Yorkshire will play Lancashire in a 50-over men’s cricket match at Harrogate on Wednesday next week.

The match, which will be staged at Harrogate Cricket Club‘s St George’s Road ground, is a warm-up for the forthcoming Metro Bank One-Day Cup 50-over competition.

Although it is a friendly fixture, Roses cricket matches are always fiercely contested and the fast-paced action will feature some outstanding cricketers.

Spectators are welcome to watch what will be the local highlight of the cricketing summer. Play is due to start at 11am.

Steve Clark, co-chair of the club, said:

“Whilst this won’t be the full Yorkshire first team — they have a county championship game at Scarborough on the same day — we have been told that a number of the Yorkshire’s white ball specialists will be playing.

“It should be a fantastic day and some quality cricket will be on display. The bar will be open throughout the day and will be serving a range of refreshments and hot and cold food.”

Harrogate Cricket Club

Mr Clark added:

“Admission to the ground will be free of charge but any donations to the club will be gratefully received. The club will also be running a raffle, tuck shop and an ice cream van throughout the day.

“We also planning that some local junior cricket will be played on the main outfield during the interval.”

Read more:

• Indoor cricket school plans revealed for Harrogate
• Knaresborough hosts county’s biggest ever female cricket festival

From surviving relegation to building a young squad, Will Bates has seen a lot in his short time as Harrogate Cricket Club captain.

The 32-year-old captained two sides prior to joining the St George’s Road club.

However, his time at Harrogate has proved pivotal in the two years since taking up the position.

As he sits in the beaming sunshine next to the home pitch, Will reflects on a whirlwind period as Harrogate’s first XI captain.

Formative years in Letchworth

Growing up in Hertfordshire, Will played an array of sports including football, cricket and tennis.

But it was the bat and ball which stuck in the end.

He started playing for Harpenden Cricket Club, before going onto the adults game.

“I played all sports really. Football, cricket and tennis were my main sports.

“But cricket was the one I stuck with the most and enjoyed the most.”

Will started out as both a batsmen and off-spin bowler. However, nowadays, he says he’s more of an occasional bowler and only bowls “if required”.

He describes himself as a “classical batsman”, a contrast to some of his younger teammates who prefer the aggressive technique exemplified by Brendan McCullum’s England side.

Much of his adult career was spent at Letchworth Garden City Cricket Club.

Will describes the seven years at Letchworth as some of his formative years as a cricketer.

“As a club, it was quite formative in terms of my ethos on cricket.

“A few weeks ago they put out a first team and they had an overseas player and they had 10 other players between the ages of 18 and 40. Every single one of them had only ever played for one cricket club and come through the youth system. None of them were getting paid.

“I loved my time playing cricket at Letchworth and that’s the kind of cricket club I want to be a part of up here.”

Captaining Harrogate

Much of the ethos that Will saw at Letchworth has carried over into his time in North Yorkshire.

He moved to Harrogate five years ago to take up a job as a solicitor in the disputes department at LCF Law.

He took on the captaincy two years ago and grasped the opportunity.

“I thought there was a lot that we could do to improve things and we had a lot of young players. I was quite excited.”

Harrogate Cricket Club, pictured after their Addison Cup win in 2021.

Despite his excitement, Will was thrust straight into a season where Harrogate found themselves in a relegation battle.

The club stayed up on the last day after beating York. Will scored 90 in a captain’s innings to help see Harrogate over the line.

While the stress of avoiding relegation would be enough for some players to put behind them, Will sees it as one of his best games.

“We needed to win to stay up and York are traditionally our big rivals.

“I got 90 not out in that game when we were chasing about 230. In terms of satisfaction and pressure situation, that would be the one that I pick out.”

Will Bates with his man of the match award after the Addison Cup in 2021.

Among the club’s other achievements in his time include winning the Addison Cup in 2021.

Harrogate eased to victory over Wetherby Carr Manor after scoring 131 for 7 and bowling the opposition out for 99.

Will won man of the match after scoring 59 in his innings.

Building a culture

Since surviving relegation, Will has sought to help the club in its ambition to improve.

One of the aspects of that is bringing young players through and giving them opportunities in the first team.

Will points to wicketkeeper Isaac Light as an example of one of the young players that he and the club are trying to bring through.

He also wants to build a culture at Harrogate which is “close nit” and where players feel invested in the side.

Read more: 

• How Pateley Bridge man won two league titles with Leeds United
• Knaresborough Town pair championing women’s football after remarkable season

For Will, this is an example of the setup he says he wants to be a part of – as he had at Letchworth.

The decision the club made over paying players exemplifies that, he says.

“Some teams we play against probably pay most players.

“But we made a conscious decision where we only pay an overseas player. Nearly every team in the division has an overseas player. Then we have one club professional who is Matt Pillans, who used to play at Yorkshire.

“The justification for both those expenses is the benefit the whole club gets from training with them and playing with them.

“They’re not just paid to play cricket and for us to win. We made a conscious decision that we didn’t want a first team where everyone is a paid cricketer.

