About two months into the lockdown our Communications and Data Officer Alan Birkinshaw informed me that our Admin Executive Bob Shackleton had been clearing out his loft and found a couple of files that gave information on players in the Bradford League from it’s formation in 1903. The...
Author: Alan Birkinshaw Tillakaratne Dilshan is generally credited with introducing the scoop shot to cricket at the 2009 T20 World Cup – but there is clear evidence it was first unveiled in the Central Yorkshire League 20 years earlier. Even top Indian cricket commentator Sanjay...
This week saw some significant announcements from the government in the easing of lockdown and some welcome news to us all. On Thursday they announced that as of today, we can now meet friends and family outside in groups of six as well as the announcement on Saturday that specifically...
Another week of lockdown has brought about another Saturday with no Bradford Premier League Cricket, which I am sure many of you are becoming increasingly despondent about, however, it also means another trip into the archives and the scrapbook left to me by my grandfather who sadly passed away...
Author: Alan Birkinshaw The date is indelibly marked in Howard Leach’s memory. July 11, 1987 was the day he captured the headlines with a stunning bowling performance. The left-arm opening bowler captured took all ten wickets for Morley as they defeated Altofts by 11 runs in their...
This was the proudest moment of Brian Bolus's Bradford League career as he held the Priestley Cup aloft after Farsley's thrilling win over Yorkshire Bank in his final seaason. The former England Test opener ,who died last week aged 86, guided a youthful Farsley side containing such talented...
Another week of self-isolation completed means another edition of Into the Archives with Jimmy Lee. With the Prime Minister due to make some significant announcements on Sunday, I am sure you all, like me, will have your fingers crossed that they have found a way for sport to be re-introduced to...
Author: Alan Birkinshaw The Bradford League was a magnet for the game’s top stars during the two World Wars and established its reputation as a competition that would test even the best players. League president Keith Moss believes it was the determination of one of his predecessors...
Following the publication of the first Jimmy Lee's Scrapbook article, Pudsey St Lawrence scorer Phil Raistrick wanted to redress the balance by recalling another match against Cleckheaton on April 25, 2009, which had a happier outcome for his club. Here are his recollections of that encounter....
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions in place by the government, I don’t think I am the only one frustrated by the fact we are not allowed to play cricket at the moment. The statement made by Dominic Raab last week to suggest it is highly unlikely there will be any...
