Y&DSCL Hall of Fame entrants - March 2008
Wally Baynes
New Earswick, Rowntrees, Ovington, Terry's, Huntington
Wally made his debut for New Earswick at the age of 16 before a two year spell with Rowntrees. After a break, he resumed his with Huntington for whom he bowled a tremendous number of overs during a lengthy playing career and for whom he was a terrific servant as player, captain and groundsman. He captained the club for twenty years in three spells and regards his best year as 1976 when he led his side to triumph in three cup competitions. He had earlier been in charge when Huntington won the Myers & Burnell Cup in 1973. Whilst his loyalty to his local club prevented him making a mark at the top level, he emerged as leading divisional wicket taker on eight occasions and will be the one of the league's leading wicket takers of all time, with over 1,700 recorded for Huntington and Rowntrees.
Stuart Burton
Easingwold
Stuart is another player who has been loyally devoted to one club for the whole of his playing career and remains strongly supportive of Easingwold in his retirement. Reference to league handbooks shows that he first figured in the averages as a bowler after claiming 29 top division wickets in 1959 when his average of 9.03 propelled him to second place. However he is probably better remembered for his contributions with the bat which he made with some success, such so, that his 507 runs in 1965 saw him sit proudly as leading run maker in the top division. Whilst he was never again to reach such dizzy heights he did go on to become one of the league's longest serving players, having donned his whites competitively during six decades before hanging up his boots.
Adrian Grayson
Northallerton, Bedale
Adrian Grayson merits his place in the Hall of tame in a number of ways, including talented player, captain, coach, organiser of youth cricket and the driving force behind Bedale Cricket Club during their second spell as members of the League. He began his playing career at Pickering in the old East Yorkshire Cup and had some time with Northallerton in the NYSD League but his York League career was mainly at Bedale where his first year saw him head both the run table and averages in Division 3 with 822 runs at 74.22 thus smashing both divisional records by some distance. The following year his 793 runs at 52.86 saw him occupy both top slots in Division 2 before the 1977 season saw him record a remarkable and unique triple success when his 713 runs at 41.94 saw him occupy both slots in the top Division. He topped the averages the following season and was, for a number of years, a highly rated skipper of the League's Representative side whom he captained on more than 30 occasions. He also captained the Yorkshire 0ver 50s team.
Alan Kent
Stillington, Nawton Grange, Duncombe Park
After beginning his career will Beadlam and Hutton-Ie-Hole, Alan's lengthy involvement with the League started at Stillington where he proved his worth as a hard hitting batsman and a very useful slow bowler. He then opted lo play for local dubs once they achieved league membership and moved onto Nawton Grange and then Duncombe Park which was to become his spiritual home. He topped the bowling averages in 1969 with 27 wickets for Stillington at a miserly 8.67 and, ten years later topped the third division batting averages when he hit 617 runs at an average of 61.70 in Duncombe Park colours. The year was a memorable one as he made his personal top score of 158 no against local rivals Nawton Grange and, by also taking 58 wickets, became the fourth player to complete the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in a season, a feat he repeated five years later. In addition Alan's inclusion is also due to his tremendous work behind the scenes at Duncombe Park who owe much to his enthusiasm, administrative ability and, skill and dedication as a groundsman.
Mick Kenyon
Dringhouses
Mick began his playing career at Dringhouses in 1969 when he, and a number of team-mates from York Youth League Team Moor Lane Youth Club, decided to try their hand at senior cricket. He went on to have three spells as captain before finally relinquishing the post at the end of the 2002 season. Mick's role as Club Secretary started in 2000 and, after three years in the post, he was ‘promoted’ to Chairman and was still in post in 2023. He first made his mark in 1977 when he took 38 wickets at 10.69 in the top division. This was to be the first of many seasons in which Mick qualified for the Bowling Averages. He also made some telling contributions with the bat and appeared in the batting averages most seasons with his most successful season being 1996 when he made 621 runs at an average of 34.50. His only century was an unbeaten 111 against Rowntrees and thus became one of an extremely select bunch of players who recorded both a century and a nine wicket match haul. He was a regular member of the Yorkshire Over 50s team from 2006 and also a member of the Over 60s team.