“We are now seeing the benefit of that policy.”

While Will wants to grow Harrogate beyond what it is, does he have any ambitions?

“To get Harrogate’s first team to reach its potential.

“Although we made progress last year, we did slightly underachieve. It’s hard to say what that is because at the end of the season you know if you have won the right number of games or not.

“But I’d certainly see at as being a top four finish in the league, it could even be better than that with the team that we have got at the moment.”

For Will, he feels he has found his place in Harrogate.

As the club sits third in the league and prepares for another showdown with York this weekend, the team appears to be on an upward trajectory.

Does Will think he’ll still be in Harrogate at the end of his career?

“I can’t see myself playing for anyone else. I probably do feel quite at home here.”

This is the third article in a series of Sporting Spotlight interviews. If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate Cricket Club has revealed plans to open an indoor cricket school.

The school would be built on the concrete terraced area at the club’s St George’s Road ground and cost up to £3.5 million.

Architects have drawn up plans for the project, which is likely to take five to seven years to come to fruition.

The school, which would include four lanes of nets as well as other factilities, is in addition to the club’s plans to raise £75,000 on new outdoor nets.

Co-chair Steve Clark said there was a shortage of sports hall space in Harrogate, especially in winter.

He added the cricket school would ensure junior and senior players had a large enough facility for high quality training sessions all year round.

A sub-committee will be set-up to oversee the cricket school project, which will require extensive fundraising, including applications to trusts and foundations for grants.

Mr Clark added:

“The facility will provides a practice facility which can be used when the weather is damp as well as when the sun is shining.

“The nets will be made to a professional standard ensuring the correct bounce and carry for the ball; replicating playing on real grass.”

Outdoor nets

The Stray Ferret revealed in March the club had launched a £75,000 crowdfunding campaign to replace the ageing outdoor nets with new ones.

Fundraising has gone well and the club hopes the outdoor nets will be installed at the end of the cricket season, ready for use by next spring.

Local schools will be able to make arrangements to use them.

Read more:

• ‘Netfix’ fundraiser for village cricket club near Harrogate
• Harrogate’s Archie Gray named in England under-17s Euro squad

Once the outdoor nets are finished, attention will turn fully on the cricket school project.

Harrogate Cricket Club hosted 98 first class matches between 1882 and 2000 and the two current major projects highlight the club’s ambitions to upgrade the club.

The ground hosted first class cricket for over 100 years.

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate marketing agency has been appointed to oversee communications for a London real estate firm.

Boultbee Brooks has hired The Big Bamboo Agency, which is based at Windsor House, to handle its marketing activity, including social media management, strategic communications and public relations.

The London firm manages both commercial and residential properties across the UK.

James Whitcher, managing director at Boultbee Brooks, said: 

“We were impressed by the work accomplished for one of our properties and with Big Bamboo’s expertise in the property and energy industry, they are the ideal partner for us.”

Nicola Stamford, founding director at Big Bamboo, said: 

“We look forward to continuing working with James and the team, as our relationship with Boultbee grows.

“As Boultbee Brooks is already an established leader in its field, we have the fantastic role of amplifying the brand even further.”

Harrogate estate agents agrees cricket club sponsorship

Harrogate estate agent Verity Frearson has agreed to sponsor Harrogate Cricket Club’s junior boys’ side.

The firm, which is based on Albert Street, has reached a three-year deal with the club.

(Left) Verity Frearson’s Matthew Stamford with Austin Smirthwaite and Henry Yallup and HCC co-chair Steve Clark.

As part of the agreement, the Verity Frearson logo will feature across the boys shirts and advertising banners will be in place at the St Georges Road Cricket Ground.

Matthew Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, said:

“As a business we’ve always been keen to support grass roots sports within our town, so when we heard that the junior boys section at Harrogate Cricket Club were looking for sponsorship we were happy to get involved. 

“The whole ethos at Harrogate Cricket Club fits in really well with the Verity Frearson brand. Their inclusive attitude and family-friendly following is right up our street.”

Steve Clark, co-chair at Harrogate Cricket Club, said: 

“We are really grateful for the support of Verity Frearson enabling the club to continue to support and grow a thriving junior boys section.

“Verity Frearson’s commitment to the junior boys section means we can now purchase additional cricket equipment and further invest in the boys’ training.”

Read more: 

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesses invited to free ‘growth networking’ sessions
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate property specialists move to new office
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate mobile company partners with United States firm

Harrogate Cricket Club has launched a £75,000 fundraising appeal to buy four cricket nets.

The nets would enable the club, which has four senior teams, 150 junior players and walking cricket for over-55s, to practise using some of the best facilities in the district.

It currently has only two overused nets in poor condition at its St George’s Road ground.

The crowdfunder campaign therefore initially aims to raise £30,000 and would make the new facilities open to the wider community.

The club has found donors willing to match fund that amount so the £30,000 target would generate £60,000. A further £15,000 may be required as the cost of the new nets could be as high as £75,000.

The existing nets were damaged in a recent storm.

