13/03/2026
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🏏 Season Preview – Stockton & Hopgrove Cricket Club 1st XI🏏
Jamie Kerrison, 1st Team Captain
Despite a major setback with the potential signing of Harry Brook not materialising (his agent wasn’t happy that he wouldn’t bat above No.8 in our full-strength side, so turned us down), we’ll mainly be relying on the team that won the Div 4 Galtres and Midgley Cup double last season.
We have sadly said goodbye to a couple of players who have moved away from the area, but we’re quietly confident of bringing in a couple of new signings before the season starts to replace them. Failing that, we can always nick the best of the 2nds…
Having a settled side has been a real bonus for us over the past couple of seasons. Our camaraderie and love for recreational cricket has shone through. Above all else, we want to have some fun, enjoy our teas, and have a beer or two afterwards – as many of our opponents will probably confirm.
Division 3 Galtres will undoubtedly present a tougher challenge after our back-to-back promotion seasons since joining the league in 2024 from the old York Vale League. However, we approach the season with confidence. We should be strong again and hope to be challenging towards the top end of the table by the time September rolls around.
Runs have been the backbone of our success over the last couple of seasons – lots and lots of them. But the conversion of the evergreen Rich Kerrison from opening batter to demon all-rounder has seen wickets tumble regularly. Opposition batters have been flummoxed by his spin (or lack of it mainly) as he’s picked up scalp after scalp once they’ve been worn down by the opening partnership of Jamie Kerrison and Matt Bradshaw. We’ll be hoping that continues this season if we’re to be successful.
Looking around the rest of the division, I’d expect Yapham Cricket Club and Hovingham Cricket Club 1st XI to be strong. Woodhouse Grange Cricket Club 4ths will always have talented younger players mixed with experienced heads, and it’s a great place to go and play cricket – along with a fabulously stocked bar for afterwards!
It’s been a long time since we last played Bishopthorpe Cricket Club in the old Vale League, and they always put on a decent spread for tea. We’re particularly looking forward to that away game, especially as it’s our opening fixture – no pressure Bish!
We can’t wait to get cracking at the end of April and see where we end up come September.
Jamie Kerrison
1st Team Captain, S&H CC
