John Skinner elected chairman of YGCC

After many seasons of dedication and service to the club David O’Kelly stepped down last year as Chairman. The Committee and we are sure all members of the club will want to thank him for all the work he has done, especially the key role he had played in taking the club through it’s 150-year anniversary celebrations. David will continue to play an active part on the Committee.

With such a hard act to follow it took a little while for the club to fill the post. On the 14th of January the YGCC Committee met and were delighted to announce that John Skinner was formally proposed to the Chairman’s role and unanimously backed by all present.

John’s has strong connections with Yorkshire Cricket, particularly in the promotion of the ladies game, and has been involved in local cricket for many years. He is very enthusiastic about taking on the role and we look forward to him helping the club as we embark on a new decade of cricket at Escrick Park.

The Committee also elected three new Committee members in a effort to bring down the average age and inject some new blood to the well established ranks.

We welcomed Phil Holland Jason Dale and Tom Robinson. All three gentlemen are regular playing members.

It might be the dead of winter but The 2020 Fixtures will be published and online soon - you can then contact the match managers to request to play in their matches - they would be delighted to get a few players into their teams pre season. We are also hoping to help facilitate team messaging such as the use of WhatsAp. This should make it easier for everyone in terms of team selection and notification’s in the run up to a match day.

Watch this space. In the meantime winter well and we look forward to seeing you for the 2020 season.

2019 Scorebook and Sportsman Dinner 2019

Scorebook 2019

For those who are interested this seasons scorebook is now online — (available to view for registered members of the website only). The scorebook sits in the YG’s archive which holds copies of all the Club’s records. Go to About on top menu and click Club Archives. If you have not registered for the new website please take time to do so - it allows you full member access and will help us keep in touch with you.

Forgotten your login? — don’t despair or re-register. Just click on Forgot? on the member log in the pop up window and follow the on-screen instructions.

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Sportsman Dinner - 14th Nov 2019

Our President -Richard Head reports excellent numbers for this year’s dinner. It’s not too late though to still get tickets for the evening and with Phil DeFreitas as the sporting speaker another thoroughly entertaining night is assured. For more details or to make a booking please click on the Sportsman Dinner link under the Members tab of the website.

Phil “Daffy” De Freitas - ‘a great servant to English Cricket” - extract from PhillipsDeFreitas website 2019

Phil “Daffy” De Freitas - ‘a great servant to English Cricket” - extract from PhillipsDeFreitas website 2019

Paul White's incredible half Century and YG's end season on a winning note

Lots of news to report on in the last month of the playing season.

One of the undoubted highlights was the special presentation to Paul White to mark 50 years of service to the club.

The Club’s Chairman Richard Head made the presentation during the match against the Radley Rangers on Saturday 17th August. The club commissioned a portrait of Paul to hang permanently in the club house to recognise his extraordinary achievements and an article was published in the York Press to mark the occasion. We thank-you Paul for everything you have done for the club.

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This is a copy of the article that appeared in the York Press -

CRICKET lover Paul White has celebrated a unique half century - as the scorer for a cricket club near York.

Paul White, from Riccall, has been scorer for the Yorkshire Gentlemen’s Cricket Club, based at Escrick, for an astonishing 50 years.

He first took an interest in the club in 1959 and ten years later was offered the chance to take over the scoring, and he has continued to this day.

To mark the milestone, the Gents - one of the oldest amateur clubs in the sport - presented Paul with a specially commissioned portrait during their home match with Radley Rangers this weekend.

The portrait will hang in the pavilion alongside two eminent former members, Lord Hawke and Jack Elmhirst.

Club president Richard Head said Paul did more than just score. "On match days, he opens up the pavilion, greets visiting teams, runs the bar and assists the caterers, tidies up and closes the pavilion and so is the last to leave," he said.

"We wanted to mark his special 50 not out for the club and his portrait will now, like Paul, be an integral part of the Yorkshire Gentlemen’s Cricket Club.”

The YG’s lost to the Radley Rangers that weekend and drew their two day game against The Free Foresters on the 25th and 26th August. .

However the club managed to finish on a upbeat note with a convincing win against Little Valley on Sunday 2nd September.

Batting First the YG’s made 189-3 dec with with G Barker and J Rillington both scoring good fifties. In reply Little Valley were taken apart by the spin bowling of Bevan Fawcett who took 7-19 and the visiting team were dismissed for 69 in 27 overs.

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Great to finish on a winning note and a big thank-you to everyone who has turned out to play for the club during the season.

The next event in the club diary is the ever enjoyable Club Dinner on the 15th November as Escrick Park Please check out the web page for full details of the evening.

