YG'S 2025 AGM
Member AGM Notice Chairman's report ACCOUNTS
Member AGM Notice
161th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Dear Member,
We are accordingly, inviting you to the AGM to be held at Queen Margaret’s School,
at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday 2rd April 2025 for the following purposes:
To confirm the Minutes of the previous AGM
To receive the report and adopt the Accounts for 2024
To elect the Officers and Committee for the year
Any Other Business
If you intend to be present at the AGM and would also like to stay for dinner, as has been customary for many years, please email angus.shaw@brigantia.com BEFORE 28th March.
We look forward to you joining us for the AGM.
Yours Sincerely,
A Shaw
Secretary
Chairman’s Report
THE YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN’S CRICKET CLUB
(Founded 1863)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
7th April 2026
Dear Members,
As a new season dawns, and we are fresh from a highly entertaining pre season curry and quiz evening, I am pleased to share a review of our progress, achievements and the clear collective effort that lies ahead. It is undoubtedly a huge shame that our Test side missed a massive opportunity in the Ashes – not just in the disappointing results and performances, but in the manner of them, which could have led to engaging a whole new audience, or cementing the interest of many of the wavering audience of all ages. An exciting, competitive series played by individuals at the top of their game could have made such a difference. I talked 12 months ago about the fact that The Hundred might ‘not be the game we all love, but if it engages youngsters and gives them a lifelong love of the game, it cannot be dismissed.’ Sadly, another missed opportunity means that we are left with a situation as to whether it is possible to successfully maintain the balance between tradition (county cricket) and modern commercial formats (The Hundred). As a club, we are also trying to remain relevant, which is hopefully evidenced in our stellar fixture list for the 2026 season.
Behind the scenes we have made strides forward, but we also recognise that significant challenges remain. We have set up three sub committees to look at the club’s strategy, fundraising and fixtures. I cannot stress enough how important it is for the long-term sustainability of the club, that we adapt as the game and society changes, and generate funds to invest for future generations, whether that is in the facilities, ground, development of our juniors or women and girls offering, securing the lease, etc. With that in mind we have taken the step of including a letter regarding legacy giving (a powerful way to support causes close to your heart) and also regarding fundraising opportunities.
We have recently affiliated to the newly merged Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF), which brings closer ties to the county and the ECB, and now need to build a committee that can navigate the Club through this next period, which is why we continue to seek a new treasurer and membership secretary, along with other specific roles. We need to agree on our long-term strategy that will inform all what we look to achieve over this next critical period.
You will see below a ticket offer for members for a women’s Vitality Blast match at York and a men’s match at Headingley. Please support our club and the county by using this offer.
We are very grateful to Heather Gilbert for taking over the role of Fixture Secretary from Mel Neary, to whom we are extremely grateful for undertaking the role at short notice two years ago. He was a very fitting recipient of the President’s award at the annual dinner.
The fabulous fixture list compiled by Heather, with support from Geoff Barker, includes for the first time a fixture with the England over 40s; a return to Chatsworth for the Langdale Lovelies fixture, and the return of the two day fixture with Radley Rangers; whilst we once again are able to visit Windsor Castle to play the Royal Household and Sedbergh for the second year in succession; we welcome the Nomadic Kings in April for a two day fixture and The Clapham Commoners on their tour in August when it is planned to hold a fund raising day/weekend and BBQ. Note the date in your diaries: Sunday August 30th 2026.
Significant time and money has been spent on the ground, especially the square. We are in debt to Phil Holland, Nigel Bartram and Paul White for this and overseeing the investment of involving external contractors to assist where necessary. Improvements take time but hopefully will start to be evident this season. As a result, we had to utilise some reserves in 2025, but intend to ensure that we continue to generate annual surpluses in the future to aide investment. You will all be aware from my messages during 2025 of the sad demise of Queen Margarets’ School; we continue to monitor developments and correspond with the estate whilst attempting to iron out some relatively minor issues. Our lease remains secure for the longer term.
