The team have had a difficult time this season up to present, with quite a lot players being used in the squad. After the situation that the club was left with at the end of last season, it was always going to be a difficult process and I still believe that with a little bit of tweaking and a bit more luck, the team will get themselves out of their present position. I said in my previous article that we would need to remain patient and that it would take time for the manager to get his squad together and at the time of writing this is proving to be the case with a quite number of comings and goings of players. The team do play some good football and have competed well against some of the better sides in the league, but unfortunately they just seem to lack the ability to concentrate for the whole of the game and make silly mistakes which prove costly from a result point of view.

          In my previous article I referred to the success of Lady Lumleys School cricket teams, but forgot, for which I apologise, to mention the success of the Pickering Junior Cricket teams. The club had 3 Under 15’s teams with the ‘A’ Team competing in the ‘A’ division and finishing runners up to Scarborough, unfortunately losing their last game of the season to Scarborough in the game which decided the league champions. The ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams both competed in the ‘C’ Division with ‘B’ team finishing runners up and gaining promotion. In the Under 11 section the league is split into 2 zones and the ‘A’ team competing in Zone 2 won their respective league but lost the zonal final to Bridlington. The club also had an Under 13 team competing in the cup competition but they lost to Driffield the eventual winners in an early round by one run.

          So all together the teams had a reasonably successful season and a great deal of thanks should go to Ady Boyes and his other coaches for all their hard work.

          Whilst on the subject of cricket (you wouldn’t think this article was titled Pickering Town Football Club would you) don’t forget all you readers how I predicted Lancashire to win the County Championship, we won’t mention my prediction about Bolton to do well in the Premiership this season - will we though.

          As many of you will have seen in the local press, the Bowls Club also had some success this season, winning the Hovingham league under the captaincy of Philip (Spadge) Bointon, well done to them.

          Bowls, Cricket, Football what else can I bring to the attention of you avid readers of this article, I know the Recreation Club itself, where all these sports take place. Although the club had a difficult time last year, the first for a number years, we are at present enjoying a more successful year although we must continue to work hard.

          Whilst the Club has a good active membership helped by the Sports Clubs, it is assisted tremendously by the private functions the club is hired for, and these functions provide a valuable income stream for the club, enabling us to improve its facilities. The functions the club caters for are quite diverse ranging from 13th to 80th Birthday parties, Wedding receptions, school reunions, special wedding anniversaries to name but just a few and of course not forgetting our own tribute nights. We are also hoping to arrange some Christmas Party Nights - full details of which are available from the Club. 

          So for all you people who have taken the time to read this latest gripping instalment you can see that the club caters for all sorts of activities, I haven’t even mentioned sewing, embroidery, bridge clubs, pool, darts oh yes and dancing.

          Don’t forget anyone wanting to arrange a private party you know where to come.

          A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you..

Alan Brenkley.