YP Letters: Early indication of cricketing talents to come

From: Chris Hassell, Former Yorkshire CCC CEO.
John Hampshire who died last week.John Hampshire who died last week.
John Hampshire who died last week.

JOHN Hampshire and Geoffrey Boycott first met as 14-year-olds playing for Yorkshire Schools against Derbyshire Schools at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield, in 1955 (The Yorkshire Post, March 4).

Also playing in that same match was Jack Birkenshaw (Yorkshire/Leicestershire/Worcestershire and England) and Chris Balderstone (Yorkshire/Leicestershire and England plus Huddersfield Town/Carlisle United/Doncaster Town) and both were respected first class and Test match umpires, along with John Hampshire. Added to that illustrious quartet was Duncan Fearnley (England Schools and Worcestershire) who later made his name as a leading cricket bat manufacturer as well as chairing Worcestershire CCC for years.

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They were all born in the same school year and made significant contributions to our great game for very many years. Yorkshire racked up 172 in the match Hampshire (Rotherham Schools) 50 retired, Birkenshaw (Rothwell Schools) 48, Fearnley (Aire/Wharfe) 16, Boycott (South Elmsall) 13. Balderstone (Huddersfield Sch) did not bat and then bowled out Derbyshire for 31. Perhaps this was an early indication of the strength of young cricketing talent in Yorkshire which was to follow.