Sorry to read in the Star that one of the city's cricketing stalwarts, Ian Nunnington, died on Mon 22 Oct at the age of 79.
Much of Ian's sporting life was devoted to cricket and he will be remembered, not only for playing, but for coaching many young enthusiasts in the city from his days with Sheffield United C.C. - going well back into the club's life at Bramall Lane.
Ian's funeral is next Monday, 29th at Hutcliffe Wood crem, 3.30pm.

I live in Canada and have since 1968. Would Mr Nunnington be any relation to Dorothy, Bill, Brian Nunnington as they were avid cricket players along with my father Albert Ward many years ago with the Zingari Cricket Club. Also Michael and Andrew Nunnington, sons of Dorothy and Bill were avid players, sad to say they both passed away at an early age. Jan Softly ( Janet Ward)

Sorry Jan but I am unable to answer your questions although it doesn't mean to say nobody else can't. I think Ian had moved to the private flats by the Bole Hills when he died and believe at one time, he lived at Nether Green.
I mentioned Sheffield United CC but he also played at Hallam at one time and more than likely coached there. I'm not sure about his family but just knew him from his services to cricket. He had much to offer younger players and was a super chap as well.

Thank-you for getting back to me. Jan Softly.

Ian Nunnington was a very good guy, I remember him as secretary of the Sheffield & District Cricket Association in the early 1970s. He was a good servant to local cricket, much in the same way as people (also no longer with us) like Charlie Scholey, Ivan Priestley, Ben Jessop, Bill Childs, etc. Someone should start a list of great local cricket stalwarts down the years!

Ian Nunnington was a very good guy, I remember him as secretary of the Sheffield & District Cricket Association in the early 1970s. He was a good servant to local cricket, much in the same way as people (also no longer with us) like Charlie Scholey, Ivan Priestley, Ben Jessop, Bill Childs, etc. Someone should start a list of great local cricket stalwarts down the years!

The people you mention may be hard acts to follow! I remember Ron Rayner and Jack Schofield from Sheffield Boys (60's) and subsequently Jack Bethel and Eric Burgin who both knew Ian well. In a lesser league, I remember the late Arnold Bradshaw also making a telling contribution with his great enthusiasm for cricket and taking a tour to Hampshire, comprising players from Crookes and Treeton - which reminds me of a coach at Treeton called McDonald whom I fondly recall as "Mac".

Apologies. Entered in error.

Still hoping to stimulate some interest in the idea of discussing league cricket here, and also trying to get something going on old local cricketers on www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/sheffieldsport --why not have a look?

Link is not working.
In the early 50's my father regularly took me to watch Hallam C C at Sandygate. Names I can remember: Jack Lovell, Ike Lindley, Eric Mallaband, Watt-Smith, Pickering, Tupholme.

The people you mention may be hard acts to follow! I remember Ron Rayner and Jack Schofield from Sheffield Boys (60's) and subsequently Jack Bethel and Eric Burgin who both knew Ian well. In a lesser league, I remember the late Arnold Bradshaw also making a telling contribution with his great enthusiasm for cricket and taking a tour to Hampshire, comprising players from Crookes and Treeton - which reminds me of a coach at Treeton called McDonald whom I fondly recall as "Mac".

Dennis McDonald .... he is still about, I believe, and active with the Junior League. That tour to Portsmouth & Southsea does bring back some memories of being dragged around by my parents! My mum still has some pictures of the players who went in late 60's/early 70's.

Link is not working.
In the early 50's my father regularly took me to watch Hallam C C at Sandygate. Names I can remember: Jack Lovell, Ike Lindley, Eric Mallaband, Watt-Smith, Pickering, Tupholme.

I lived in Crosspool and used to watch Hallam a few times a year. As the years progressed, regret to say I became more interested in playing snooker in the Plough opposite than in watching the cricket.

Link is not working.
In the early 50's my father regularly took me to watch Hallam C C at Sandygate. Names I can remember: Jack Lovell, Ike Lindley, Eric Mallaband, Watt-Smith, Pickering, Tupholme.

Was Tom Wells opening the innings? Before cricket appeared on BBC2 on Sunday afternoons, the options were seeking a match at Hallam, Waterworks or Millhouses for something to do.

Thanks MobileB, glad to hear Dennis is okay. Slap and moustached then, he used to use glasses as fieldsmen on the bar to get across a coaching point. A very good-hearted man.

