the final, Batley destroyed Gildersome with batsman David Lovell scoring 77 off 45 balls. This came just 24 hours after he had scored 114 at Methley in the league. The result meant that the two sides would meet in both the Jack Hampshire Trophy and Heavy Woollen Cup finals. And with there being a possibility of meeting in the Council play-offs as well as contesting the league title, an epic battle was inevitably on the cards for the four trophies.

Batley’s second team had already lifted the Crowther Cup, in what was shaping up to be a memorable season for the club. It was, however, Mirfield who were top of the league as the teams battled out the Heavy Woollen Cup final. It was Batley who drew first blood, winning the tie by 42 runs.

The game attracted a record gate, as 800 fans turned out for the match. With Batley batting first, Mirfield got off to a promising start, when they bowled out danger man David Lovell after just 37 runs. Batley’s depth showed through, however, as Bob Cooper stepped forward to score an unbeaten 72 – leaving his side on a healthy 196-7 at the end of the innings, despite Iqbal Khan taking four wickets. Cooper’s plight for the man-of-the-match award would come under threat, however, from teammate Elliot Noble whose lethal bowling left Mirfield all out 154. Despite a brave performance from Mirfield, Batley proved too strong this time round and the side looked towards the remaining silverware of the season.

As the Jack Hampshire Trophy final approached, Mirfield were sitting two points clear of Batley and were emerging as the mainstays at the top of the division. Their season hopes were dealt a massive blow in the final, however, as they lost to Batley by 10 wickets.

Mirfield’s hopes of avenging the Heavy Woollen defeat were severely dashed when they were bowled all out by Batley for 101. Man-of-the-match Paul Blakeley did the damage, taking 4 wickets for 17 runs in 7 overs. With Batley chasing such a low total, Mirfield’s attack fought bravely as Lee Morritt and John Foster restricted Batley to just 10 runs from the first 10 overs. However, in the end Mirfield were unable to prevent Batley from reaching the necessary total. 

The end of August saw Batley pull back Mirfield’s two-point advantage in the league and with the two sides delicately poised at the top of the table, the sides met in the most important league game of the season. Mirfield had home advantage at the Memorial Ground, and looked in control after a convincing batting effort. Indeed, their total could have been even more, had they not surrendered four wickets in the final two overs.  Batley reached the final over 15 runs short of Mirfield’s total, but an inspired batting performance from David Lovell saw them score 15 and the game finished a draw.

There were just two games of the season remaining and there was a big chance that the title could be decided on averages, if both sides maintained their impressive league form. Unfortunately averages were not needed, as Mirfield lost their penultimate game of the season to fourth-placed Gomersal. An uncharacteristic batting display from Mirfield saw them all out in the league for the first time that season. Their final total of just 78 was way short of the 140 set by Gomersal. Meanwhile, Batley fought back against Ossett to get one hand on the league title.

The last day of the season saw Mirfield requiring a six-point win over East Ardsley and a Batley defeat at Gomersal to ensure a famous league victory. Despite a valiant effort, Mirfield were unable to bowl East Ardsley all out, so only secured four points. A Batley victory ensured the inevitable as once again Mirfield were left with little to show for their heroic efforts.

The following day Batley completed a memorable quadruple as they defeated Mirfield by four wickets in the Yorkshire Council Play-Off Final. It was a cruel end to a disappointing season for Mirfield that had promised and arguably deserved so much more. Their courageous fight on four fronts had been overshadowed by the clinical performances of Batley and the Mirfield players were left with nothing to show from what had looked likely to be a successful season.

However, in sport, one of the main tests is how well you respond to setbacks and defeats. It is all about character and determination. While some teams may have folded after such heartbreak, Mirfield responded the following season by securing the league title. They completed a memorable double by also lifting the Heavy Woollen Cup for the first time since 1963. 

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2007 -Season Preview

As the days grow longer and summer's imminent arrival beckons, Mirfield CC are gearing themselves up for the start of the new season in the Huddersfield Central League.

