Otley Cricket Club moves into the new millenniuum sadly as the only cricket club in town following the December demise of Otley Town and the earlier losses of clubs such as D P and E and Otley Wesley.

Otley Cricket Club's hope for the new millennium is that cricket will continue to thrive in the town but to achieve this they need an end to the constant vandalism which is costing the club dear.

Over the past few months thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused - mainly by young drinkers seeking an out of the way spot to 'enjoy' themselves.

Only recently the club has spent in excess of £2,000 in trying to make the premises secure but as club officials point out this is wasted money. It is money that could have been used to improve facilities for the town's youth to play and enjoy the game.

Life member Ray Beadle, who has gained a lifetime's enjoyment from the game and intends to continue playing in the coming season, said: I can't see any point to this continued vandalism. They get nothing out of it, there is nothing to steal but they cause us hundreds of pounds worth of damage and they are depriving their mates and other youngsters of the opportunity to play a wonderful game.

'We welcome all youngsters down here who have an interest in the game and we offer coaching from qualified coaches every Friday night in the summer. There is a good social life here too and we just wish that some of these youngsters would put their efforts into something positive.

' We can offer them that chance, there is plenty of opportunity for youngsters to play in the senior sides as well as the junior sides we run from under-11 to Under-17.'

'We cannot however improve the facilities with all weather wickets etc if these acts of vandalism continue. Paying for repairs to the damage and for systems to protect our buildings is draining the funds we have. We have had to shell out thousands just to make the place secure,' said Beadle.

'We have had to make the place look like Alcatraz and it spoils the look of the place,' he added.

The Otley club has not had the best of fortunes playing wise in recent season's but the hard work put in by such as club chairman Chris Smith, Barrie Crighton, Michael Smith, Michael Daly, Ray Beadle and others will eventually bear fruit. Success tends to run in cycles and hopefully the wheel is turning Otley's way.

The club has a new first team captain in Aidy Atter annd they hope that the enthusiasm and knowledge he will bring to the job will nudge them back into action. Always respected as a well run club Otley will be looking for the on field success to go with their off field organisation.

'We have been lucky in the past to have had such workers as Roy Barker, Vernon Light, Joe Handley, Vernon Barritt and Frank Newbould and we have a new generation of people putting just as much into the club so we look forward with hope,' said Beadle.

As well as a new man in charge of the first team they have a new man in charge of the third team which this season will join the Airedale and Wharfedale Third Teams Division.

David Lowen will skipper that side as they make the move from the Dales Council League.

'We feel it is the right time to move although we have enjoyed our time in the Dales Council. It is a well run league and despite what some people think there are some good players in it. When there are players like Mark Abbott playing you can see they have some quality but sometimes because of that it has made it difficult for young players and they get disheartened easily if they are losing all the time. The Airedale and Wharfedale League structure is perhaps better suited to giving youngsters a chance and we are looking forward to it, said Beadle.

Having started out as the only club in the town in the 1820's Otley cricket Club now finds itself in that position once again. This is not a situation that pleases Beadle and his fellow workers at Otley Cricket Club.

'It was sad to see the demise of Town and there is no way we are rubbing our hands in glee. It is awfully sad that another cricket club has been lost and in a town this size there should be more chances for people to play the game.

'We will welcome as many people as we can at Cross Green - and all Town's players are particularly welcome - but one club alone should struggle to accommodate everyone wanting to play the game. We will do our best to provide the opportunity for everyone who wants a game to play. It is a great game and you make a great many friends over the years,' said Beadle.

The Otley club is hoping to have a fit Paul Kelley available for the new season 'he will be a big assett', said Beadle.

We need to get off to a good start with a couple of wins, that is all we need to get back on the road to success. Winning builds momentum and we feel that we can make the breakthrough,' he added.

Beadle is well qualified to speak about the enjoyment to be gained from cricket.

He started out as an 11 year-old in league cricket and joined Otley in 1968 when he qualified as a teacher. He has stuck with the club ever since becoming one of the more prominent players in the Airedale and Wharfedale League.

'I have been very lucky in that I have played with some good players at Otley and we have in the past won a lot of things. It does not matter how good you are as an individual, you won't win things unless you play with good players and I have been lucky in that respect.

'Take David Thackeray at Menston, he has been a good player but has mostly had little support and has not much to show for a great career. If he had moved to other clubs in the area he would have won a lot more but he has been loyal to his club. I have been lucky that I have had players like Mike Bailey, John Harker, Geoff Cope, Dick Blomfield and Chris Smith to play alongside and have plenty to show for it,' said Beadle.

'I have certainly enjoyed my time at Otley and in the Airedale and Wharfedale League and I just wish that some of these youngsters causing the vandalism would get some of the same enjoyment out of life,' he added.

Vacancy in Aire-Wharfe League

WITH the demise of Otley Town Cricket Club and their withdrawal from the new Third Division of the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League a vacancy now exists for the season 2001.

Any clubs interested should apply to league secretary Howard Clayton at 22, Montagu Court, Leeds, LS8 2TT, by August 31, 2000.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.