A wet early April negates key outside practice

Published on 24th April 2008 in Sport

Goole Town Cricket Club prepare for a bit of history this weekend when they face their first-ever game in the York Senior League Premier Division - arguably the highest grade of cricket the club has seen, writes Graeme Wilson.

Outdoor preparations for the new campaign have been seriously curtailed, with limited nets, although the weather has relented this week for a good work out at Westfield on Tuesday night ahead of the opener at once star-studded Dunnington on Saturday.

It is one of four teams that the club will be fielding this weekend with the seconds in a new-look, more regional Division Five against Londesborough Park and the thirds starting life in York Vale League Division Five at Huntington, before the intermediates start their campaign on Sunday at home to Welton.

There will be plenty of pressure on playing resources this season, although the York Vale side will be playing their home games on a Sunday, which could allow second team players to turn out on successive days if required.

It will be a hard season for the first team - the Premier Division standard in the York Senior League is strong - and yet it may well bring one or two of the promising cricketers to the fore alongside the experience of Dave England, captain Neil Foster (left 06-09-29 GT), Anthony Gibbins and Mark Holmes, who is the only player to have had Premier cricket as captain of Carlton Towers three seasons ago.

However, it is the younger players too, such as Kevin Murphy, Richard Mann, Steve Hicks, those with ability if they can come to terms with the higher level, who must support those above and of course the immense talent of Ashley Hulme,, who passed 1,000 runs in the promotion season last term, as well as 50 wickets.

But it will be most of the team (seen below, left with the 2008 Townend Cup, 20-09-18 GT), who will be on parade, pre-season efforts to add more depth to the batting having not materialised.