Acomb Cricket Club has turned 100 – and plans to celebrate.
John Webster remembers joining his father, Denzil, at the club, off Askham Lane, for the first time during the 1960s.
Denzil, as well being a York Rugby League favourite – playing 59 games for York after signing from Castleford in the 1956/7 season – was a “good cricketer”, says John, now the club’s chair.
He recalls watching his father, who died aged 76 in 2010, when the Acomb clubhouse was a “wooden shack”, rather than the purpose-built facility later built on the site.
ACOMB CC - 1985: Back, from the left: R Graves, J Webster, M Robinson, R Clayton, A Haines, B Carter. Front: A Thrall, J Burton, R Sykes (captain), C Simpson, M Pepper (Image: Press archive) Generations of players have passed through the club, says John, 66. “I was lucky enough to play with my dad and my son.
“It’s a nice little milestone, really, if that happens.
“It’s natural if you’re a parent, if you see your lad playing and you can play with them.”
Acomb Cricket Club's under 11 team 2024 (Image: Acomb CC) John has seen the club change throughout his more than five decades there.
“We have a good junior section now… that’s the lifeblood of the club,” he says. “When I started in 1972 we didn’t have a junior team.
“It’s good to see the younger ones enjoying themselves.”
Acomb Cricket Club's first team 2023 (Image: Acomb CC) John says the club played on Acomb Green before it moved to the current site 100 years ago.
“A lot of the matches then were recreational, less competitive,” he says.
He hopes the club will remain on the grounds for another 100 years to come.
Acomb Cricket Club – 1971: Back, from the left: B Hough, R Turner, M Tyerman, F Gibson, M Horsefall, P Fowler. Front: J Dickinson, J Ashwell, D Webster, T Wray, G Patterson (Image: Press archive) “Hopefully it will stay on the ground and it won’t be sold for housing or anything like that,” says John. “I don’t suppose I’ll be there, but I just hope people will be playing.
“To keep going it may have to change, but let’s just hope there’s still a club there.”
Club's events for centenary
The club plans to mark its 100th anniversary in style.
It has a centenary kit and clothing available, and a range of events taking place throughout the year to mark the milestone.
Acomb Cricket Club's second team 2024 (Image: Acomb CC) The club has already hosted a golf day on Sunday, March 23, and will welcome former players back to the club for an event on Saturday, June 21.
Players head north on a cricket tour to Northumberland from Monday, August 4, to Thursday, August 7.
Acomb Cricket Club's under 15 team 2024 (Image: Acomb CC) The club will host a ‘20/20’ match on Friday, August 15 and a ‘past v present match’ the following Sunday (August 17).
There will be a ‘centenary dinner’ on Friday, October 10.
And the club is even having two ‘centenary ales’ brewed by Half Moon Brewery (cask) and Yorkshire Heart (bottled) to celebrate.