The Mirfield squad are hoping to build on their solid fourth-place finish last season. With a potential promotion finish not beyond the realms of possibility, the players will be looking to move quickly out of the traps while maintaining a high level of consistency. Mirfield's club captain and secretary Pat Neal believes that his side have what it takes to mount a credible push for promotion this time round: "We are confident that we can challenge for promotion. We have strengthened our team with two good players and I believe we can improve on last season."

Mirfield have added to their ranks this season with the arrival of two new players. Mathew Hanson joins the squad from neighbours Moorlands. The opening bowler is also a strong batsman and will be a good all-round addition to the team. He will be joined by hard-hitting batsman Amjad Mahmood, who joins from former Central Yorkshire League rivals Batley.

Mirfield will be looking no further then the opening game of the season - an intriguing home tie against Woodfield Park. The Mirfield eleven will be hoping to make home advantage at the Memorial Ground count, as victory over their challenging opposition may set a positive tone for the remainder of the season and Pat is under no illusions as to how important the game could be: "Personally I will be telling the lads to hit the ground running. It would be great to get off to a winning start and that would be really positive for the rest of the season. We need to perform well."

Since their arrival in the Huddersfield Central League back in 2005, Mirfield have steadily advanced up the ranks. Immediate promotion to Section 'A' showed character and a successful progression. While last year's season helped consolidate the club's position in the league, the hope for the forthcoming campaign is that the team can continue its drive to recovery, following its merger with Harry Lime CC, after withdrawing from the Central Yorkshire League.

Despite the steady progress that the club has made, Neal admits that last year did not go quite to plan for the team: "Last season was a little disappointing and we weren't able to get a settled side together. There wasn't a lot of stability and there were too many disruptions."

As well as the league, there are also the cup competitions to contend with and Pat is confident that Mirfield can put together at least one credible cup run: "We have a good draw in the Allsop Cup against Birchencliffe and we made the semi-finals in that last year. It would certainly be nice to get a decent cup run this season. We had a good run in the 20/20 competition a couple of seasons ago, so it would be great to do something like that again."

So which Mirfield players does Pat believe will have the biggest impact on the team this season? "I think batting wise, the person to look out for is fifteen-year-old David Bolt. He's one of our top batsmen and he was good last year. I think he is improving all the time and I think he will score a lot of runs this season. I think Ajmad Zarif will be an important bowler for us. He is our fastest bowler and he didn't get much luck last year, but I think he should take a lot of wickets this season."

It is also hoped that success will come the way of Mirfield's second team, Mirfield Harry Lime. They received a fortunate break last season when they were reprieved from relegation. The second-team players will be hoping to take full advantage of this and their plight will be strongly helped by the arrival of some former first-team players. The Section 'D' side welcome in Paul Newton, Graham Whitworth, Danny Martin, as well as former captain Rob Hague. Pat believes that these new additions will ensure that this season will be very much different to last year's campaign.

He says: "I think Mirfield Harry Lime will have a better season then last time. They were let off with the reprieve last year and I really hope they can build on that. They have been strengthened this season by some first-team players and I think they can finish near the top this time. I think both sides have a great chance of promotion if they play well."

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Interview with Paul Newton

As Mirfield Harry Lime CC gear up for the forthcoming season, batsman Paul Newton is confident that the team can progress significantly this season. The Australian former Harry Limer joins the second team after a couple of successful spells in the Mirfield first team, which saw them gain promotion from Section 'B' in 2005.

1. What are your hopes for the upcoming season?
To have a good season and see some junior players progress to the first team.

2. How have you occupied yourself during the winter break?
I took a Level 1 cricket coaching course, and played a lot of golf.

3. From a personal point of view, what do you hope to achieve in the upcoming season?
To help the second team have a successful season

4. Who do you think will be the most dangerous team to play against in the league and why?
Heckmondwike. They have recruited well which will mean players will drop down into their second team.

5. How have team preparations for the season taken shape?
Very well. There seem to be quite a few new players which is good for the club and will create competition for places.

6. How would you describe the mood among the players? Team spirit is very good and everyone is looking forward to a good season.

7. Realistically, where would you expect to see the club in the league table, come the end of the season?
Top half of the league and if everyone performs well, maybe the top two.

8. Do you think the team can progress after last season's reprieve in the league?
Yes, definitely because of the influx of new players.

