South Yorkshire Times, December 11, 1965
15 Years Cricket Club Scorer
Woman Is Honoured At Conisbro’
Meticulous and Devoted Officials Now Life Member.
Conisbrough Cricket Club have broken with tradition – by naming a woman among their newly elected life members. But who could blame the Doncaster League club for rewarding Miss Joan Kelly for her 15 years service as a scorer.
Home and away, Joan daughter of former Conisbrough first team captain, Mr. Tom Kelly, has given up her Saturday afternoons for a game most women dislike, to say the least. In recent years she has scored for the club’s first team.
Club president, Mr. Arnold Chadwick, told me: ‘Joan is a meticulous scorer and a grand worker for the club.’
Joan, of Beech Grove, Warmsworth, formerly of School Terrace, Conisbrough, was one of three new life members named at the club’s annual meeting. Also honoured were Mr. Chadwick and the present club chairman, Mr. Arthur Harrison.
Invaluable.
During the meeting Mr. Chadwick also paid tribute to the work of women in other sections of club life. It was a pleasure to see such a spirit present in their efforts. The club could not continue without them.
Taken all round, the season had been a good one for the club, Mr. Chadwick reported. Progress had been made and the players had gained in experience.
The first team had been runners-up in the Premier Section of Doncaster League Division 1. Although the second team had finished nearer the bottom than the top of Division 2, he pointed out that a good many youngsters – aged 13, 14 or 15 – had appeared in matches and had gained considerable experience.
Shared Cup.
In the Doncaster Association Knock-out, the club did extremely well to share the Whitworth Cup with British Ropes. The final was never played – thanks to the weather.
Financially the club had done quite well, making some profit over the season, after deductions for new equipment etc.
It was difficult to estimate all the money making effort made throughout the season, he added. The results had been gratifying.
The club’s own know-out competition had been well patronised by players and spectators alike. This proved how well the club was supported locally.
In the 1966 season, the club will again compete in the Doncaster League, the Doncaster Association Knock-out and in the Mexborough Evening League, junior and senior sections.