Castle Hill Cricket Chat

01/07/2024

We’re back for another Huddersfield Cricket League takedown and another brilliant guest was in tow. Dom Finn joined us from Broad Oak CC. One of the Premiership’s most consistent performers with the bat, although in a dry, self-effacing style he admitted he’s looking forward to the season starting, from his personal perspective!

Dom took us on his career retrospective, starting at Lightcliffe and forged in an Elland team, studded with quality. A short hiatus later, he spent the last decade at Broad Oak, being a losing T20 and Sykes Cup finalist before achieving a major goal in life as a Sykes Cup winner in 2023. Dom was in great form as he took on our Career Quiz In One Minute, so see how he gets on (big thanks to Dom’s brother Alastair Finn and Oak skipper Dan Rushworth for some of the Q’s!). We loved Dom a lot so you’ll no doubt see him pop up with us more regularly as well as his popular Friday Night Rain Card Forecast which you can find on Dom’s Insta / FB accounts.

There were loads to discuss in this bumper episode. Have Moorlands turned a corner? Is the format of the T20 Trophy right or does it need further modification? And if Steve Whitwam is the Don Corleone of our podcast, what does that make Jacob?

Finally, we heard from the lovely Lauren Dalby who helped put on an all day cricket marathon for young cricketer Fred at Mirfield CC. Fred has recently been diagnosed with leukaemia so a fundraiser took place on 21st June in aid of his family. Lauren filled us in with how the day went and where you can continue to donate. Follow the link below to add to Fred’s fundraiser and help a young boy’s family cope with such a shocking condition.

Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/24hour-cricket-marathon-for-fred

Tune in via the link below or subscribe on your favourite Podcast-playing apps: https://www.huddersfieldcricketleague.co.uk/blog/cchc-pod-72-dom-finn-broad-oak-

26/06/2024

NEW EPISIODE! We're hitting the podcast record button tonight with guest Dom Finn from Broad Oak Cricket Club. If you've got any questions for Dom, drop them in the comments here!

One of the subject matters is the T20 Trophy format (Two Sundays, lots of games). What are your thoughts on the format? Can it be improved? Let us know and we'll read out on the show.

10/05/2024

In this week's episode, we were back with a bang as we welcomed our co-host Jacob Mulhall from his Aussie adventures! We also had a special treat lined up as we sat down with one of the best wicket keepers to grace the Huddersfield Cricket league, Matty Butters from Marsden Cricket Club. Matty shared insights from his remarkable 20-year journey at local cricket’s outpost at Marsden along with the handful of years he spent at Broad Oak. Even his solo season over at Elland was covered with some great stories from his experiences. Matty was also put through his paces in the Career One Minute Quiz, so see how he fared!

It was a jam-packed show as we dived into a preview of the Championship and Conference with two current captains Chris Dennison (Armitage Bridge) and Beau McGuinness (Mirfield) sharing their thoughts. We also snuck a peek back at the opening fixtures in the league and cup from last weekend.

Want more? We unveiled Soothsayer Simon's Season Prophecy game, where you can make your predictions for the 2024 season! Play along using the link below, and we'll revisit the picks in September to see who's got the gift of foresight!

Prediction game entries: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScaO6cTXR2GvqJpR7wTRJd6aP-vvubebMNoAF1lL3Q1GDuDTQ/viewform

Tune in via the link below or subscribe on your favourite Podcast-playing apps: https://www.huddersfieldcricketleague.co.uk/blog/cchc-pod-71-matty-butters-marsden-plus-jedi-championship-conference-preview

10/05/2024

Yeah, alright. We're a bit tardy but here it is. Soothsayer Simon's Simon's 2024 Season Prophecy. Names after last season's winner; Honley's Simon Kelly.

Use the form to log your season predicitions. Premiership top three, Championship and Conference Top Twos, the leading cups and top batter and bowler in the Swift Teamwear Premiership The winner ACTUALLY has a prize this time! Well, your club's groundsman will. The winner of SS2024SP will win £100 voucher at Battersby's Sports Ground Supplies for their club! (or the nominated club of their choice)

Entry form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScaO6cTXR2GvqJpR7wTRJd6aP-vvubebMNoAF1lL3Q1GDuDTQ/viewform

03/05/2024

As the Sykes Cup first-round matches approach this Sunday, we're thrilled to bring you a special look back at two iconic finals that shaped Barkisland's local cricketing legacy.

