Huddersfield’s best young cricketers invited to Yorkshire nets in 1950

Mar 16 2010 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SOME of the best young cricketers in Huddersfield were invited to Yorkshire nets – two of whom went on to play for England.

Primrose Hill all-rounder Ken Taylor and Almondbury spinner Eddie Leadbeater, who were 14 and 22 respectively at the time, eventually went all the way to the national Test team.

Leadbeater was already a professional and had been netting at the Headingley winter shed under the guidance of coaches Arthur Mitchell and Bill Bowes.

Another asked to attend was former Golcar wicketkeeper Roy Booth, who went on to have a fine career in county cricket with Yorkshire and Worcestershire, where he helped them win the County Championship in 1964 and 65.

Booth was 23 at the time and didn’t break through with Yorkshire until the following season because Don Brennan had the gloves.

Also making the trip to Leeds were Lascelles Hall’s 18-year-old batsman Gordon Adamson, former Armitage Bridge all-rounder Bernard Brooke and fellow 19-year-old Ted Gill, the Paddock batsman who went on to captain in the Huddersfield League with great distinction.

Lascelles Hall’s 24-year-old opening bowler Brian Shaw – another to have a lifelong association with the game in this area – was on the Yorkshire radar as were teammates Keith Brown (18, all-rounder), Brian Sandford (19, wicketkeeper) and Philip Colbeck (24, batsman).

Paddock duo Peter Ellis (21, batsman) and Lewis Jones (24, fast bowler) completed the Huddersfield contingent along with Bradley Mills’ 18-year-old bowler Reggie Lisle, Holmfirth all-rounder Fred England (26) and Armitage Bridge and Meltham batsman Denzil Parker .