I've been working my way through the clubs in chronological, photographic order, but feel the need to post this one as it is a club that I played for. Which is a bit odd as I haven't yet got to the other 2.
I was googling the pub, to find out where it was, (I never actually went there) but have been past it before it changed its name to the Lord Darcy.
I came across the Jesters website (not literally, although all these stats were very exciting), it is brilliant, it has every fixture and scorecard for the last 50 odd years. It has a list of all their players with averages and details of clubs played.
I remembered fixtures against Newby Hall and Cumberworth but didn't know that I'd played against Yorkshire Post for the Jesters, despite it being a ground I played on several times later for various works teams.
These usually involved John Helm scoring 50 against us.
I recognise a couple of players, Mr Jester himself, Barrie Carter, I used to deliver to him at the garage in Wibsey, was it St Eunuch's? :-) and Graham Beaumont who used to take me to the games (when they were desperately short) and I recognise G Moorhouse, but not by name.
Don't remember the game, or ground, but I did top score in this fixture.
| JESTERS 1st Innings 87/8 Abandoned (Overs 29) |
| Batsman | Fieldsman | Bowler | Runs |
| MOORHOUSE,G | c CLARK,R | b WRIGHT,G | 8 |
| REEVE,L | b GRIGGS,P | 5 | |
| TINSLEY,S | lbw | b WRIGHT,G | 18 |
| SHAW,D | c LEADBEATER,P | b GRIGGS,P | 0 |
| HARRISON,E | c GRIGGS,P | b WRIGHT,G | 7 |
| KING,B | b DAVISON,B | 7 | |
| BEAUMONT,G | c ROWNEY,P | b WRIGHT,G | 4 |
| WHITEHEAD,M | b DAVISON,B | 23 | |
| COATES,J | not out | 5 | |
| CARTER,B* | not out | 0 | |
| WAITE,K+ | dnb | - | |
| extras | (b10 lb0 w0 nb0) | 10 | |
| TOTAL | 8 wickets for | 87 |
| FOW |
| 1-9 2-17 3-17 4-28 5-53 6-53 7-80 8-87 |
| Bowler | O | M | R | W |
| GRIGGS,P | 9 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| WRIGHT,G | 12 | 2 | 23 | 4 |
| DAVISON,B | 6 | 1 | 23 | 2 |
| BROWN,R | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Which is more than can be said about the other 6 games.
Didn't bowl, (although I only really started bowling a couple of years later) ((Too many bowlers at Crossbank for me to get much of a chance))
Didn't take a catch
147 WHITEHEAD MICK 7 6 0 23 42 7.00 0 0 0 0 µ µ 0 0
HISTORY OF THE JESTERS
By Barrie Carter 
THERE'S MANY A TRUE WORD SPOKEN IN JEST
Sunday cricket was a rarity during the summer of 1959 A.D., but against all odds the Leeds (Boar Lane) branch of Boots the Chemists fielded an XI of varying abilities to contest friendly fixtures in the area. Friends of Boots staff were invited to ensure that a full complement was fielded for each game.
By the later stages of the 1960 season, very few "Old Boots" remained, and remedies had to be taken (as chemists say!) to guarantee fulfilling matches booked for the following season.
An enthusiastic hard core of more than useful players from Bradford Central League side Girlington, pledged that a decent side would take the field for the 1961 season.
At an after-match "session" at the Jester pub , (now the lord darcy) Harrogate Road, Leeds, it was unanimously agreed that Sunday cricket was too good to risk losing, and as the sole remaining Boots employee was Secretary/ occasional 'keeper David Jenkins, the name was no longer representative. One of those present at this historic meeting was still sober, and suggested that as we often found ourselves imbibing at the Jester - that must be our name henceforth!
The Jesters C.C. was accordingly founded in 1961, and 50-odd years later the club is still in "business" despite the reduced opportunities for friendly Sunday fixtures due to the many, varied cup games now played on the Sabbath!
During the 1960's & 1970's there were few such matches, and many league clubs were only too pleased to offer The Jesters fixtures, knowing that we would provide competitive cricket, and guarantee a full weekend for their players.
The Jesters have always tried to field well-balanced sides (despite carrying some over-weight at times) and maintain an all-amateur policy of team selection. Whilst playing to win, we have always been known to take the field determined to enjoy our cricket - as modern day Jesters should - with a laugh, usually followed by a rough and tumble in the covers!
Around 130 different cricket clubs have hosted fixtures with The Jesters, many local to the West Riding, East Riding and East Lancs. Longer trips to Newcastle in the North East, Derbyshire in the 'South', Fylde coast in the West and Bridlington and Marton on the East coast, have also regularly figured on our travels.
Since 1983 tours of up to four games, involving missionary work to Henley-on-Thames and Cheltenham proved hugely popular, and tourists of strange religion, race etc. suddenly became die-hard Jesters! Our native Yorkshire accents were welcomed with awe - our Southern friends seemed to have never heard of Lepton, Wyke or Stanningley Bottom!
