Hopgrove Playing Fields Association

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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

Shout out to Deighton Electrical Services LTD & Validus Construction for their support in taking up the opportunity to use advertising space up at The Hopgrove!

If you'd like your business to stand out drop us a message and we'll see what we can do for you!

Thaks to https://www.divert.co.uk/ for providing us with our new wheelie bin 🚮

Really easy process to set up the collections/bin delivery and very reasonablely priced.

Highly recommend! Thank you!

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Finally the vending machine is restocked and the card reader is now fully functioning!! 🙌

Plenty of cold water and isotonic drinks to keep you going in this nice weather!!

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As many of you will be aware we had some unexpected guests this week pitching up on our field.

6:30pm ish on Sunday evening we had 4 Gypsy caravans and extra vehicles rock up to stay for a short while at Costa del Hopgrove.

They left last night and after a quick clean up by members of most of our associated clubs we should be back to normality tomorrow morning.

Although it was extremely frustrating to have to cancel all our normal activities this week because of their unexpected presence, we found them friendly, approachable, and on this occasion true to their word. They left very little mess, didnt cause any significant damage and departed when they said they would. There is some damage to one of our junior pitches but in the main we have gotten off lightly when you consider what state other sports fields across the city have been left in in recent weeks.

We would like to thank City of York Council for their quick action in serving notice and helping and advising along the way. North Yorkshire Police for their initial help in checking and recording the details of the guest. Also everyone else who has helped us out this week! It's been good to see everyone involved at the Hopgrove working together!

Plans are in motion to install high barriers to the entrance meaning this has to be physically unlocked and moved to let vehicles higher then 2.1m in especially for times when the site is being used and the gates are unlocked. (Which is what we believe happend this time, allowing the Gypsies to drive onto the field.) We will also be looking at and discussing other deterants in due course to minimise further disruptions. 🤞

🔴🔵 ALL FOOTBALL MATCHES OFF AGAIN TODAY!!🔴🔵

Yesterday's rain has beaten us again today unfortunately! The volume of water from storm Bert was just too much and it hasn't cleared in time for today's fixtures 😢

It gave it a good go as you can see from the pictures but with a dry week again next week we should be back in business for next weekends fixtures 💪

6pm Saturday night to 9am Sunday morning 👇

🔴🔵 ALL GAMES OFF TODAY! 🔴🔵

128 games of Football over 4 different leagues. Not including friendlies (COYFL, YDYFL, MINSTER ENGINEERING & SUNDAY TIMCLAD)

2 National Archery Tournaments

1 Schools Tournament

Countless training sessions.

Not a bad run from September until now without a postponement due to weather.

The 2nd named storm of the season has gotten the better of us today unfortunately.

Hopefully it clears through reasonably quickly. 🤞🙏

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