Flintoff bid to finally secure his Lord's win

Thirty-four years later, having fought his way back into the York village's first XI, the 55-year-old Flintoff belatedly gets to grace the home of cricket.

It will be a proud day also for John's father Brian, who played that day as Sessay lost and will be in the stands as the club he now serves as life president bid to land the prestigious club trophy at the second attempt.

The Flintoffs' is a poignant tale, but by no means an isolated one for a club that represents the tiny hamlet of Sessay with such distinction.

"A lot of the lads have played junior cricket for the club over the years, and had their parents play in the first team down the years so for us to reach Lord's is fantastic," said Stephen Langstaff, the captain, whose father David played in that vanquished side of '76.

While John Flintoff's three-decade search for atonement tugs on the heartstrings, Sessay's run to a final against Shipton-under-Wychwood of Oxfordshire, which encompassed eight wins, has created more stories.

Like the contribution of 18 year-old Jacob Spencer who made a decisive intervention in the first round.

"Staithes (Whitby) needed six to win off the last ball and their batsman hoiked one to the boundary but Jacob caught it five yards inside the ropes.

"Staithes could probably be thinking 'this should be us', but credit to them, they've wished us all the best."

Sessay have made friends at every stop on this emotional journey to London, that has taken them from Scarborough to Darlington to Coventry.

"Everywhere we've been we've had a positive reception and the spirit of the game has shone through," said Langstaff. "There's a small degree of frustration even at our level at the way the betting controversy with Pakistan has tarnished the game.

"At our level the game is played fairly and everybody gives their best. In the semi-final, Fillongley's batsman got a small under-edge against us and he walked – which showed great fair play."

Shipton are favourites, having won the tournament twice in the last decade.

"They've got more experience of playing the final and the venue," concedes Langstaff.

But Sessay have the support of close neighbours to call on. York Senior clubs Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Woodhouse Grange have both won the title in the last six years, as have Houghton Main whose Pontefract League counterparts Streethouse continued Yorkshire's strong tradition in the competition by reaching last year's final.

"The most important thing is we put in a performance," says Langstaff.