The 2025 season was similar to the previous one in terms of results, with 10 games won, 9 lost and 2 drawn. Unfortunately, a further 8 games were cancelled - 5 by the opposition (one being due to the 'threat' of heavy rain!), 2 by mutual consent and once again 1 was disappointingly cancelled by ourselves. The fixtures are now available, please make your availability known to the match managers as soon as possible, and remember that should you need to withdraw then the onus is on you to find a suitable replacement. The match managers’ job is hard enough without late withdrawals.
There were some cracking games, and a significant number of notable individual performances. Leading the way was James Van Der Merwe with 3 centuries (112 n.o. v St Peters; 113 retired v Cheshire Gents; 100 n.o. v Harrow Wanderers) and 8-13 in the St Peters game. James was the worthy recipient of the new Chairman's tankard award, to be presented for performances over the season. The top score of the season was 154 retired by Alfie Spencer against The Royal Household (he also scored 96 against Ampleforth College); whilst there were also centuries for Josh Wild and Tom Burton against Pocklington School. Nathan Coates took 6 -25 against Hull Old Grammarians and there were 5 wicket hauls for Pankaj Sani (Leeds University); Jordan Richardson (Halifax Nomads) and Angus Shaw (Harrow Wanderers).
As we approach the new season, we need to also take time to remember those who have left us this year – James Fawcett, John Langton, Geoff Thornburn, Penny O’Kelly and Ann Watson amongst others. To them, and to the countless others cricket has lost over the last 12 months (Dickie Bird, Robin Smith, David Lawrence and many more), we offer our gratitude and remember the enduring impact they have made on our sport.
There is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver new growth for cricket to reach more people, due to the funds generated by the Hundred, whatever an individual’s thoughts on the competition. The funding from The Hundred will inject £50m into the grassroots game, funding new and improved facilities and more opportunities to play which we must capitalise on, developing our juniors through the Dynamos being run by Phil Holland and a women’s section. Cricket must be for everyone. Our club must be one that everyone is proud of.
We express our thanks for all the dedication that has been shown to the club by a small band of members over the last 12 months, notably but not exclusively Paul White, Phil Holland, Mel Neary, Heather Gilbert, Richard Head, Richard Fletcher, Geoff Welstead, Alexandra Skinner, Neil Dale, Dewi Winkle and Angus Shaw, along with all the match managers and committee members. We still need more volunteers willing to actively engage in the club.
As always it seems, we need more, younger members to take up the mantle…. We are on a journey which we need you to help us along. I encourage you to continually engage with us - come to matches, provide feedback and be a part of the Club we all love.
A few dates for your diary:
We need your help to prepare the ground and pavilion – please come down.
Junior Dynamos to start Friday, 29th for 8 weeks. Phil needs volunteer activators to help run the junior section urgently.
First game: Ampleforth College (away) 19th April 2026
A reminder of the Masuri club shop for all your kit and clothing requirements. https://teamwear.nxt-sports.com/shop/the-yorkshire-gentlemen's-online-store
Please express your availability now to the match managers, whether through the spond app, via email or verbally; and kindly read the enclosed communication about fundraising, sponsorship opportunities and legacy giving. We look forward to seeing you all at Escrick over the coming months.
Best wishes,
John M E Skinner
Chairman
We are delighted to share the bespoke links for Yorkshire Gentlemen’s CC, and look forward to celebrating the strength of the recreational game with you at Headingley and York this summer!
Please share these links with your friends and family to give them access to the exclusive ticket prices and give your club a better chance of winning prizes.
The exclusive ticket offers
Yorkshire Men vs Gloucestershire - Vitality Blast - Headingley - Sunday 31 May
Exclusive ticket offer - £10 adult tickets (compared to £25 on the matchday) and £8 seniors (compared to £21 on the matchday)
Your bespoke link for Yorkshire Gentlemen’s CC: Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkhire Women vs Lancashire Thunder - Vitality Blast - York - Wednesday 1 July
Exclusive ticket offer - £5 adults (compared to £10 on the matchday) and £1 junior (compared to £5 on the matchday).
