There is something just good about having a beer, chewing the fat with friends and taking in the action at your local cricket club in the heat of the summer sun. Well, the locals are ready for yet another summer of cricket activity down at The Marshfield, as Settle enter the den of The Northern Premier League. The highest level of club cricket in the UK.
In 1951 Blackpool, Chorley, Leyland, Fleetwood & St Anne’s departed from the Ribblesdale League due to non-commonsense politics and set up with others The Northern League. Now 83 years on and Settle meet up again with old foes. All teams have strong professionals and some have added Cumbria Minor County players to their ranks and Blackpool will include England T20 paceman Richard Gleeson as an amateur with his boyhood club. So the bar is high, the games will be tough and challenging and it will be a step up for the Settle lads, led for a fourth successive year by one of the Davidson brothers, Will. Not a bad level of cricket to watch for £3!
Settle welcome back Sri Lankan Ashen Silva for a fifth season and three Smiths to the club, in former Yorkshire Schools cap, left arm bowler Will from Steeton and brothers opening bat Lewis and opening quick bowler Lloyd from Morecambe, although when they were 12 they did play in the clubs U12s, originating from Bentham. The clubs final signing is former Cherry Tree, Great Harwood, Todmoreden and St Anne’s professional, left arm spinner and hard-hitting bat Amar Ullah. Ullah replaces West Indian, Tremaine Dowrich in the line-up. Add the return of Tom Davidson and Eddy Read from injury and the development of opening youngsters, Yorkshire 16 group Archie Phillipson and John Davidson then Settle should compete, if not take a few scalps.
The club has just appointed the ever-popular Robin Towler as their new president. ‘Yogi’ has been involved with the club since settling here from over the hill in the early 70s. Player, committee man, selector, sponsor and top groundsman at the club for several decades. A fitting honour for such a club stalwart. In a similar vein the club this week announced the honour of life membership for Martin Scaife in recognition for “services to Settle Cricket Club” over four decades. Ian Grey runs the walking cricket group on a Monday, but in the dark months of winter has been mapping out all the club’s fixtures for 14 teams. Still to be fully completed at time of writing.
Behind the scenes, Carlsberg become the club’s new go to bar suppliers with various sponsorship packages to support the club. Four test match standard sightscreens at either end of the ground come into force as part of the standards set by the ECB for premier league clubs. The 1905 old pavilion in the corner of the ground has had a facelift. A posh flagpole will be in place by the old pavilion adding nostalgia and panache. A new online system to join the club, pitchero will be the way to pay membership. Paid up members will receive discounted drinks. Gray Nicholls have opened up an online club shop where anyone can buy club kit and merchandise and in an exciting move benefiting the community is the club’s new cricket links with Settle College (still High School to me!) where we will play games and use their two bay nets for practice. In return the club will tend and look after their square and invest in new netting for their 2-bay net system, as well as a repaint. With 14 teams and over 100 playing members, the club needed an overflow pitch and we are indebted to Head Gareth Whitaker for his support and empathy.
The club welcomes back all sponsors. Sponsors day is July 13, Settle v Blackpool.
Lucy Knowles will be our new tea provider with her fantastic Feizor fare!
The 2nds and 3rds will play in the Westmoreland League visiting places such as Coniston and Appleby, as well as a Yorkshire derby with Ingleton.
It is hoped for the first time in the club’s history to field a 4th XI and give some up and coming youngsters a taste of senior cricket.
Not to be in the shadows, our women’s team also go into the West Yorkshire Women’s League. A new venture for them so good luck! We will have more on the ladies in future issues.
So if you are into your cricket come on down to the tranquil Marshfield and take in a game or two. If you are not a cricket fan, still come down, we have the biggest beer garden for miles around, great facilities, flat entrance and a stunning backdrop. You will be made welcome, there is no better place on a summer afternoon than The Marshfield.
The Lapwings are tuiting, the Curlews are whirling, the Ramblers are getting their rucksacks ready and the NPL beckons!
By Silly Mid Off
If you would like to get involved in the club in any way please contact
Membership
Andy Pickard: 07866 434958
Sponsorship
Tom Strickland: 07447 934902
Help With Ground
Andrew Davidson: 07561 780384
Junior Cricket
Ian Walker: 07766 400236
Walking Cricket
Ian Grey: 07930 091315
Odd Jobs
Neil Handy: 07801 020118
Book The Venue
Gemma Hickling 07487 248047