REDFYRE - as Robian says, your promotional history link isn't working. I have mention this late player before - Derreck (sp?) Gregory of Sheffield Waterworks whose multi-tasking was the backbone of that Crookes-based club. His son, John, later played for Sheffield United C.C. Such devotion and dedication seems thin on the ground nowadays?

Robian and Chairboy If that link isn't working it is my fault because I don't fully understand modern technology! Can I suggest you go into http://sheffieldhistory.co.uk/ and then once you are in go onto the sports link, and one of the items is about local cricket heroes. Hope it works that way!

Robian and Chairboy If that link isn't working it is my fault because I don't fully understand modern technology! Can I suggest you go into http://sheffieldhistory.co.uk/ and then once you are in go onto the sports link, and one of the items is about local cricket heroes. Hope it works that way!

Yes, Redfyre, that's working, thanks.

Redfyre - that's worked fine. A very interesting site, thanks.

Chairboy -The name Tom Wells does ring a bell. If memory serves (which isn't that often now) and I'm thinking of the right person, he wore glasses when batting. His opening partner would have been Brian(?) Pickering as I recollect a rather ample gentleman but nonetheless a good bat. I've been struggling with the name of the wicket keeper around that time. For some reason the name Burnett or Burdett keeps coming to me.

Redfyre - that's worked fine. A very interesting site, thanks.

Chairboy -The name Tom Wells does ring a bell. If memory serves (which isn't that often now) and I'm thinking of the right person, he wore glasses when batting. His opening partner would have been Brian(?) Pickering as I recollect a rather ample gentleman but nonetheless a good bat. I've been struggling with the name of the wicket keeper around that time. For some reason the name Burnett or Burdett keeps coming to me.

Tom Wells, as well as the glasses I think he had a 'tache, very 50's. His daughter Wendy was in my class at Junior school.
I also remember another Hallam player, a Welshman/bowler called Gary Siberry, who subsequently moved to Shiregreen CC.
Your last query, well I can recall Ronnie Burnett captaining Yorkshire but I have played with a Burdett, Graham at Shiregreen CC. A quiet but much respected man and coach plus talented cricketer. He and Pat Flaherty coached the juniors in the 60's. I moved on as a student and I haven't been anywhere near the club since but they carried on their loyal work since. Ex-pupils of De La Salle GS will certainly know them well. Along with the late Ben Jessop, who fixed me up with a contact in The Netherlands, people such as these were the lifeblood of club cricket and would be difficult to replicate now.
Another name of similar respect that's sprung to mind, from the north of the city/Barnsley was that of Ike Baxter. I know he played and supported Whitley Hall CC but I think he originated from Elsecar? They are just wonderful people I doubt us seeing their like again?

No, Ike Baxter was an Ecclesfield product. He lived up The Wheel, and his home overlooked Whitley Hall's ground from the back. His father was a WHCC stalwart for years, and Ike's brothers, too. But Ike had a spell at Sheffield United and then was at Elsecar for some years. Indeed, he was a legend there. I remember his last match for Elsecar in 1963, when he captained them on the day they beat Wombwell to win the Yorkshire Council title. It was a memorable weekend for Ike, as I think his sister Connie was over from Australia. Anyway, Ike remained a leading figure at Whitley, and, indeed, since his death the club has renamed the ground Baxter's Field. Ike will never be forgotten, and I know that his son in law Des Childs is still a leading light at the club.
As for Shiregreen, I do believe that both Graham Burdett and Pat Flaherty are still associated with Shiregreen, and, as you would expect from two of Ben Jessop's old boys, they are doing great work with the juniors. Ben Jessop, of course, did a tremendous job in getting the Junior League started, and he persuaded his son in law Ivan Priestley to serve as secretary and treasurer.
Places like Whitley and Shiregreen were always good grounds to be at in the old days, and I suppose that a lot of people still get pleasure from watching the modern teams.
Just at present, they are building a new pavilion at Whitley.

Thanks Redfyre for that informative thread especially about Ike Baxter and family. Apart from one factual query/correction, I know you will share the 'legendary' term associated with Ike. I was unaware of the ground being named in his honour.
I was a little dismayed when I saw the damage done to Oughtibridge CC as a result of the 2007 floods. Maybe you can embellish upon a few names there I offer but can remember players in the 60's such as Terry Whitham, Tony Kay and Arthur Johnson - the latter having a link with Yorkshire via a Berger Paints sponsorship? Most of these grounds mentioned were hostile places to visit with plenty of 'earache' from the boundary edge watchers! I found Yorkshire League venues less hostile.