YG's hold out for draw at Woodhouse Grange

Mixed fortunes for the YG’s against Woodhouse Grange. Batting first on home soil Woodhouse Grange made a competitive 187-6 after their 40 overs. YG’s openers of D Lovett and Pankaj Saini bowled economically conceding just 28 runs from 13 overs. However several dropped catches did not help the team and the Grange were able to accelerate rapidly during their remaining overs.

A great shame that Jason Dale suffered a foot/ ankle injury - he was in some discomfort and had to leave the field ,limping badly and was unable to bat.

In response the YG’s batted purposefully and were well placed at 113-2. Jack Rowett was the backbone of the innings with 60 well supported by Phil Holland (24) and Pankaj Saini (23). But as overs ran out and wickets fell the YG’s had to contend with a draw falling 46 short for the loss of 7 wickets at 141-7.

An enjoyable match and both teams were fortunate to get a full days play given the widespread poor weather forecasts for the day.









Cryptics ease past YG's in spite of fine batting performance by David O'kelly

David O’kelly was once again in the runs as a superb 97 was the mainstay of the YG’s innings of 185-7 declared.

Batting first the YG’s were reduced to 60-4 but an 88 run stand by David O’Kelly and Richard Musgrave (38) helped the club to establish a competitive total.

In response the Cryptics were always in control of the run chase even when they went down to 42-2. Jack Rowett bowled well in a spell of 2-21 off 10 overs but the visitors accelerated in the final hour scoring their last 100 runs in 15 overs to complete a five wicket win.

Just six days of cricket left for the YG’s this season - where has the summer gone

Rain dashes hope of close finish against Hull Old Grammarians

Heavy rain had the final say when the YG’s hosted Hull Old Grammarians at Escrick on Sunday.

Contrast of the Senior YG batsmen David O’Kelly and Geoff Barker (right) coming off at lunch 79-0, with the younger generation at declaration -Simon Tolson and Danny Cameron(41no).

Contrast of the Senior YG batsmen David O’Kelly and Geoff Barker (right) coming off at lunch 79-0, with the younger generation at declaration -Simon Tolson and Danny Cameron(41no).

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Batting first the veteran openers of David O’Kelly (56) and Geoff Barker (46) shared a solid 97 run partnership and set the innings up for a run a ball knock by Danny Cameron to provide late impetus and take the YG’s innings to 180-3 declared.

In reply The Hull Grammarians were nicely set at 78-2 off 19 overs before the rain intervened and play was finally called off at 5.45pm.

Another enjoyable match - a real shame it could not run its course.

The YG’s take on the Leicestershire Gents tomorrow - let’s hope the rain stays away.






Pankaj Saini inspires YG's to win over Romany

Pankaj Saini scored a superb 82 out of a total of 142 when the YG’s entertained The Romany at Escrick last Sunday.

Batting first a very strong Romany opening attack had the the YG’s reeling on 14-4 before before the very gentlemanly and sensible decision of Romany skipper Matthew Knight to rest his opening bowlers as soon as he did.

Match winning performance by Pankaj against the Romany

Match winning performance by Pankaj against the Romany

The YG’s slowly rebuilt around the excellent innings of Pankaj but the innings ended on 142 all out with The Romany in a good position.

The wicket always offering something for the bowlers and in response the YG’s bowlers quickly cut into the Romany batting, with a superb opening spell by AJ Clark 4-29 backed up well by the Bindloss duo -2 a piece and undoubtedly man on the match Pankaj on 2-31.

The Romany finished on 97 all out. A good game of cricket all round and thank-you once again The Romany for the excellent spirit in which the match was played.




YG's secure first win since 15th May and England win their first ever World Cup

A memorable sporting Sunday saw the YG’s claim their first win for two months whilst at St John’s Wood England were triumphant in one of the most incredible games of cricket ever played.

No need to inform you of the details at Lords but in Escrick - YGs lost the toss and were asked to field on a damp square and a wicket that looked to benefit the bowler. A tidy opening spell from Duncan and Jonny Anderson has the visitors at 31-1 off 14 overs, then wickets fell before and after lunch with Tom Kemp getting a decent 54 to take The Penguins to 159 all out. 3 wickets for Mike Furze and Will Anderson and a red box catch from Duncan Anderson.

The YGs reply started swiftly with 40-0 off 5 overs including 3 consecutive 6s from Isaac Green, ably supported by Geoff Barker on 3*. Post tea Geoff Barker went on to score 53 not out to see the YG’s home with 9 balls to spare.