South Yorkshire Times, March 10, 1951
Conisbrough: All Set for Cricket on Their New enclosure
Vsitors to Conisbrough Cricket Club’s annual dinner and prize night in British Legion headquarters on Saturday, heard several nice thing said about both the Doncaster Cricket League and the Mexborough and District Evening League. Modestly, the toast to the club was late on the agenda, but here again we had some pleasant tributes and interesting news about the future.
Prospects Excellent.
Conisbrough will play on its new enclosure in Park Road this year, an achievement applauded by Mr. G. K. Bateson. who said he had noticed “Ground, Park Road, Conisbrough” with a good deal of interest on the letter head inviting him to that evening’s function. He believed the club’ prospects were excellent, and he felt tha perhaps in three or four years’ time they would feel it was the finest thing that ever happened to Conisbrough Cricket Club.
Club chairman Mr. H. S. Peet, responding, described the new ground as a mile stone in the life of the club. They wer all very proud of it, and he would coup). with that reference a tribute to Mr. Billy Thompson, who had worked a long time for the club, and whose ambition had always been to see the club own its ground. It would be a very happy day for him when he saw Conisbrough turn out for the firs time on the new ground this season,
Mr. Peet recalled that both Mr. Bateson’s grandfather and his own were subscribers to Conisbrough Cricket club its first year (lit was now entering it 81st); it was pleasing to see those associations being maintained.
Many Anxious Moments.
The new ground had caused them many anxious moments and was still doing so. There was still much work to be done before it could be put into first-class condition, but if they all put their b if acks into it, it could he done. They had some grand voluntary workers. Finance was the bugbear of all clubs such as Conisbrough—a self-supporting unit. They found it necessary to raise a great deal of money. In 1948 they borrowed £380. So far, they had repaid £110, and there was £25 to be repaid that evening, leaving £245 to be repaid, plus an additional £60 and whatever it cost to get the new ground ready. He earnestly appealed to all their supporters to rally round and lend a hand. They hoped to launch a new scheme in a few weeks’ time, but more would be heard of that,
The Doncaster League was toasted by Mr. W. Hepworth, who said adequate tribute to its excellent organisation was reflected in that since .1912 it had had only two Presidents and two secretaries, and that from eight clubs it had grown to embrace 101.
League President Mr. P. 0. Bagshae, wishing the club every success in its new venuture, said he felt certain one of the!r alms was first division status. He could assure them of a hearty welcome when that was achieved. The Doncaster League’s main rules had remained unaltered—tribute to the soundness of their planning; its aim had always been to provide “friendly cricket for points.” He felt sure they had gone a long way in that direction.
Cricket At Heart.
The Evening League, of which Conisbrough were champions, was toasted by Mr. A. M. Wilson, who similarly spoke warmly of the splendid organisation which had gone into the league. You A league of this kind, he said, must be brought into being and maintained by people who had cricket at heart.
Vice-president Mr. Harry May responded, expressing his gratitude for the nice things said about the league, and hoped that the competition would last a long time and provide pleasure for many generations to come.
Conisbrough’s handsome silver trophy (which holds a gallon and which was filled and sent round the room) was the gilt of Mr. May to the league. With other club awards, including a “9 by 6″ cricket, ball.mounted on silver stumps, for Mr. H. Hirst, who has been with the club for 30 years, it was presented by Mr. Syd. Bycroft, Doncaster Rovers’ centre-half, who, with Mrs. Bycroft, was among the club’s guests. One award went to Rovers’ colleague, outside” right Alf Calverley, of Conisbrough, who played with the cricket club’s evening league side last season.
The visitors were proposed by Mr C Ogilvy. Mr A Finningley responded. Mr A Bowman was Toastmaster