Long gone are the days of Friday's Star when many of the cricket and hockey X1s for the following day or Sunday, were listed in the sports pages.

Oughtibridge, I am sorry to say, was not one of the clubs I saw much of in the days when I was doing the rounds of the grounds, for my patch was more the Ecclesfield-Shiregreen-Thorncliffe-Elsecar area, although I had occasional excursions to other places. Naturally, I wasn't restricted to YC matches, and I often went to see Sheffield United when they still played at Bramall Lane (old George Pope was still playing then!), and Collegiate. Indeed, I continued to be a fairly regular spectator at United's games after the move to Bawtry Road --and my wife and I still get there during the summer months. It was always good to be among some of the old United lads, people like Bruce Oakes, Eric Burgin, Bill Cummins, etc. Even now, whenever you go to a YL match at Bawtry Road, you invariably meet up with someone from the distant past. For instance, one week when we went old Jack Bland had organised an Aston Hall re-union...and a parade of half-forgotten faces appeared on the pavilion balcony!
I still remember a lot of the 'old' school with great affection, and when I raised the subject of a few tributes on SF and History it was in the hope that some old timers would be prompted to share a few memories and pictures. One name that has just come into my mind is that of Amos Gledhill, who was connected with Whitley Hall 40 years ago or more. I can't say I ever saw him play, for he was a veteran-plus when I first knew him, but he was good company, and typical of the sort of people who were around in cricket in those days. Another great worker was Bill Childs, who was connected with Mortomley, and the Sheffield League had an abundance of great workers for the game.
I hope some of these people will get a mention on the history site, too!
Re Oughtibridge, I think a lot of people were devastated by the effect of the floods, and it was good that something was done to raise funds for them and for Shiregreen and Wath. Jack Bland did a lot to get things going re the fund raising and the spcial match, and that reminds me that Jack probably knows as much about Oughtibridge in the old days as anybody --for he played there.
The newspapers, of course, are not too bothered about League cricket in the way they once were, though I think the part of the media that is very neglectful of local cricket in South Yorkshire is Radio Sheffield. They simply do not want to know, and don't realise what a good thing it would be for them as well as for local cricket if they got involved. Radio Leeds leaves them standing!

Redfyre - "Radio Leeds leaves them standing!"

Going back to the days of the scoring book, pre-technology, I used to be Don Mosey's statistician for the old Radio 2 coverage of games. I mention this because he also used a man from Radio Leeds called Jack Wainwright who was also a keen Rugby League man. Jack's no longer with us but I wondered if you knew him? This was about the time when Dick Williamson was covering games for the Sheffield press. I became more interested post 1980, in watching/reporting on County cricket.
I am by no means an authority on Oughtibridge cricket but it would be remiss of me not to mention Ray Gott who had a son called Barry who played to a good standard. Certain names are synonymous with clubs and think of Oughtibridge, the Gott's should be on one's list. Names appear in my head these days from the strangest of tangents!
City Surveyors - I immediately think of Shutt, Mettam and Smith (spin bowler). Given the diocese you mentioned, I would be surprised if you didn't know a sound opening bat called Trevor Cottam? Then I switch to a couple of bowlers in John Moore(s?) and Jim Sorsby from the 60's. Staying with Shiregreen - they seemed to attract a number of footballers viz. Ernest Jackson, Ivor Seemley, Andy Burgin, Harold Wilcockson and it was hard, running between wickets with them! Cortonwood was another club that played in that previous cluster of teams.
I think it's time for a change of bowling at my end!

I think John Moore is still around, living somewhere in the Walkley Lane area. I saw Trevor Cottam last summer --he's an umpire in the Yorkshire League nowadays. David Shutt is still very much involved at Sheffield United, and the Shutt tradition is being maintained on the field by his grandsons now!
I remember Barry Gott, and the other names you mention are very familiar.

http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/yorkshires-outstanding-volunteers-earn-awards,15202,EN.html

I unearthed the above site after Googling - "Frank Richardson" whom I knew from his umpiring Yorkshire League games. Although 2007 site, I was delighted to see Frank is going strong at 91yo. Norman Croft is another name who served the game well, father of Bill.
It looks a relevant site to what you were asking for, the naming of unsung heroes around the county?

