Clubs' bulletin no 5 of 2026 - 1 May 

 

At our League Executive Board meeting on 27 April, Gareth Davis of the YCF updated the Board on recent funding for works to improve facilities at our clubs. These included: 

 

• Green Moor –non-turf pitch 

• Millhouses Works – additional non-turf pitch due to fixture pressure 

• Penistone – new pavilion fittings (Section 106 funding) 

• Sheffield Collegiate –pavilion for 3rd/4th teams’ ground 

• Shiregreen – major changing room upgrades completed 

• Upper Haugh – off-field practice nets and padel courts (to boost income generation) 

 

In addition, funded works at Thurgoland and Wentworth are now benefitting YCSPL teams using those facilities. We thank the YCF, and Gareth in particular, the hard work involved in making all this happen. 

 

The League Development Fund has also helped with funding towards a new scorebox at Hatfield Town. 

 

If your club would like to improve its facilities, there could be funding available. Get in touch to find out! 

 

 

This summer the GMA is hosting a series of one day regional events called GMA Connect. These are designed to support grounds teams and volunteers, by bringing together practical learning, expert insight and the opportunity to share experiences with others managing and maintaining pitches and playing surfaces. The events are designed to be friendly, informal and useful, whether you are a volunteer looking after a single pitch or part of a larger grounds team. Attendees will hear from industry specialists on topics including: 

 

• Weather and climate impacts on turf management and what to do about it 

• Improving surface performance for training and match play 

• Understanding drainage and irrigation challenges and solutions 

• Practical workshops and demonstrations 

• Demos of the latest innovations by leading suppliers 

 

There are two events in the North of England – at the Joie Stadium, Manchester on 14 May and Headingley Stadium on 19 May. There is usually a charge to attend, but recreational cricket clubs are able to access free entry using the code COMMUNITYCOMP when registering. 

 

Click here to find out more and book your place. 

 

 

In the Club directory section: 

 

• the correct number for Doncaster Town 2nds captain Rob Grace is 07592 835719 

• the Handsworth club name is now ‘Handsworth Cricket Club’ 

• the matchday contacts at Wombwell Main are (1st XI) Matthew Tonks; 07713 464674 and (2nd XI) Billy Smith; 07734 505844 

 

 

2026 is about to be bigger than ever, as this year marks the inaugural women’s and girls’ #ItsOkToTalk cricket match. This game, aimed at increasing the awareness of mental health, will be held at Whiston Parish CC on Friday 5 June, with a start time of 18.00. The two teams will feature some of the best of the best women and girl players from around South Yorkshire in a competitive head-to-head fixture. Fabulously sponsored by the Mono Malo Small Plates Bar & Restaurant in Waverley, Rotherham, and The Printroom, Custom Print & Embroidery, Sheffield, the game promises to be an enjoyable evening of cricket for players and spectators alike. Everyone is welcome to come and watch. 

 

 

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club Past Players’ Association are looking for a team in Yorkshire to play a friendly match against to acknowledge a club’s significant milestone. 

 

Is your club holding a key testimonial or celebrating a momentous anniversary this summer? Clubs wanting to take on the challenge must meet the following criteria: 

 

• Be affiliated with the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation 

• Have a cricket club with adequate facilities to host the event, such as car parking, refreshments and toilets 

• Be celebrating a testimonial or momentous anniversary (100 plus years) 

• Have availability to host the fixture during the summer school holidays 

 

If you are interested, please contact Gareth Davis. 

 

 

If any club are short of Reader Sovereign balls and need another box or two, please contact Andy Baker at Rockingham Colliery CC. 

 

 

On the first Saturday of the season, all but three of our games were scored digitally. In addition to helping us exceed ECB targets, this provides excellent publicity for our league, as it means that games can be followed on Live Scores. This is a fantastic achievement, that we hope will be maintained throughout the season, and our grateful thanks go to all involved, in particular our indefatigable Scoring Manager, Steve Ward. 

 

 

We thank our social media co-ordinator, Zac Cooper, for his latest initiative in introducing a ‘Team of the Week’ feature for our social media, and hope that clubs will support it by nominating players – if a player is not nominated, they will not be included. To make nominations, please complete our online form by 5pm on Sunday. 

 

 

Calling umpires who would be willing to umpire in some games for the Women’s & Girls League, predominantly Premier Division games on a Sunday afternoon – but there are also some midweek Super8s games available! If you are interested, please contact Wendy Crabtree. 

 

 

The Clubs & grounds section of the League website has been updated for 2026 to include our new clubs and new divisional allocations. But we need more information – in particular for ‘ground information’ (about facilities available for spectators) and ‘about us’ (club history or any information you’d like to share about your club). We also need photos and the year of foundation for some clubs. This is an opportunity to ‘sell’ your club! 

 

If you have any information about your club for the directory, please contact Roger Pugh. 

 

 

Full information about the recent personnel and organisational changes at the YCF can be found on the about us page of the YCF website.