9. How do you think the squad compares with last season?
Much stronger and a lot younger - which has to be a good thing.

10. Who do you think the star man in the team is and why?
Graham Whitworth. He is an all-rounder and is very keen to do well.

11. How do you think the Mirfield first team will do this season? Very well. With all the new players coming into the club they should be pushing for promotion

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The Social Side of Harry Lime

The name Harry Lime has been associated with Mirfield Cricket Club ever since the two sides merged together prior to the 2005 season. However for the past Limers, it is important that the legacy of Harry Lime is never forgotten.

Harry Lime was an exclusive club amongst friends, and all prospective players had to be first invited by a current member of the playing squad. Former player Paul Newton remembers his first impressions of the first club he joined after moving to England from Australia: "Firstly, how social the club was and how welcoming the people were and secondly, a guy called John Hudson who was our tea lady. He somehow cooked a three course afternoon tea from this very small kitchen and every week he prepared a different meal, different foods...Everything had to be eaten. We had to do it in the twenty minutes, people would be forcing the food down just to get it all done and then we had to go and play cricket, which was unfortunate!"

He continued "(His team mates were) all just very friendly people who adopted the same attitude I think when they became a Harry Lime Player, to enjoy the game and not take it to serious, but mainly to be there with their friends and get involved socially and, you know, have a drink after the game. And if we won or lost still have the same attitude and not get too upset about what the result of the game was, but just realise that they were there with their friends."

The same can be said for the first impression of current Mirfield CC Cricket Chairman Kevin Bell -also a former a Limer: "Probably the first impressions were a friendly bunch of guys who enjoyed their cricket and especially the after match drinking."

Indeed, it quickly became apparent to all those who joined Harry Lime that this was far from you average -run of the mill - village cricket club. Instead, new members were met with a type of social experience that they had never encountered before, as Kevin Bell demonstrates: "The social side of Harry Lime was probably more important then the cricket. It was a very varied social life, there was always something happening, quiz nights, bike rides car rallies, trips away and golf tournaments. So there was always something happening. It was a good bunch of people to be part of."

This was also certainly the case for Paul Newton, where life with Harry Lime differed greatly from his experiences with Australian Cricket Clubs. He quickly began to see that Harry Lime was unique in both the social aspects and the way that it was run. "Most cricket clubs will have a committee structure. There was no committee. I think there was a president, John was the president, but they just said 'John you're president this year and I think they made him president because each year he used to go to Lords - to watch the cricket - and he used to put on a Harry Lime tie and they let him in because he was the president of a cricket club. He never went to a meeting or anything. There was no selection panel.... It didn't matter if you didn't make any runs; you were still in the next game."

As Paul Newton noted, there was a huge social side to Harry Lime. In some cases the social side was so significant to the identity of Harry Lime, that cricket almost became secondary. The club was in effect a social club, a place where a group of friends - who all shared a love for cricket - could come and socialise with one another. And, in addition to John Hudson's five star Gourmet meals, there were also a number of other social sides that the Limers competed and took part in, away from cricket.

There were other sports such as rugby league, darts and Golf, that the Limers enjoyed playing amongst themselves and tournaments were frequently arranged, so that the players could enjoy each other company in a variety of different sports. As well as sport, there were also other social areas where the players of Harry Lime would come together on a regular basis. A meal out and drinking at a large range of local pubs was always high up on the Harry Lime agenda. Paul Newton admits that the social side of Harry Lime was an integral part of the cricket club: "Cricket wasn't the be all and end all of the whole setup, after the game we were always going to a pub.. Dave Lodge would know a real ale pub that was close by, so we would go there. But for me (the most enjoyable social side of Harry Lime) was we always used to have four golf tournaments a year and I loved playing golf as well. We always used to have one at Christmas time, which was good because we could always see the guys during the winter."

Kevin bell spent over twenty five years at Harry Lime and was always in the thick of anything that happened socially at the club."Typically what you would find is that different people would organise different events and the golf ended up with me. I think probably my favourite aspect of it was that everyone enjoyed each others company and made an effort to be involved in the social side of the club."

