Cricket Lepton back from brink and planning for bright future

May 30 2009 By Mel Booth

LEPTON HIGHLANDERS may be registering England wicketkeeper Phil Mustard from Durham, but their most impressive work has been done much closer to home.

The Cedar Court Conference side have reorganised on and off the field and the whole sporting set-up at Wakefield Road has been united to maximise support, expertise, revenue and resources.

It’s already paying off, with the football section landing their first ever District League Division I title only a few weeks ago and the cricket making an encouraging start to the Drakes League campaign.

It’s an inspiring effort, because three decades on from when he first joined the club, chairman and first-team captain Sean Mulhall admits the Highlanders were on the brink, with their future in ‘district league’ cricket severely under threat after finishing bottom of the Frank Platt section last year.

"We suffered from in-fighting, poor leadership and poor management and this led to an exodus of players and the resignation of key members of the club," said Mulhall, with refreshing candour.

"The club was tearing itself apart and I was convinced we could make a better fist of it, so we set about restoring Lepton Highlanders into a competitive district league cricket team, which is what we are now.

"Last season was virtually written off competitive wise – my two most embarrassing moments were being unable to field a team in the Sykes Cup at Elland and taking the field with seven men at Scholes – but during that time plans were put in place first to ensure we survived, then to progress and soon to flourish as a club again.

"The first task was to attempt to unite the entire club, because we are multi-sports, so instead of everyone doing their own thing we could function and flourish as one.

"We went to the club management to explain why, cricket wise, our existence as a Drakes League club was severely under threat and why we needed to do things differently for the good of everyone."

A new main committee was formed under chairman Paul Peters, vice-chairman Paul Carter, treasurer Bob Lister and secretary Michelle Aylward.

"Fair play to them, they pledged full support to me and the cricket and that was the starting point," said Mulhall.

"The chairman, who is not a cricketer, put on some whites and helped us fulfil our fixtures in the second team, as did the groundsman Nick Turner and his son ‘Rooney,’ and that was the sort of spirit we wanted.

"Top of the agenda for cricket, though, was improving our facilities – the league were quite justified in asking us to do that – and player recruitment."

A new scoreboard has been built and opened by the club’s Fred Stallard Cup winner Jack Waring (the league’s top award is for long and distinguished service), while covers were bought for the first time in the club’s history and a temporary sightscreen installed (it will be upgraded).

"On the cricket side we had to increase the size of the committee because myself and Alan Waring were doing everything, and the top appointment of Barry Hodgson as secretary was essential for all the administration and matchday duties – and he’s a massive asset," continued Mulhall.

"Alan has taken over as treasurer, bringing his business skills and understanding of sponsorships from his company, Independent Electrical Services, and with his wife Julie he does a very professional job with the financial side of the club.