Norman Pearson
Stamford Bridge
Norman has been an active member of Stamford Bridge since 1950 and served his club as a player, captain and in a high profile management role for over 60 years, the majority as secretary. Prior to his club's switch from the East Riding Leagues, Norman had a spell as Secretary of the East Riding Independent League whilst as a player he captained the Pennant Alliance Representative XI. His playing ability soon led to an opportunity to play for York. Whilst, at 47 years old, his career as a player was on the wane when Stamford Bridge joined the York League in 1983 he led his team to successive divisional titles and completed the rise from the 4th division to the top division in 1988. However he did have some good years in the league making over 500 runs in four separate seasons. He hit a century when he made 102 against Wilberfoss and reached second place In the 3rd division bowling averages in 1984. Having dropped down into the second team he made 668 runs In 1993. He was Chairman of the York Joe Lumb Committee for many years and also served as President of the Yorkshire Joe Lumb Competition.
Barry Petty
Thirsk, Sheriff Hutton Bridge
It can he strongly argued that Barry has been the most successful bowler in the history of the League. He was been leading wicket taker in the top division on no fewer than eight occasions and topped the averages on three occasions. He was leading wicket taker in his division for ten successive seasons from 1992 to 2001. He took 1,365 wickets at 2.91 conceding a miserly run rate of 2.22 runs per over including 526 at an average of 14.83 in the top division. He also holds the top division record for the most wickets in a season (84) and also the best bowling analysis of 9-22. His stamina and durability have been remarkable and enabled him to bowl in excess of 400 overs in each of nine seasons with his hardest work seeing him bowl 459 in 1998. In 2009 as 2nd XI captain he topped both the bating and bowling averages in division 5 as well as making a career best 72no. He won the Bowling Award on seven occasions and it has now been re-named in his honour.
Ken Piercy
Huby
Having been actively involved in cricket for over 67 years Ken Piercy must surely be a contender for the longest server, not only in the York League, but in the County and even further afield. That his entire cricket career has been at one club is even more remarkable He first played for Huby in 1942 when, as an 11 year old, be appeared in a Jamieson Cup game at Easingwold. This was the beginning of more than 60 years as a player He played his final League game at the age of 70 but continued in the evening league for a while before donning the white coat. He embarked on a remarkable stint of 30 years as club captain between 1954 and 1983. His dedication was recognised in 1986 when be was named as Yorkshire Post Services to Sport Award Winner. As a player he had a top score of 67 v Westow and took 10-17 v Baldersby in the Evening League. His best season in the York League was 1973 when he claimed 39 wickets at 10.33 and finished eighth in the 4th division averages.
Pat Ruecroft
Thirsk
Pat has worn many hats and served in many positions of office since he joined Thirsk as a batsman in 1948. His first role was in 1955 when he became Assistant Secretary and he was elevated to secretary in 1962, a job which he did for five years. He then had a two year stint as treasurer. On the field, he had three stints as second XÌ captain in 1960, 1975 & 76 and again in 1978 & 79. He served on the committee from 1958 to 1985 and returned in 2011. His prowess as a junior coach has been a major factor in the club’s conveyer belt of talented young players and contributed much to Thirsk's re-emergence as a top division club. Other roles have included being the club’s representative on Thirsk Sports Council, club umpire and club historian, a role which he took on in 2001. He played a major role in the club’s 150th Anniversary in 2001 when he provided and archive of photos, documents and posters and was project manager for the fine new practice area.
Tony Stilgoe
Dringhouses
Tony Stilgoe’s pace and unusual bowling action earned him considerable success and recognition in both the York League and the Bradford League where he played the majority of his cricket. In his brief four year spell at Dringhouses he made a great impact and helped his side win the league championship twice, in 1963 when they won four more games than their nearest rivals, and again in 1965. They were then runners-up in 1966. In 1963 he claimed 57 wickets at 9.52 including his best return when his 9-33 destroyed Woodhouse Grange. He shouldered more responsibility in 1964 and had a 7-18 return against York RI whilst his 74 wickets in 1965 saw him in 4th place in the averages. 1996 saw him prove his all round credentials by hitting 126 against Huntington and finishing in second place in the Batting Averages, whilst also taking 45 wickets.
Richard Sykes
Acomb
Richard is quite rightly regarded as the League’s top all-round cricketer of the his era and excelled as batsman and wicket-keeper as well as proving a valuable asset with his medium pace bowling. He scored a total of 22 league centuries including 21 in the top division. He headed the top division
wicket keeping table on four occasions with a high of 44 victims (including 16 stumpings) in 2004. Richard has an incredible record in the Indoor League where he was the only player to score in excess of 5,500 runs as well as taking over 100 wickets and topping lie fielding records with 150 victims. His indoor performance earned him ten player of the year awards.