Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

151 Chapter Seventeen Johnny in Friendly Cricket Johnny must have played for a huge number of teams in ‘friendly’ or non-league fixtures. He often had his own eleven but he played in charity matches for Jack Appleyard’s XI and for Roy (W.R.) Genders XI. He played for the Forties Club where records show that he was a regular in the 1970s before and after his retirement from league cricket. In those end of season matches at Arthington, Bolton Percy and other places he would usually bring his own team. We know he played for his Sunday School in Robin Hood when a child and for his school. In 1936 and 1937 he went on end-of-season tours as a guest with Leeds Zingari to north Wales presumably after his season with Windhill. In 1936 at Colwyn Bay he helped rescue the tourists from 62 for nine as he scored 58 not out in a partnership with skipper C.L. Champion of 92 which certainly stood for some time as a club record last wicket stand. Records have been lost but he must have played in many friendlies before World War Two and we do know of him playing in a pre-season match in 1937 referred to earlier for Herbert Sutcliffe’s benefit and in that match for Pocklington School in 1939. In terms of wartime fixtures he must have played in so very many charity matches played during the week. I have a copy of the pre-match scorecard for one match due on Thursday, August 7, 1941 played at Abbeydale Park, Sheffield where the hosts were Sheffield Collegiate. The match was played for the Sheffield Newspapers War Fund. The hosts had a sprinkling of well-known guest players including England openers Len Hutton and Reg Simpson and the Pope brothers and Bill Copson from Derbyshire. Roy Genders’ XI is even more star-studded. With Herbert Sutcliffe and Maurice Leyland from Yorkshire, Paynter,