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HISTORY OF THE JESTERS
By Barrie Carter
THERE'S MANY A TRUE WORD SPOKEN
IN JEST
Sunday cricket was a rarity during the
summer of 1959 A.D., but against all odds the Leeds (Boar Lane) branch
of Boots the Chemists fielded an XI of varying abilities to contest
friendly fixtures in the area. Friends of Boots staff were invited to
ensure that a full complement was fielded for each game.
By the later stages of the 1960 season, very few "Old
Boots" remained, and remedies had to be taken (as chemists say!) to
guarantee fulfilling matches booked for the following season.
An enthusiastic hard core of more than useful
players from Bradford Central League side Girlington, pledged that a
decent side would take the field for the 1961 season.
 At an after-match "session" at the Jester pub ,
(now the lord darcy) Harrogate Road, Leeds, it was unanimously agreed that Sunday cricket was
too good to risk losing, and as the sole remaining Boots employee was
Secretary/ occasional 'keeper David Jenkins, the name was no longer
representative. One of those present at this historic meeting was still
sober, and suggested that as we often found ourselves imbibing at the
Jester - that must be our name henceforth!
The Jesters C.C. was accordingly founded in 1961,
and 50-odd years later the club is still in "business" despite the
reduced opportunities for friendly Sunday fixtures due to the many,
varied cup games now played on the Sabbath!
During the 1960's & 1970's there were few such matches,
and many league clubs were only too pleased to offer The Jesters
fixtures, knowing that we would provide competitive cricket, and
guarantee a full weekend for their players.
The Jesters have always tried to field well-balanced sides
(despite carrying some over-weight at times) and maintain an all-amateur
policy of team selection. Whilst playing to win, we have always been
known to take the field determined to enjoy our cricket - as modern day
Jesters should - with a laugh, usually followed by a rough and tumble in
the covers!
Around 130 different cricket clubs have hosted fixtures
with The Jesters, many local to the West Riding, East Riding and East
Lancs. Longer trips to Newcastle in the North East, Derbyshire in the
'South', Fylde coast in the West and Bridlington and Marton on the East
coast, have also regularly figured on our travels.
Since 1983 tours of up to four games, involving
missionary work to Henley-on-Thames and Cheltenham proved hugely
popular, and tourists of strange religion, race etc. suddenly became
die-hard Jesters! Our native Yorkshire accents were welcomed with awe -
our Southern friends seemed to have never heard of Lepton, Wyke or
Stanningley Bottom!
In its 54 year life span, the club has known just
4 skippers, Barrie Carter (1961-1980 & 1983 - 1986), Geoffrey Moorhouse (1981 -
1982), Eric Harrison (1987 - 1994), and for the past decade or so David
Bell's (1995 - present) capable hands have been at the helm, assisted
recently by vice-captain Dale Winterbottom.
Our spin twins seem to have played for ever, namely
club chairman John "coco" Coates and his fellow conspirator and
money-laundering treasurer Steve Scott.
"Uncle" Ron Wells (affectionately known as Alligator Ron - possibly as a
result of his ankle biting tactics at 1st slip) has been a stalwart
President of the Jesters for more than 20 years, following in the
footsteps of the late Frank Moorhouse and "Colonel" Scott.
To summarize - over 530 hardy souls have turned out in
Jesters colours, (on occasions these have varied from Ladies' boudoir
pink to coffee shades not unlike the odd baby's diaper). Roughly 150 of
these played only one game as they were innocent bystanders/ passing
tramps press-ganged to ensure that we had 11 bodies on the pitch!
At the other end of the spectrum, 28 players made over 100
appearances for THE JESTERS and there are now 12 in the 200 club. (and 1
in the 500 club, Barrie himself - the editor)
Matches played...........902
Won............................532
Lost.............................315
Tied.................................9
Drawn...........................46 (Due to weather - either snow or
earthquake!)
Clubs played................151
"Caggy"
A FEW TEAM PHOTO'S FROM DOWN THE YEARS (click to enlarge)
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"Boots the chemists" at Carr Mills, Batley 1959 |
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v Wellington Foundry 1961 |
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v Newby Hall (oldest fixture) 1965 |
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v Wideopen 1974
G.Williams B.King G.Croudson G.Beaumont K.Waite B.Cordingley G.Moorhouse D.Boyd P.Charlton B.Carter R.Wells |
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