 |
||||
|
Sports
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
 |
|
|||
|
FOOTBALL
We have received some correspondence from Gerald (Jez) Whitehead (1958 -1963),
which has prompted Vicky Taylor and Nick Briggs into trying to resurrect the
football section of the OAS.
The letter read:
‘I spent 30 glorious years (1967-1997) playing football for Old Almondburians
AFC. I started in the then newly formed 3rd team, captained by David Armitage
and then up to 2nd and 1st teams with such wonderful characters and players
such as Tony Lockwood - who often smuggled
‘class’ players such as Dave Morrison and Alan McNeil into the 2nd team without
informing the 1st team of their availability and led the team to much success
with his innovative 7-2-1 formation! Paul Wilson (sadly died last year) who
terrified most opposition players, Peter (Sid) Sykes and Tom Rocket (who
terrified most referees), Dave Bush (the flying winger that Huddersfield Town
have been searching for, for many years) Bob Williams (whatever happened to
him?!), all the workforce of Habasco International, whose leader, Geoff Heady,
obviously didn
’t employ anyone unless they were Old Almondburians and could play football
(including Graham Richardson, another player who has left us far too early, to
join the team in the sky).
‘Those were the days my friend, when we met in a pub, stopped for another pint on
the way to the game, arrived five minutes before kick off and proceeded to give
most teams a trouncing when we got there! In the days before penalty shoots
outs, when after two draws against previously all conquering Barnsley Grammar
School in the first team Cup Final, both teams were awarded a cup winners
medal. When we ran four successful teams so that in my later years I could
re-invent myself in the 4th team which was equally enjoyable. This was when the
qualification rules were relaxed as to non-Almondburians playing and I had a
police escort to and from the game as most players were actually in the police
force. I played one season in a back four approaching 200 years old with John
Heady and Geoff Riley (is he still playing?).
‘I am dismayed to hear of the demise of the football section to only 1 team and
perhaps no team at all shortly?
‘I am however, looking forward to meeting as many ex footballers as possible at
the 2008 celebrations.
’
‘Jez’ Whitehead
It is very sad to report that at the moment the football section is no longer
part of the sporting section of the OAS and it would be lovely for us to get a
team up and running again for next season to coincide with the 400th
anniversary celebrations.
Anybody, any age will be most welcome and we would really like to hear from you.
Please e-mail
Vicky Taylor or Nick Briggs.
OLD ALMONDBURIANS’ CRICKET CLUB:
HUDDERSFIELD ARROW CENTRAL LEAGUE 2008 SEASON
In the year of the School’s Four Hundreth AnniversaRy we are pleased to recognise the Fiftieth Anniversary
of the opening of the cricket pavilion. The pavilion was opened on the 5th June
by the Countess of Dartmouth.
At the A.G.M., held at the ‘Woolpack’ on 13th February, Old Almondburian Stuart Sykes was elected First Eleven captain and John Headey (an Old Collegian, but an ‘honorary Old Almondburian’ – by virtue of many years of sterling service to Almondburian soccer and cricket
teams) accepted the Second Eleven captaincy.
The new season, scheduled to get underway on Sunday, 20th April, was rain
affected and all games were postponed. The programme for the opening day was
abandoned as clubs had been unable to prepare wickets, owing to prolonged
inclement weather in April. The First Eleven , having retained their
Premiership status last season, were scheduled to entertain Championship
favourites Hoylandswaine on the opening day; the Second Eleven, playing in
Section E, had no game because of the odd number of teams in the Section.
Both teams lost heavily in their next two fixtures; the First Eleven to
Cumberworth (away) and Mirfield (home), the Second Eleven to Birchencliffe
(home) and Woolley (away).
Whilst the Firsts (up to and including 31 May) have yet to taste success, the
Seconds have recorded two victories.
However, both teams exited their respective Cup competitions at the first
hurdle; the First Eleven against Leymoor and the Second Eleven at Cawthorne.
