Wombwell Cricket Lovers' Society

04/11/2025

Its nearly that time of year again ! Sunday 14 December sees our annual Christmas Luncheon at the Holiday Inn, Dodworth. Our Guest Speaker this year is the very funny and very knowledgeable Mark Ramprakash.
Mark has had a glittering cricket career, and along with his stint on Strictly really does has some great stories to tell ! You dont have to be a member of the Society to come along, as Guests and NON MEMBERS are VERY welcome. The current deadline for all bookings is Monday 24 November so dont miss out.
Please click on our website below for full details and more about the event and our Guest speaker. Alternatively, please contact Andy Jones on 07773 918734 or via email: [email protected] to reserve your places.
https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/

31/10/2025

We have now opened the enrolment for our annual Junior Cricket Coaching Courses recommencing in January !
This coming winter season 2025/2026, the weekly nets will again take place at the excellent Indoor Cricket Hall at Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park, Bawtry Road, Sheffield S9 1UA.
The first coaching session starts on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and the programme lasts for 8 weeks, finishing on Tuesday 24 February 2026.
Please click below to visit see our website for full details and the coaching enrolment form. Please note the closing date for enrolment is currently Saturday 15 November.

Junior Coaching. One of the unique things that we believe sets us apart from other cricket societies is the junior coaching that we offer during the winter months. Over the years we are very proud to be able to say that a number of county and international players have emerged such as Graham Stevens...

03/10/2025

Monday 13 October sees our 2nd winter Speaker event of the new season, at Shaw Lane Sports Club, Barnsley.

We are really pleased to welcome Yorkshire legend Arnie Sidebottom who will be our guest. Arnie is well renowned for his humour and as always will have many great stories to tell !

For more information about Arnie and our Speaker programme please click on the link below.
https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/winter-speaker-programme-2025-26/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNM1Z9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBZQUFWN2VCSXlwSW5FT3BBAR45wxsLF2y3301s6Ws5e8UOyMgUv17r_tmnLr76J0ImWIKUt_14pzKmG29T-Q_aem_B5Ixq6oYeUQwcPN6oYsTWg

The meeting starts at 145pm, and there will be a cafe bar open for teas, coffees and light snacks, as well as a licensed bar open for us in the Griffin Suite.

If you wish to come along and join us as a new member, please see our website or email our Membership Secretary Andy Jones on [email protected] for more info.

Or you can just turn up on Monday, we look forward to seeing you there, you will be assured of a warm welcome !

24/09/2025

Like the rest of the cricketing world, everyone here at Wombwell Cricket Lovers Society is devastated to hear about the passing of our President & Patron Dickie Bird. Here are links below to tributes posted by Dickie's beloved Yorkshire CCC.
We also have our own tribute on the Society website, and there will be of course be a celebration of his life and achievements in our annual 12th man magazine. RIP Dickie

https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/cricket-news-and-features/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNAoLxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBUNGRRUFE5Y2R6NWM5NUxOAR4oXMHNWGsBb6kr7E-NyBR7_HgoJ-QtefkyDfcbi-SUbPsQQu9AXNi8b_05qw_aem_CZxK0XlFT02A2oehv07MUQ

https://yorkshireccc.com/news/harold-dennis-dickie-bird-mbe-obe-1933-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNAjUxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETBwdEF3amtBcGtIbjJNajNCAR4EGrA3GfsFnR2Fb_z_WjqV-ojHdcOA0QvOyVvLME-uoLrzqp-vRZuagcQ7uQ_aem_dR5fmsDB_jPRRe2Xkoxphw

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club mourns the passing of Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird MBE OBE It is with profound sadness that The Yorkshire County Cricket Club announces the passing of Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird MBE OBE, one of cricket’s most beloved figures, who died peacefully at home at...

01/09/2025

As the nights start to get shorter, and the cricket season draws once again to a close, the start of our next winter season is just under a month away. Our Cricketing Speaker & Event programme for Winter 2025/26 is now complete, with full details now on our website. We are really looking forward to this winter season as we have some big names coming to speak this year, with former international cricketers, current coaches, as well as authors & journalists all forming part of our varied and exciting programme. We have also added 2 more in person meetings at Shaw lane this season, giving our members even better value for money than last seasons quality programme.