Your bespoke link for Yorkshire Gentlemen’s CC: MAKE YOUR SELECTION [York Sports Club, Clifton Park | 01.07.2026 - 14:30 | Vitality Blast - Women's] - Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Junior memberships
Junior members can access all Yorkshire home group games at Headingley, Scarborough, York and Ampleforth, alongside a range of other benefits.
They are available for free for juniors aged under 12, and just £25 for juniors aged 12 - 17.
Your bespoke link for Yorkshire Gentlemen’s CC: PROMOTIONAL CODE - Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Fundraising
Dear Member,
The Club is wishing to get its finances onto a sustainable basis for the long-term future.
As you will be aware, the Club has been playing cricket on its present ground, Escrick Park, since the 1932. Fortunately, the closure of Queen Margaret’s School in July 2025 should only have a have minimal impact on the Club and thanks to the generosity of the Forbes Adam family, and our existing lease, we intend to continue to play at Escrick Park for many years to come.
However, our club house is in need of both some new facilities and renovation, to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and to meet the requirements of our evolving junior section (through the All Stars / Dynamos scheme), plus for women’s and girls’ cricket in due course. In addition, there has been some concern about the condition of the cricket square in recent seasons and it is likely that a major investment is needed, to take nothing away from the current amazing efforts of Phil, Nigel and Paul.
The upshot is that the club needs to raise some additional funds apart from those which we receive in from members’ subscriptions, which have been declining over a number of years, and other sources of regular income.
The purpose of this letter is twofold. Firstly, to ask you to consider making a donation to the club. Equally important and potentially alternatively, to consider joining the committee or the specific fundraising sub-committee, to help with fundraising initiatives.
Secondly, we are writing to ask you to consider leaving a legacy to the Yorkshire Gentlemen’s Cricket Club in your Will. A Will is a good way for us all to acknowledge our life interests and can enable charities and sports clubs for example, to continue and prosper into the future. Please reflect on the many hours of pleasure you derived from the game of cricket – perhaps many years ago now - and consider whether leaving a legacy to the Yorkshire Gentlemen’s Cricket Club, is something you could do to enable the club to provide cricket and good facilities in the future.
You may choose to leave a fixed amount (pecuniary gift) or a share of what is left in your estate once you have provided for your family members. A solicitor or Will writing service can help you with this matter.
Please give these matters your consideration and if you are able to make a contribution – either as a legacy, a financial donation or in terms of fundraising ideas and assistance then please let our outgoing treasurer or fundraising committee know via the below contact details:
dewiwinkle@gmail.com
rgfsmarden@btopenworld.com
We very much hope to see you at Escrick or at one or more of the away fixtures this summer.
Yours in cricket
Dewi Winkle (Vice Chairman and Head of Fundraising Committee)
Seasons Results 2015 - onwards
2015: Played 31, Won 9, Drawn 7, Lost 6, Tied 0, Abandoned/Cancelled 9
2016: Played 33, Won 10, Drawn 2, Lost 12, Tied 0, Abandoned/Cancelled 9
2017: Played 36, Won 12, Drawn 3, Lost 11, Tied 0, Abandoned/Cancelled 10 (7 by appo)
2018: Played 31, Won 9, Drawn 7, Lost 9, Tied 0, Abandoned/Cancelled 6 (2 by appo)
2019: Played 28, Won 8, Drawn 5, Lost 11, Tied 0, Abandoned/Cancelled 4
2020: Played 11, Won 9, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Tied 0, Abandoned/Cancelled - COVID
2020: Played 23, Won 12, Drawn 1, Lost 10, Tied 0, Abandoned/Cancelled - 9
YG's Accounts YR ENDING 31ST DEC 2020
To view the year end accounts please download a pdf copy here -
PREVIOUS YEARS CHAIRMAN’S REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS
Chairman Reports - click on the links to open
Accounts - click on the links to open