A Game Sustained

144 fought in the war, 160 in all, of whom 20 had died. In Sheffield, the Star Green’un noted that many clubs had benefited from the end of weekend working in the factories, and many local teams had seen soldiers return from the ‘colours’ – in some cases as many as 90 per cent of their membership. In other cases, clubs were still waiting for men to be demobilised, and the paper even felt able to complain about how grounds had been treated during the war, ‘when a little forethought might have found other suitable places for allotments.’ Elsewhere, the Yorkshire Council had 42 clubs for the season. There was some concern that travelling expenses ‘would overwhelm them and others spoke of worrying ground difficulties, the preparation of wickets, the Tax bane and the loss of players’, but there was still an eagerness to get started. In some cases, one club’s problem was another’s opportunity. Sheffield United benefited from the collapse of the Sheffield Collegiate club and secured an influx of new players. Others though were still in need of assistance as the season began; Great Horton advertised for a good all-round cricketer at the start of May, and Laisterdyke for two first-class cricketers. By the first weekend of May, club cricket was ‘practically in full swing’, although unsurprisingly some teams were rusty. Yorkshire’s Ernest Smith took eight for two for Barnsley in a friendly, while in a Huddersfield League game Holmfirth were bowled out for just nine by Huddersfield, and Eccleshill were dismissed for 26 for the third match in a row. There were other signs that things were returning to normal, not least that the Sheffield Evening Telegraph was printed on green paper again. The army also did its bit; an office was established in Leeds to sell surplus military huts, many of which were turned into cricket pavilions. Followers responded with enthusiasm to the opening of the season. At the end of May, the Leeds Mercury commented that the previous Saturday ‘large crowds testified to the ever-increasing popularity of the afternoon game.’ In the Bradford League, there were crowds of up to 4,000 people and the receipts at Bankfoot were over £50 for a game in A wonderful relief: 1919