Wakefield Thornes
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tier of the old Central Yorkshire League
(playing other club’s seconds teams) to
the Premier League and then enjoying an
unbroken stay. We never actually won
the title, though equally in nine years,
we only once finished lower than fourth
and in the final year agonisingly missed
out on the title in a rain affected final
fortnight. We also enjoyed cup success
winning both the Jack Hampshire Cup
and the League 20/20.
Given that Wakefield is so obviously
West Yorkshire, people often ask why we
compete in ECB Yorkshire South, rather
than say the Bradford League which
broadly covers West Yorkshire. Suffice
to say its a very long story and as part
of the revamp of senior league cricket in
Yorkshire we were the ones who stuck to
the original and much debated plan!
As well as team success the club has
had notable individual success stories.
Current Yorkshire seamers Josh Shaw
and Jared Warner both started life at the
club as seven year olds and achieved
England Under 19 honours. Matty Taylor
is another current Yorkshire player.
Club captain Tom Froggett played first
class cricket with Oxford University and
maybe unusually for a West Yorkshire
club, Nipuna Seneratne did the same
with Cambridge University.
I first got involved in the club in 2003
(I think). My son was playing junior
cricket at nearby Slazengers and I was
coaching there. Despite having a strong
junior section, the club folded through
a lack of senior players. Slazengers then
head junior coach Ron Hudson, who was
a legend in local club cricket (particularly
for his exploits in the Bradford League)
negotiated with Wakefield Thornes, who
had enthusiastic senior teams but no
meaningful junior cricket, to establish
a junior section at Thornes. Ron was
a good, knowledgeable and respected
coach. And a hard task master! The
partnership with Ron worked well,
and in those early years we established
the basis for the success the club enjoys
today.
When we got involved with Thornes
the existing members of the club were
hugely enthusiastic and welcomed all
GDL
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“I first became associated with Wakefield Thornes Cricket Club when I came back
from university in 2005. I knew a couple of lads that played for the club and joined as a
player in late 2005. Having started a family over six years ago, unfortunately I don’t have
free time on a weekend to play anymore.
When I first came down to the club, as a top order batsman, I remember the club
having very mediocre facilities. We used to get changed in a portacabin and the playing
area and training facilities weren’t great. The club has come on leaps and bounds since I
first joined. The facilities at the club in the ten years from 2005, including the development
of the ground and facilities, has gone from mediocre to excellent.
The new pavilion in 2010 was an important change. The clubhouse went from
something that resembled an old shed, to a modern facility with large changing rooms
and an air-conditioned function room. GDL helped out with the air conditioning and
ventilation works. I still get chance to follow the club’s progress on social media and on
their website.
A few of the lads I used to play with are still playing, so it’s still nice to get down to the
club every now and again and see some familiar faces, as well as the new talent coming
through the junior sections. The club has always had a great atmosphere around it.
GDL air systems have been a sponsor of the club since 2005. We try to help out
the best we can whether it’s with an advertising board around the ground or a shirt
sponsor. From everyone at GDL we would like to wish Wakefield Thornes all the best in
the upcoming season and it’s great to see such a family friendly club doing so well and
still winning.”
Phil Callaghan – GDL Air Systems Ltd
6 Issue 01