I have just had a glance at that site, and note that quite a few of the people we have mentioned have been honoured. Funny thing is, though, I have not seen a line about all this in The Star. What a pity the old Morning Telegraph no longer exists, for it had a very good League cricket feature in the summer and they kept abreast of the local cricket events during the winter, too. Mind you, in referring to The Star, one wonders whether the info was sent to the paper.
Earlier, incidentally, you mentioned Dick Williamson. Dick was a rare character, and I knew him fairly well. He used to say that his telegraphic address was "Evil, Bradford"!
He used to love to tease newcomers to the Press Box (especially those who knew little of cricket) by commenting aloud that the batsman had just scored three --"all run"!

Williamson's "three --all run" line caught out one young journalist, who knew nothing of the game, and the poor lad dictated the words into his copy --and it duly appeared in the paper! Great mirth at Williamson's end of the box!
Yes, Norman Croft was a great lad. One of the group that were very close to George Pope in his Sheffield United days.
Still nobody joining me on my occasional excursions into sheffield history! Come on, Chairboy, gives us a bit o' support!

Williamson's "three --all run" line caught out one young journalist, who knew nothing of the game, and the poor lad dictated the words into his copy --and it duly appeared in the paper! Great mirth at Williamson's end of the box!
Yes, Norman Croft was a great lad. One of the group that were very close to George Pope in his Sheffield United days.
Still nobody joining me on my occasional excursions into sheffield history! Come on, Chairboy, gives us a bit o' support!

I think I've provided more than a few prompts!
I tell of one occasion when George Pope took me to one side in the nets behind the Spion Kop. It's a pity younger players won't be reading this as it made sound sense. I had got well past holding the index finger down by the splice but George was keeping a beady eye on my hands.
He told me to contemplate holding an axe and immediately I said my hands would be together. "Then that's what you need with the bat handle, hands together", he replied. That advice must have been mid-60s and I've never forgotten it.
I've been out of the game now for 25 years but it wasn't confined to Sheffield when I played. I recall playing for a team called "Saints". The side was captained by Yorkshire's Bob Platt. I didn't bat or bowl that day but found it a fascinating education.

Don't mention George Pope's coaching please. As a 13/14 year old, I could really turn my off-break and then, one evening at the Bramall Lane nets, George told me I was holding the ball wrong and got me to change my action. I religiously stuck to his advice and could never spin the ball as much again. I also remember my first game for United 2nds, at Cortonwood, when George put me and a fellow 16 year old in at VERY short leg when he opened the bowling. He was bowling big in-swingers and the ball kept flying off the inside edge past me and my mate. His language towards us was atrocious and hardly helped us enjoy the experience or want to be selected again. I do remember Alan Hodgkinson (The Sheff United goalkeeper and very good cricketer) taking us on one side at the tea interval and apologising for George's behaviour and saying that none of the older players would field at short leg, because they knew what would happen if the missed a chance of a catch.

George also had a way with umpires, almost getting them to say "yes, Mister Pope" and kidding them on until they felt they owed him a few decisions!
Farmer have you looked at the cricket under sport on sheff history? I can't get Chairboy to contribute, but you might!

I used to be on the Yorkshire & Derbyshire League committee with Andy Nunnington, Zingari CC, who sadly passed away well before his time. I also used to be YDCL Publicity Officer and yes it is indeed very difficult to get coverage in The Star. Green Un, Telegraph & especially Derbyshire Times are still quite obliging however. Most cricket reporting is done on t'internet these days through the ECB's 'play-cricket' network, every club in the country being entitled to its own website.

If you put it on a plate for them --that is, write the piece yourself-- you often have a better chance of getting news items in most local papers. And they like it best if it's written and e-mailed, then they can, if they wish, put it straight into the page without any real work on their part! If you want something in The Star as opposed to the Green Un, send it to The Star; but bear in mind that, if space is short and they think your piece is more appropriate to the Green Un, they may pass it to the Green Un. Les Payne is a Star man worth approaching. He supports Rotherham, but he's not a bad guy!
It is local radio that is a bind when it comes to local cricket coverage. The young guys running the sports coverage are very fond of football, and, in particular, they love pandering to the managers and players of United and Wednesday. I fear that they don't have any real interest in cricket, and, unlike in the old days, they don't have anybody on their staff who is involved with, or has any feeling for, cricket at club level. They don't realise just how many people would listen in if they had a programme or programmes devoted to local cricket. What it needs is a campaign (lots and lots of letters, including some to the local newspapers, and phone calls!) supported by a group of officials representing a variety of local leagues, and, if necessary, someone involved in local cricket who is prepared to "front" a cricket programme or help arrange coverage, etc. If you keep pestering them (a guy called Seth seems to be the top lad), they might eventually take notice, but don't hold your breath!

