News: YMCA First Eleven - Then and Now (October 2002)
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| Keith Milsom - Then and Now! |
It may surprise some that the Bristol & District Cricket League wasn't formed until 1973. Prior to this date the YMCA, like all other local teams, played a series of friendly matches against opposition of varying standards. The club entered the new league, in what was then a system catering exclusively for First Elevens, in its inaugural season and were placed, rather reluctantly, in Division Two.
The YMCA's first captain in league cricket was Pete Wride who was to remain as skipper for a further two seasons until 1976. The Club's opening season was a unspectacular affair with the Golden Hill team winning only three games although there was plenty to cheer from the performance of spin bowler, John Ireland who captured eight wickets for ten runs against Hanham C.C. to record the Club's first league victory in late May. The squad included other well known figures such as Ray Cork, Phil Dowle, Lionel Harris and Keith Milsom who remains the only player still playing cricket from the squad of '73.
Last season, a full 29 years later, the YMCA First Eleven remains a big part of the recently restructured, Bristol & District League and has enjoyed a revival of fortunes thanks, in part, to a good run of wins by Simon White's squad. The players names may have changed but many of the new generation continue to give the Golden Hill based team a good name in local cricket.
Take a look at the two sets of averages and compare the club's fortunes then and now. Do you think the team of '73 would beat their modern contemporaries?
2002 First Eleven League Averages
1973 First Eleven League Averages