In its 54 year life span, the club has known just 4 skippers, Barrie Carter (1961-1980 & 1983 - 1986), Geoffrey Moorhouse (1981 - 1982), Eric Harrison (1987 - 1994), and for the past decade or so David Bell's (1995 - present) capable hands have been at the helm, assisted recently by vice-captain Dale Winterbottom.
Our spin twins seem to have played for ever, namely club chairman John "coco" Coates and his fellow conspirator and money-laundering treasurer Steve Scott.
"Uncle" Ron Wells (affectionately known as Alligator Ron - possibly as a result of his ankle biting tactics at 1st slip) has been a stalwart President of the Jesters for more than 20 years, following in the footsteps of the late Frank Moorhouse and "Colonel" Scott.
To summarize - over 530 hardy souls have turned out in Jesters colours, (on occasions these have varied from Ladies' boudoir pink to coffee shades not unlike the odd baby's diaper). Roughly 150 of these played only one game as they were innocent bystanders/ passing tramps press-ganged to ensure that we had 11 bodies on the pitch!
At the other end of the spectrum, 28 players made over 100 appearances for THE JESTERS and there are now 12 in the 200 club. (and 1 in the 500 club, Barrie himself - the editor)
Matches played...........902
Won............................532
Lost.............................315
Tied.................................9
Drawn...........................46 (Due to weather - either snow or earthquake!)
Clubs played................151
"Caggy"
Sunday cricket was a rarity during the summer of 1959 A.D., but against all odds the Leeds (Boar Lane) branch of Boots the Chemists fielded an XI of varying abilities to contest friendly fixtures in the area. Friends of Boots staff were invited to ensure that a full complement was fielded for each game.
By the later stages of the 1960 season, very few "Old Boots" remained, and remedies had to be taken (as chemists say!) to guarantee fulfilling matches booked for the following season.
An enthusiastic hard core of more than useful players from Bradford Central League side Girlington, pledged that a decent side would take the field for the 1961 season.
At an after-match "session" at the Jester pub , (now the lord darcy) Harrogate Road, Leeds, it was unanimously agreed that Sunday cricket was too good to risk losing, and as the sole remaining Boots employee was Secretary/ occasional 'keeper David Jenkins, the name was no longer representative. One of those present at this historic meeting was still sober, and suggested that as we often found ourselves imbibing at the Jester - that must be our name henceforth!
The Jesters C.C. was accordingly founded in 1961, and 50-odd years later the club is still in "business" despite the reduced opportunities for friendly Sunday fixtures due to the many, varied cup games now played on the Sabbath!
During the 1960's & 1970's there were few such matches, and many league clubs were only too pleased to offer The Jesters fixtures, knowing that we would provide competitive cricket, and guarantee a full weekend for their players.
The Jesters have always tried to field well-balanced sides (despite carrying some over-weight at times) and maintain an all-amateur policy of team selection. Whilst playing to win, we have always been known to take the field determined to enjoy our cricket - as modern day Jesters should - with a laugh, usually followed by a rough and tumble in the covers!
Around 130 different cricket clubs have hosted fixtures with The Jesters, many local to the West Riding, East Riding and East Lancs. Longer trips to Newcastle in the North East, Derbyshire in the 'South', Fylde coast in the West and Bridlington and Marton on the East coast, have also regularly figured on our travels.
Since 1983 tours of up to four games, involving missionary work to Henley-on-Thames and Cheltenham proved hugely popular, and tourists of strange religion, race etc. suddenly became die-hard Jesters! Our native Yorkshire accents were welcomed with awe - our Southern friends seemed to have never heard of Lepton, Wyke or Stanningley Bottom!
In its 54 year life span, the club has known just 4 skippers, Barrie Carter (1961-1980 & 1983 - 1986), Geoffrey Moorhouse (1981 - 1982), Eric Harrison (1987 - 1994), and for the past decade or so David Bell's (1995 - present) capable hands have been at the helm, assisted recently by vice-captain Dale Winterbottom.
Our spin twins seem to have played for ever, namely club chairman John "coco" Coates and his fellow conspirator and money-laundering treasurer Steve Scott.
"Uncle" Ron Wells (affectionately known as Alligator Ron - possibly as a result of his ankle biting tactics at 1st slip) has been a stalwart President of the Jesters for more than 20 years, following in the footsteps of the late Frank Moorhouse and "Colonel" Scott.
To summarize - over 530 hardy souls have turned out in Jesters colours, (on occasions these have varied from Ladies' boudoir pink to coffee shades not unlike the odd baby's diaper). Roughly 150 of these played only one game as they were innocent bystanders/ passing tramps press-ganged to ensure that we had 11 bodies on the pitch!
At the other end of the spectrum, 28 players made over 100 appearances for THE JESTERS and there are now 12 in the 200 club. (and 1 in the 500 club, Barrie himself - the editor)
Matches played...........902
Won............................532
Lost.............................315
Tied.................................9
Drawn...........................46 (Due to weather - either snow or earthquake!)
Clubs played................151
"Caggy"
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