In the Firsts, Will Atkinson and Stuart Sykes have scored runs; father and son
Steve and Thomas Slack have been successfully taking wickets.
In the Seconds, evergreen Richard Taylor has recorded a couple of half
centuries, batting through the innings (forty five overs!), on one occasion;
the returning Martin Tunnacliffe also tasted success with the bat.
DATES TO NOTE
Sunday, August 31 President’s Day at Arkenley. A 20/20 competion featuring OACC, Almondbury Wesleyans and
Almondbury CC
Saturday, October 25 Annual Dinner and Presentation Evening; at Lockwood Park.
TENNIS
As is customary, a small band of stalwarts opened the 2008 Almondburian Tennis
season on Thursday, 5th June. Only a couple of points into the season there
took place a rally of simply breathtaking length, literally, since when it
’s been all down hill really. After the first two weeks, no more tennis was
played for a further three weeks, due to a combination of torrential rain and
lack of numbers.
There may also have been a slight lack of commitment. There was no rain last
week, but I had to stay at home to look after my daughters, so I issued an
invitation to the players to come to my house for their post-match
refreshments, rather than going to the
‘Woolpack’, as is customary. Imagine my astonishment when the doorbell rang at 7.45 and
they claimed that they couldn
’t play because there were only three of them!
During our enforced break, we were able to put our feet up and watch Wimbledon,
looking out for any areas where our games might have room for marginal
improvement. Things change, of course, and this year Wimbledon managed to avoid
the weather from which we were suffering, whilst it was Andy Murray who briefly
raised British hopes before dashing them and not Tim Henman.
Those who have played tennis so far this summer are:
Reggie Byram; Neil Gledhill; Andrew Haigh; Rachel Kershaw; Robert Kershaw; Hazel
Pacuris; David Parry.
BADMINTON
I’m going to start this report with some good news and some bad news: Reggie Byram
has made a comeback to badminton, but he has declined to resume writing the
badminton report. Which is the good news and which is the bad news, I
’ll leave you to decide for yourself.
After four years of losing money, due to increased costs and dwindling
attendances, during which time we first of all used up our reasonably
substantial reserves before suffering the ignominy of having to borrow from the
Tennis Section (there was a time when it was the other way around), a
combination of cost-cutting (by starting at the slightly later time of 7.30
p.m.) and a surge in attendances since Christmas, has seen us record a profit
for the year ended 31st March, 2008. The princely sum in question is
£18.36, so next season’s Badminton Section Christmas Party should be one not to be missed!
This has been achieved despite one of our regulars, Craig Watts, going off to
Australia for a year. Indeed, a record attendance for this season, and the best
for some considerable time, was recorded only last week, when twelve people
played - and that on a week when yours truly was, very unusually, unable to
attend. I do hope that it was just coincidence.
Our season will close the Thursday before Spring Bank Holiday and we will play
tennis over the summer instead. However, badminton will resume on Thursday, 4th
September, 2008 and we shall play in the school sports hall each Thursday
evening during term-time from 7.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. The fee, to cover the
hire of the sports hall, shuttlecocks and showers, is five pounds per person
per evening. Please come along and join us. Those who have played this season
are:
Nick Beaumont; Matthew Booth; Reggie Byram; Emily Comer; Helen Comer; Neil Gledhill; Richard Green; Andrew Haigh; Martyn
Hicks; Rachel Kershaw; Graeme Milnes; Nicky Murphy;
David Parry; Hazel Pacurib; Vicky Taylor; Craig Watts; Simon Wells; Debbie Young
GOLF: GOTHARD CUP COMPETITION
Please note that the date will be June 27th 2008, Woodsome Hall Golf Club, Tee
is reserved between 4 and 5pm and the cost is
£35 including the presentation dinner. For further details, contact Vicky Taylor or Simon Russell.
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
 |
|
|||
|
|
||||
 |
|
|||
|
|
||||
 |
|
|||
|
|
||||
 |
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|