The Formation of the Scunthorpe Cricket Colts Association

A Mr P Elliott, of the Scunthorpe Borough Youth Service attended a Scunthorpe Intermediate League AGM on Wednesday January 19th 1972 in the Brumby Hall Pavilion. He intimated that by a subtle change of name, the league, or the team that played in the Joe Lumb Cup competition would be eligible to obtain Youth Service Grants. Bill Monteith, who sadly passed away on Christmas Day last year (2021), led further discussion on the pros and cons of this, necessitating an adjournment of the AGM to February 2nd. 

At the adjourned AGM Mr Geoff Neal, the father of England team manager of the early 2000's and first class cricketer with Worcestershire, Phil Neal, proposed that the name of the Joe Lumb team be changed to ‘Scunthorpe and District Cricket Colts’, the management of which would be under the same as the Scunthorpe and District Intermediate Cricket League. The Secretary, Mr Ian Robinson, was also instructed to write to the Wrigleys Foundation Trust to see if a grant could be obtained for the coming season. A donation of £25 was passed from the league to the Colts in order to get finances off the ground. 

 

An inaugural meeting of the colts was set up, a fortnight or so later, upon which both the Chair and Secretary were officially elected as per the Intermediate league appointments. A member from each club, plus Geoff Neal, a Mr R Johnson and a representative of the Borough Education Office joined them to form the management committee. Arnold Cooksley, the former Lysaghts professional and Normanby Park Works representative acted as President. The Secretary was asked to write to all clubs in the district, asking them to send any boys along. Unfortunately this was 1972, the minute does just say 'boys'. The co-op ground in Scunthorpe was used for outdoor nets. 

 

Coaching in 1973 was by R Simpson (probably a representative of the Burton Stather Cricket Club), in 1974 it was Jack Hampshire (Yorkshire CCC), numbers varied between 20 and 30 in terms of attendance. Facilities across the town were improved. West Common had cricket nets already, now High Ridge had some installed. From the coaching, teams were selected to represent Scunthorpe in the Joe Lumb Competition playing against clubs in West Yorkshire of similar stock.

 

The first incarnation of an Under 13 competition was born from these early meetings. Initially the colts decided to enter a Borough wide team in the National Competition, six weeks of coaching were arranged on Sunday mornings and Bill Monteith (pictured below in the early 1980s) organised a cricket weekend. Grant aid was sought from the Lords Taverners fund. Although initially support was limited at this age group, all members were asked to support by providing a couple of boys each. Although only 1 match was played, a loss against Boston, it proved to be the start of Under 13s cricket in the area which led to league cricket being played at that age group by the clubs.

The biggest impact that the Scunthorpe Cricket Colts organisation had on local cricket was the natural growth of the Intermediate league in the area and the consistency of entry into the league by clubs. Pre 1972 the league had been floundering. Many village clubs had dipped in and out. Alkborough, Burton Stather, Scotter and Messingham had all had a go over the previous decade as well as the defunct Foxhills Old Boys. John Leggott and North Lindsey Colleges had entered previously, likewise St Bernadettes School but they relied on teachers/lecturers to help run teams. They were not always interested in cricket. The steelworks clubs were regulars, as were Scunthorpe Town, although the Redbourn Works Amalgamation with Appleby Frodingham had cost the league a team. In 1972 the league was just 4 teams. 

 

Firstly, Broughton Cricket Club joined for 1973, Bryan Simpson started a 44 year association with the league, although Burton Stather had resigned. Normanby Park joined in 1974, Scotter and Nuform Sports in 1975, though Normanby Park resigned. Then Messingham in 1976, Alkborough and Barton Town in 1978, with a resignation from Scotter, Brigg Town in 1980  and Outcasts of Crowle in 1981. The membership remained 8 to 10 clubs for around 20 years, with very consistent entrants throughout those decades. For that we have these meetings, 1972 through 1974 to thank. 

 

Under this association all of our local clubs have been able to sustain themselves by developing and encouraging younger players thus preserving our great game in this area.