Joining us on this episode are Darren Robinson and Matt Steers, key players in two of Barkisland's historic victories. In an engaging discussion, they reminisce about the thrilling matches that put Barkisland on the Huddersfield Cricket League map.

In 2008, Barkisland Cricket Club clinched their inaugural Sykes Cup win, defeating Delph in a hard-fought affair. Then, in 2015, they upset the odds by toppling a much-fancied Scholes team, proving their mettle once again.

These victories embody the spirit of a Sykes Cup winning team – resilience, teamwork, and determination. Join us as we revisit these unforgettable moments and celebrate the essence of cricketing greatness. Stay tuned for our latest episode, where we'll take you on a journey through the heart of Barkisland's Sykes Cup triumphs.

Tune in via the link below or subscribe on your favourite Podcast-playing apps: https://www.huddersfieldcricketleague.co.uk/blog/cchc-pod-70-champagne-moment-barkisland-cc

17/04/2024

We're back with a brand new episode coming in time for the supposed start of the season, which has been put back (at least) a week.

In this show, We caught up with the Premiership title-winning Moorlands Cricket Club boys, eight months after their memorable triumph. Andy Fortis, Mikey Rounding, and captain Eddie Walmsley shared insights on their preparations for the upcoming season. Plus, we got Andrew's perspective, Moorlands' award-winning groundsman, on the frustrating weather conditions and a sneak peek at how teams are shaping up for the campaign.

We also touched on exciting developments like a West End star (who could that be??) performing at one of our clubs and a new prize has been launched centred around our hard-working grounds staff.

Tune in via the link below or subscribe on your favourite Podcast-playing apps:

A brand new episode coming in time for the supposed start of the season, which has been put back at least a week. In this show, We caught up with the Premiership title-winning Moorlands bo

18/02/2024

In our latest episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Paul Cummins from the Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB) and who also plays 1XI cricket for Skelmanthorpe Cricket Club, who provided invaluable insights into the crucial role played by the YCB within local cricketing communities. Paul elaborated on the various initiatives and support mechanisms implemented by the YCB to nurture and enhance cricket at the grassroots level, emphasising the importance of fostering inclusivity and accessibility within the sport.

One of the key topics of discussion centred around the Huddersfield League's application for ECB Premier League status, a significant milestone in the league's journey. Paul shared updates on the progress made by the league towards achieving this prestigious status and addressed pertinent questions regarding funding options for essential infrastructure such as double sight screens, a requirement for all Premiership clubs initially.

Furthermore, our conversation delved into pressing issues facing cricket today, including the ECB's stance on limiting teams to only one overseas player and the rapid growth of women's cricket. Paul shed light on the YCB's efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusivity within the sport, highlighting the strides being made to create opportunities for female cricketers.

In addition to discussing senior cricket, Paul provided insights into initiatives like All Stars and Dynamos Cricket, aimed at introducing infants and juniors to the game. He also outlined the availability of interest-free loans and bursaries from the ECB, offering practical guidance on how clubs can access these resources to support their development efforts. Overall, this episode offered a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted efforts being undertaken by the YCB to nurture cricketing talent and foster a thriving cricketing ecosystem in Yorkshire and beyond.

You can find the links to what we were discussing in the first reply comment: 👇

Tune in via the link below or subscribe on your favourite Podcast-playing apps:

In our latest episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Paul Cummins from the Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB) and who also plays 1XI cricket for Skelmanthorpe CC, who provided invaluable insights into the

11/02/2024

Whats new in the Huddersfield Cricket season coming up? Mark Binns joined the podcast to go over some of the new changes such as potential team points deductions for persistant bad player behaviour. He also shed light on some of the other rule changes and proposals put forward by clubs in December.

Listen via the link or your regular podcast player: https://www.huddersfieldcricketleague.co.uk/blog/cchc-pod-64-new-rules-for-new-season

It’s been a while but we felt it was time for a dive into the heart of Huddersfield Cricket as the new season beckons! In this episode, we're shedding light on the latest tweaks and turns i