ECB - Covid 19 Updated Guidance for Cricket Clubs

The ECB recently issued a Covid -19 update for Cricket Clubs and leagues. The guidance now allows for some form of social cricket in small groups, coaching and net sessions and a partial re-opening of clubs. However competitive cricket is still not permitted either within or between clubs.

The Updated guidance in more detail can found here: ECB Covid -19 Update for Cricket Club and Leagues

The ECB also issued important information for the safe return to small group sporting activity and we recommend all club members read these information sheets.

Return to Activity in a Club Setting - Guidance

Using Outdoor Cricket facilities During Lockdown in England

We will of course update our club members as soon as we have news of any resumption to club cricket in the 2020 season. Our Fixture cards have been updated to reflect the current situation.

In the meantime we want to let you know the club are working hard to ensure that we are ready should there be prospect of any play. The ground and clubhouse are being well looked after, with regular cutting of the outfield and tending to all general maintenance required.

Important Club Message 2020 and Beyond

THE YORKSHIRE GENTLEMEN’S CRICKET CLUB
(Founded 1863)

MESSAGE FROM THE CLUB - 25 March 2020


The country is facing an unprecedented challenge in trying to deal with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Rarely has the Club faced a cricket season with such uncertainty. Indeed we even face the possibility that there might be no season at all.

As we write, the UK, along with many other countries globally, has been placed in a situation whereby everyone (less key-workers) is required to stay at home. Unfortunately the definition of key-worker does not extend to those who wish to play cricket! The Club, however does take this situation very seriously and we will of course follow government advice, and that of the ECB, who have recently issued this statement:

ECB Statement on the Recreational Game

“Following the Government’s latest advice around social distancing, it is with sadness and reluctance that we recommend that all forms of recreational cricket are for now suspended. This extends to training, pre-season friendlies and any associated cricket activity.
Sport plays an absolutely vital role in the nation’s mental and physical wellbeing, and it helps people find meaning where there is fear and uncertainty, so one of our goals in the coming weeks will be to explore ways that we can support some levels of physical activity in communities - particularly at junior levels.
Using our cricket community to support others could be one of the most important services we can offer during the difficult next few months.
It will be critical that any decisions we do make are medically-led. And we will continue to work with Government and their advisors to ensure we are informed by science in our decision making.”

On 20th March, the ECB Board agreed that no professional cricket will be played in England and Wales until at least 28 May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Club will follow this example by cancelling all fixtures until that date, though it is difficult to see how soon thereafter we will be playing. Our fixture list is published and if we are able to salvage anything from it, we will let you know.

We are particularly saddened that the schools will be missing out on their cricket. The school season is already short and for those in their final year not to enjoy a final season is especially disappointing. We wish them all well and hope that things can return to normal as quickly as possible.

Historically of course, the Club has endured wholesale cancelled fixtures, notably during both World Wars. In WW1 the Club was struggling financially because of this. There was an attempt made in 1917 to rent the ground (at that time in York) to the Army Pay Department. Lord Hawke wrote to all members in 1917 about arrears of subscriptions and the difficulty and cost of keeping the Club going during the war. The question in 1919 was whether a club of amateurs could carry on after the war. At a Committee meeting held on 30 November 1939 the Club’s tenancy of the ground (now Escrick) was suspended. No AGM was held until April 1946 but the Club emerged with £250 in the bank.

It would seem that the message is that we can survive this current problem and still have something to build on, whenever we resume. Michael Atherton, writing in The Times, suggests there will be an upside:

“Membership of anything – political parties, county cricket clubs, local clubs and societies – has been declining in the increasingly atomised world we inhabit, but, post-coronavirus, as we realise that atomisation is not to be recommended, these community-based associations may see an uplift and become stronger again.” We sincerely hope so.

2020 will be difficult for many people, for things far more serious than Club cricket. To our oppositions, members and friends, I hope you and your families will all keep well in the coming weeks. As and when we have more (good) news to pass on, we will do so.

Stay safe.

John M E Skinner
Chairman


Click to Download Message from The Club

ECB Statement on the recreational Game

Dear Members - I am sure you will have all learnt the news from the ECB today in response to the developing COVID-19 situation. Please find the statement below:-

“Following the Government’s latest advice around social distancing, it is with sadness and reluctance that we recommend that all forms of recreational cricket are for now suspended.

“This extends to training, pre-season friendlies and any associated cricket activity.

“Sport plays an absolutely vital role in the nation’s mental and physical wellbeing, and it helps people find meaning where there is fear and uncertainty, so one of our goals in the coming weeks will be to explore ways that we can support some levels of physical activity in communities - particularly at junior levels.

“Using our cricket community to support others could be one of the most important services we can offer during the difficult next few months.

“It will be critical that any decisions we do make are medically-led. And we will continue to work with Government and their advisors to ensure we are informed by science in our decision making. 

“Over the coming weeks we will work with the game to understand what support is required across the cricket community, particularly local clubs and leagues - who will have such a huge role to play in our nation’s response to coming out of this situation.”

Further information will follow from the club in due course. We will be contacting our members directly and updating all our social media on a regular basis as and when we have further news.

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.