Farmer have you looked at the cricket under sport on sheff history? I can't get Chairboy to contribute, but you might!

Sorry, nothing personal but have told myself not to get involved with the sporting forum pages, one of a few reasons is giving leads. As the thread moves on, I get very annoyed by media outlets telling us:"Send us your stories, send us your pictures", BUT don't expect any pay! Not so long ago YTV paid £11 per story; one of mine received 1' 42" footage. I think the attitude now is we use 'our own' staff and what we don't get, we don't get. We'll make do with PA! The times I've heard that.

More cricket names have passed through my mind but those not mentioned, don't feel affronted, I haven't been everywhere! Bradfield CC and the name synonymous there was Elliott (was it George or Frank or has my mind gone?)
I recall Frank Herbert and his sterling work in Stocksbridge with cricket. There were the Atters at Shiregreen but some in Sheffield will remember one of my late dad's old buddy, Alan Otter, who as well as being a demon underarm bowler in Hillsborough Park, organised and played his cricket at Little Matlock.
I mentioned the SWFC influence at Shiregreen and I forgot to mention Jackie Thompson. Jackie roomed with my dad on club away trips during the war-time matches. His son, Brian, also played at Shiregreen.

http://www.sportgrimsby.co.uk/cricket/

Was looking on the Grimsby site for what the cricket coverage offered? I clicked on "Picture Gallery" and there are some pictures of Sheffield United playing in a Twenty20 this summer. It may be of interest?

Sadly, long gone are the cable-knitted sweaters with the red and black piping in the V-neck.
Whilst typing this, a character rather than an icon, who wore such, went through my mind. John Hobson, familiarly known as "Hobby"!

Sorry, Chairboy, I can understand your feelings towards sporting forums, and, to be frank, I have myself refused to go into all the football sites, and some of the others, because a lot of what is said is totally meaningless and as bad as some of the stuff you read in the letters in the Green Un. I am not into the newspaper "tell us your story for nowt" business!
But, all the same, being keen on League cricket, and knowing how little real publicity it gets, I thought it would be good to get a few of the genuine League enthusiasts of the old school putting on record a few thoughts and tributes so that, hopefully, at sometime in the future someone might come along and learn a bit about the way it was.
I have reached that stage whereby I feel there are some things (and my cricket memories are just one of a number of subjects) that I would like to place on record before it is too late. What happens to the info in later times, I am not too bothered about. In truth, if it ensures that some old characters who might otherwise be forgotten are remembered, well all to the good. Call it a contribution to history!
In fact, Chairboy, reading some of your notes, I have often wondered whether our paths might have crossed at some time. I wouldn't be surprised.

No problem Redfyre. I think what you are trying to do is admirable. I've chipped in with a number of names on this thread and hitherto, probably offered more than anybody else but I don't think I can say much more.
Your phrase "genuine league enthusiast" should disqualify me immediately because I have always preferred to be watching first class sport than participating. I have often reflected on the advice I had to 'play whilst you can' in that I have been in a wheelchair since 45yo - maybe a book there?
There were days when I played when I would have preferred to have been elsewhere, Cup Final day etc. and I had many other things to attend to including music engagements, travel, reporting etc. such that Sunday friendlies became more convenient.
I've done my share of nets in January (as a student) and been happy to do midweek stints, if able, at clubs but come Saturdays, I had other options so I don't think I was as committed as I might have appeared. Thus, I feel there are many ex-players better able to offer the background you are seeking.

"One name that has just come into my mind is that of Amos Gledhill, who was connected with Whitley Hall 40 years ago or more. I can't say I ever saw him play, for he was a veteran-plus when I first knew him, but he was good company, and typical of the sort of people who were around in cricket in those days."

Amos was my great uncle, I remember him having a black eye from a cricket ball, only met him once, its nice to hear him spoken of in the way that I remember him.

Sadly, Ian's wife Evelyn died aged 78, on October 8. Her funeral is at HWC next Monday, 19/10 at 9.30 a.m.