Our season starts a bit earlier this year, in just 4 weeks time on Tuesday 29 September and runs until March 2026 and for just £ 20 for the whole year, you get free admission to EIGHT LIVE events at Shaw Lane Sports Club, Barnsley, as well as 3 Zoom events in January & February, as well as a copy of our Annual publication the Twelfth Man.
Alternatively, as a non-member you can pay just £ 5 per meeting to attend.

Members and non-members alike are also invited to come along to our always popular Christmas Luncheon (though this is extra, please see website for dates & prices).
Please click on the link below for the full programme.
https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/

If you wish to come and join us please see the website for full info or email our Membership Secretary Andy Jones at [email protected]. New members are always very welcome 😀

Finally, if we could please ask a favour, if you are one of our friends or followers could you please share this post to your cricket club and/or friends and family, that would be really appreciated - the more the merrier !
We look forward to seeing you at Shaw Lane this winter 😀

Wombwell Cricket Lovers' Society. Welcome to our website ! Please scroll down for more details about the Society and all that we do, alternatively check out the different menu options above to navigate your way around our new site. . Our New Speaker Event programme has just been announced for the ne...

26/05/2025

In between watching the cricket this weekend, why not check out our interview with everyone's favourite commentator David 'Bumble' LLoyd in the "Cricket News & Features Section" on our website.
https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/

29/04/2025

Some of you may have heard of Ted Peate, many will not. For those that dont know Ted is the very first name on the Test Match Bowling honours board at Lords, and he currently lies in an unmarked grave in Yeadon, Leeds. Here is his story and the plan to rectify that !

https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/cricket-news-and-features/ted-peate-yorkshire-ccc/

14/04/2025

Brian Sanderson reads all about the golden fortnight of Yorkshire's David Denton, courtesy of Wisden 1913.
https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/cricket-news-and-features/david-denton-yorkshire-ccc/

05/04/2025

As the new cricket season is now upon us, and we look forward to returning to Headingley, here is a look back in time to 1899, courtesy of Brian Sanderson.
https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/.../headingley-1899/

22/03/2025

This coming week sees our last 2 meetings of the current season so be sure not to miss out !
First up is Monday 24 March at 145pm at Shaw Lane Sports Club in Barnsley. Our guest speaker is renowned international umpire Richard Illingworth, fresh from a busy winter including the Australia v India 5 match test series, which itself had plenty of talking points ! On top of his successful playing career, Richard has been named ICC Umpire of the Year 3 times to date. (update - now FOUR times ! including 2024 )More information about Richard's career can be found here

https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/.../richard.../

Thursday 27 March - Junior Coaching Awards Presentation Night
again at Shaw Lane and starting at 730pm. This year we are very lucky to have Yorkshire's opening bat, Finlay Bean to present the trophies to our Juniors. There will also be the opportunity to have a Q&A with Finlay, so get your questions ready !

https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/.../junior-awards.../

There is also still time to join the Society for the season (just £20) or you can pay £ 5 as a non member if you wish to come and attend either event. We look forward to seeing a good crowd for both events as our season draws to a finale and hope to see you there 😀😀

16/03/2025

Wombwell Cricket Lovers' Society have had the honour of being featured in the latest edition of Wisden Cricket Monthly !

More information about the new issue can be found via this link: https://www.wisden.com/shop/wisden-cricket-monthly-issue-85

WCM also have a discounted offer for all our members, and our Facebook friends & followers (you dont have to be a Society member to take advantage) who maybe interested in subscribing to WCM. You can do so via this link to receive a preferential rate which is a substantial saving on the individual monthly price: https://forwardpress.imbmsubscriptions.com/csa12/

16/03/2025

A big thank you to Wombwell member and renowned author Jeremy Lonsdale for speaking at Shaw Lane on 3 March. Jeremy's insight into his latest book, "The many cricketing lives of Bill Bowes" was fascinating and we thoroughly recommend it 🙂
https://www.wombwellcricketlovers.org/.../jeremy-lonsdale/

As some of you may know Jeremy is also Assistant Editor of the quarterly magazine County Cricket Matters. This is an excellent and professional magazine that focuses on county cricket both current and past. You can buy individual copies or subscribe for just £17 per year and receive all 4 copies delivered to your door.
For more information check out https://www.countycricketmatters.com/

The aim of County Cricket Matters is to be a voice for those concerned at how top-class cricket is changing in this country. The purpose is not to denigrate those running the game or question the motives behind attempts to broaden the appeal of a sport which has often been its own worst enemy.