The crowdfunding page said:

“We want to be able to provide some of the best cricket facilities in the north of England. But we’re currently falling well short of where we want to be.

“We only have two nets for hundreds of players and they are really old and tired. We have constant issues with net congestion, i.e. too many players and not enough nets and this significantly impacts our players’ ability to practise and develop.”

Read more:

• Famous Nidderdale cricket club in danger of folding
• Killinghall Cricket Club applies to build new two-storey pavilion

The nets will, according to the club, “allow each cricketer to develop at their own pace, with enough ‘net time’ to discover their strengths and work on their confidence”.

The first team plays in the Yorkshire Premier League and is coached by former Yorkshire player Matt Pillans.

Female cricket has boomed in recent years and the club’s girls section now has three teams across three age groups.

A club graphic showing how the new nets would look.

The appeal adds:

“There is a real lack of quality net facilities in North Yorkshire. We believe we can build an outstanding facility that will serve our players, their families, and the broader cricketing community for years to come.”

You can support the campaign here.

Harrogate Cricket Club overcame Wetherby Carr Manor to win the Addison Cup in Knaresborough last night.

The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.

Harrogate scored 131 for 7 in their 20 overs then limited Wetherby Carr Manor to 99 all out.

Harrogate’s hero was captain Will Bates, who was named man of the match for scoring 59 in a game in which runs were hard to come by.

Will Bates collects his man of the match award.

Skilful, accurate bowling by Harrogate’s opening bowlers led to early wickets and the match was effectively over by the halfway stage of Wetherby Carr Manor’s innings.

Clive Addison, grandson of Harry Addison, who the cup is named after, presented the trophy at Knaresborough Cricket Club on Aspin Lane.

Next year the event will celebrate its 100th year.

Read more:

• Harrogate Cricket Club aims for Addison Cup glory
• Killinghall cricket club keeps pub-less village spirit alive

Harrogate Cricket Club will take on Wetherby Carr Manor in Knaresborough today in the final of one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world.

The Addison Cup was first contested in 1922 and has been held every year since except 1943 and last year.

The 20-over competition is open to the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League.

League members include Birstwith, Boroughbridge and Staveley, Burnt Yates, Goldsborough, KIllinghall, Knaresborough, Knaresborough Forest and Pateley Bridge.

This evening’s final will see past winners Harrogate, who are top of Division 1, against unbeaten Division 3 leaders Wetherby Carr Manor, who are making their first ever appearance in the final.

The match starts at 6.15pm at Knaresborough Cricket Club on Aspin Lane.

Peter Horsman, the league secretary, said:

“With all league and cup cricket cancelled last season because of lockdown, it would be great to see a good crowd on Monday.”

The Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, which has 32 teams in five divisions, was founded in 1921 and in the following year the Addison Cup was presented to the league by the Addison family.

Members of the Addison family will attend and present the trophy this year.

A number of international test cricketers have played in the evening league, including New Zealand great Martin Crowe and West Indian batsman Rohan Kanhai.

Crowe was actually banned from the league for reacting badly to being given out — the glass in the changing room’s window suffered badly.

Read more:

• Killinghall cricket club keeps pub-less village spirit alive
• From Knaresborough’s Aspin estate to playing cricket for Yorkshire

143 years, not out. Harrogate Cricket Club lost its clubhouse to fire just over a decade ago and came close to bankruptcy in The Great Depression but coronavirus could have been the end of the club.

Harrogate Cricket Club played its first match at its ground at St George’s Road on July 7, 1877 but could have played its last in 2020 without major financial support.

Local sports often rely on the income generated by renting out clubhouses for events. When The Balcony at Harrogate Cricket Club closed its doors the management did not know when or if it could reopen.

Chairman Steve Clarke with The Balcony manager Andy Hawkswell.

Steve Clarke, the chairman of Harrogate Cricket Club, estimates that The Balcony’s closure over so many months left a black hole in its finances to the tune of £40,000.

Read more:

• How Harrogate Rugby Club is getting back to business
• When this Harrogate school is holding a ‘Question of Sport’

It could have been devastating to the club, which has needed to pay out for the maintenance of the grounds and facilities without any income. But grants from Harrogate Borough Council and the ECB have covered those huge costs.

A spectator boost for the club followed that financial boost last weekend, with around 100 people turning up to watch the games and a few members visiting The Balcony for drinks.

The Balcony is open for business.

Chairman Steve Clarke told The Stray Ferret that they cannot generate income without playing cricket:

“It has been really difficult. It is really interesting for the senior teams. We have to make sure everyone is socially distanced, that the toilets are cleaned regularly and that there are hand sanitiser stations around the club. The league has slimmed down the fixtures and ruled out promotion or relegation so everyone can get out and play.”

The Balcony will be key to the club’s future. Andy Hawkswell has just taken over as the new tenant and plans to give it a refreshed ‘sports bar’ feel. He said:

“There have been a lot of people waiting for us to open. It is good to see. We are making some big changes on the pitch and off it. We are going to be broadening the horizons of what we offer in terms of our food and drink and also by renting out the space we have here for schools and community groups.”