Whilst the social side of was very important to the Limers, Harry Lime was a cricket club and despite taking a more light hearted approach to the game, there were still some very fond memories that took place on the green. "One of my memorable moments would have been being part of the first team when we got promoted to Section A.... And, another that springs to mind, was batting with Trevor Kellet when he scored his hundred."

As Paul Newton identified, the selection policy at Harry Lime was unique to most cricket clubs. The view was that people should play for fun, regardless of form and ability. Despite this, Harry Lime still enjoyed a certain amount of success, and Paul remembers one such moment where the Limers delivered in the face of adversity. "One year we made the quarter finals of the Allsop Cup in the Huddersfield Central League. We were in the D Section and the team we played against were a Premier League team, so basically everyone thought we had no chance. But we really played well and we could have probably just about beaten them, except a few little things went wrong during the game. Yet we still had a great run we played about four or five games in the cup, got to the quarter final.. No one thought we had any chance of getting even that far."

Unsurprisingly, when involved in such an entertaining social group, there were some memorable moments that emerged for the players of Harry Lime Cricket Club. Paul Newton can recall one such incident that occurred on a wet and windy day at Sands Lane and involved Ian Bucknal: "Butts chased a ball up to the boundary... In his haste, he went to throw it and it some how went backwards out of his hand, over the boundary line and into some bushes... Everybody was out of control laughing and the umpire was confused and it was just total bloody mayhem."

Despite the social success of Harry Lime, the club were forced to disband at the end of the 2004 season. Ground problems, amongst other things, had meant that the social side of the club had been difficult to maintain. The club however reformed with Mirfield Cricket Club in time for the 2005 season, and despite the retirement of some of the older players, the Harry Lime name lived on, in the form of the Mirfield Second team - Mirfield Harry Lime.

Despite the end of an era, Harry Lime left a resounding mark on those involved, leaving them with no doubt as to how the club should be forever remembered. Kevin Bell tried to sum up his lasting memories of Harry Lime: "I would remember them as a group of similar minded individuals who enjoyed sport, camaraderie and probably most of all, they were a bunch of friends. I would say that Harry Lime is and was a great club to have been part of and I feel honoured to have been part of it."

Paul Newton added: "A complete one off. I don't think it could be replicated. It's just one of those things that evolved and I just feel lucky that I did get involved in it. I've got to know some really great people through it. I think I'll probably stay in contact for the rest of my life, so it's been great." When asked to describe Harry Lime in one sentence, Paul smiled and said "Just a group of fantastic people who enjoyed their sport and enjoyed socialising even more."

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Questions and Answers with the Chairman of Cricket

Recently appointed Chairman of the Cricket Sub Committee Kevin Bell speaks to James Norbury about all things cricket, including the upcoming season at Mirfield, his new role at the club and the Ashes

1. How have you spent your time during the weekend break?
Mainly just working on my website business. I've had a couple of winter golf holidays in Spain and of course since January I have been involved in organising the cricket committee to get prepared in readiness for the 2007 season.

2. What did you make of England's performances in the Ashes?
I wasn't really surprised. I was probably one of the few that thought they knew that they were sending in a weakened team. A lot was made of the Ashes series from the previous year, but in reality England really only scraped home in the 2005 series.

3. Were there any positives that can be drawn?
I think the only positive that you would get out of the tour would be the preparation that they got in the one day series before the World Cup. They came through with a good team spirit and managed to win that tournament, which should have stood them in good stead for the forthcoming World Cup.

4. So what do you think lead to their downfall? Well, as I said previously, we took a weakened team. I seem to recall we had no Trescothic, we didn't have Michael Vaughn playing, Simon Jones certainly didn't go and the more senior players just didn't seem to perform on the day.

5. Who do you think was the standout player in the series?
For me, I would certainly go for Ricky Ponting. He seemed to captain the side well and get the best out of his players and he did score a considerable amount of runs, usually at the right time.

6. Moving onto Mirfield now, What did you make of the teams first performance of the season? I thought the first team performance was excellent. The team spirit was absolutely fantastic and everybody played for each other, and all the new players that signed on this year made a good impact, so it all bodes well for the coming season.

7. How do you see the rest of the season going?
I'm very optimistic for the firsts. I think our major strength in the side is that we've got a very strong and varied bowling attack and typically, that tends to decide games.

