A Game Sustained

83 Shocks to the system: 1916 had reportedly received the thanks of the Prime Minister and Lord Derby for his efforts, which it was believed included speaking at 380 recruiting meetings. However, after suspicions had been raised, Flanagan was asked to produce his authority to wear the uniform and when he could not, he was arrested and remanded in Armley Gaol. Further information revealed that Flanagan had enlisted in the 4 th Leicester Regiment in September 1914. When he turned up in Halifax, he was wearing the uniform of an army lieutenant, although he was in fact a private. He then started to be referred to as ‘Captain Flanagan’ and was assumed to have been promoted, although he had actually taken advantage of his commanding officer’s absence on leave to telephone this ‘news’ to his office. When challenged, he was ordered to take off the uniform, but then disappeared and was posted as a deserter. In February 1915, he returned to Halifax to assist with recruitment. There, in the rush of work, the officer in command overlooked the fact that Flanagan had not produced written authority about his appointment. His new commanding officer later made enquiries, and it was at this point that he was arrested. Flanagan was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour for his deceptions. The 1916 club season – Part Two League cricket moved towards a conclusion during August. In Sheffield’s Hallamshire League the race opened up at the start of the month, and in the Norton and District League the leadership changed hands regularly throughout the summer. In the Bird League, three sides were in contention by the end of the season. Huddersfield were the Huddersfield League champions, with Lockwood, the 1915 champions, in close pursuit. For many, the Priestley Cup final was the major feature of Yorkshire cricket. It had raised £1,165 in the previous 12 years. In 1916, however, there was some disappointment that the final was played between two smaller clubs, Undercliffe and Tong Park. Nevertheless, the crowd of 8,000 was as good as for any pre-war county