8. So who do you will be the most important player in the team?
The most important player for me, I would say, is skipper Pat Neal. The way that he captains the side will be important and opening the batting as he does, he scores runs quickly and I think that he can get us off to a good start and put us in some strong and commanding positions. So I would definitely say Pat Neil.

9. How can you see Mirfield doing in the cup competitions? That's difficult to say. Of course, in a cup competition it always depends on the draw. There are some very strong premier division teams, but it would be good experience to test ourselves against them.

10. You have been made chairman of the cricket sub-committee recently, what does that involve?
Well effectively that sub-committee is responsible for organising all cricketing related matters including ensuring the ground is prepared, attending to league matters, insurance, contributing to the junior section, team selection. So generally all matters that involve cricket.

11. So how are you finding the job? Well I have to say that I'm finding the job very easy. The reason for this is that we have a group of people on the cricket sub-committee who are very committed and that commitment makes my job very very easy. All jobs seem to get done on time and in the correct manner, so as I say, I haven't found it a challenge as yet.

12. What are your hopes for the future of Mirfield Cricket Club? I would say that I've got a few hopes. Firstly, one is that we retain an amateur status club and I then want us - the first eleven - to become an established Premier League side and of course for the second eleven to progress as well. But more importantly, I want us to improve the strength of the junior section, with a view to them feeding the first and second teams in years to come.

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Val Kirkby - Profile

Everybody who is associated with Mirfield CC knows that besides the cricket, it also has an infectious social side. The close-knit community, which is such a resonant part of the club, has captivated not just the cricketers but their entire families as well.

The Kirkby's are one such family that are involved with Mirfield in a considerable way. Val Kirkby reveals the full extent of her family's involvement with the club: "The whole family is involved with the club. My husband used to play for them, my son still plays for them now and my grandchildren play in the youth teams.

The club is a big part of our family." She also appreciates the sheer impact that the club has had socially on her and her family over the years: "My family and I have such strong ties with the club not just on the cricket front, but also socially. Most of our friends are involved with the club in one way or another."

Val herself is heavily involved with the team behind the scenes. Incredibly, she has been a familiar face in the club kitchen for the past thirty-five years. Despite the amount of time that she has been associated with the club, Val has not always been a huge fan of cricket. Rugby League was her sport of choice when she was younger and she used to follow it with her father. It was not until she met her husband, former Mirfield cricketer and current committee member Don Kirkby, that she began to garner an interest in the sport.

Since then however, she has become a dedicated fan of cricket and, as well as Mirfield, she is also a keen supporter of Yorkshire CCC and of course England. She has her favourite players within the game "I like Darren Gough and of course all of the Australian national side, they are all very good players."

Val began her duties as a tea lady nearly forty-two years ago when she lived in the Midlands. She spent seven years as tea lady at the club that her husband played for, before they moved back up to her native Yorkshire. She immediately began helping with the teas at Mirfield CC, after her husband began playing for the club and she has not looked back since.

Whilst Val started out at Mirfield as just an additional helper in the kitchen, she became the chief organiser of the teas following the retirement of the former head tea lady. So what does a match day in the life of a Mirfield cricket club tea lady entail?

"Well because I am the main organiser, it is my job to do the shopping on the Saturday morning. I'm usually at the ground for a round one o'clock with the other tea ladies. There are about a dozen of us who work around a rota. The game usually starts at two so we need to make sure that we have everything prepared in time. The players only have twenty-five minutes for tea so we have to make sure that everything is set-up and ready for them when they come in. We then have to start clearing everything away and if we are lucky we may even get a chance to watch some cricket!"

Despite the hectic day that inevitably accompanies every home match, Val admits that she misses the responsibility of the job during the close season: "Obviously I enjoy doing it otherwise I wouldn't still be doing it after so long. I do tend to get a bit tired towards the end of a season but I'm always itching to get back going again come January. It gets boring without it."

Val has spent thirty-five long years catering for the nutritional needs of Mirfield's demanding cricketers. And whilst she admits she cannot go on forever, she has no plans on hanging up the apron just yet: "I would like to think I will be doing this job for a few more years to come, I don't think there is anyone who wants to replace me!"

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