IF YOU'RE going to spend at least a few of your Saturdays this summer watching local cricket, keep an eye out for your surroundings as well as the match under way.
Every ground is different - here are some of my recommendations when it comes to views, food and other matters.
THE BEST VIEWS
* See Huddersfield town centre in all its glory from Kirkheaton.
* From Scholes, enjoy unlimited moorland and farmland.
* Stunning industrial vistas can be enjoyed from Dalton.
* Look up at Castle Hill's Victoria Tower at Hall Bower.
* Admire the hillside cottages at Golcar.
* At Cartworth Moor you'll feel like you're on top of the world.
* Look up the Colne Valley from Paddock.
* See right across to the other side of the Holme Valley at Upperthong.
* There's greenery as far as the eye can see at Old Almondburians.
* Enjoy the Pennines from Marsden.
WARNING! HAZARDS!
These clubs won't let a minor nuisance put them off!
* Midges at Holmbridge.
* Church bells at Thornhill.
* Floods at Denby Dale.
* Noisy motorway, Outlane.
* Snow at Cartworth Moor.
TEA TIME
Hungry? Here are my recommendations for what's on offer.
* Turkey balm cakes, sausage rolls, pasta, potato salad and sponge cake - Honley.
* Chicken breasts and Bakewell tarts - Badger Hill, Rastrick.
* Ham and pork pie salads - Bradley & Colnebridge.
* Swiss roll and Rice Krispie cakes - Liversedge.
* Salad buffet and new potatoes, plus sponge cake with lots of icing cream in the middle - Marsden.
NEW AND IMPROVED
Some grounds are boasting great new clubhouses for the 21st century. They include:
* Denby Dale, total cost £370,000 (main funding body: Lottery).
* Almondbury Wesleyans , who spent £340,000 (Sport England).
* Cumberworth, £55,000 (Lottery).
* Meltham - £1.2m, (Sport England).
* Lepton Highlanders, £340,000 (Football Foundation).
WATCHING THE WILDLIFE
Look out for plant and animal magic:
* Monkey tree at Hopton Mills.
* Sheep grazing on the outfield - Holmbridge.
* Vivid-purple blossom near the scorebox - Marsden.
* Horses in an adjoining field - Clayton West.
* Troublesome moles - Cartworth Moor.
HISTORY LESSON
These clubs in particular are steeped in heritage:
* Lascelles Hall - the oldest club in the area (1825).
* Hullen Edge, Elland - hosted the Australians in 1878.
* Bankfield, Kirkheaton - home to England Test legends Wilfred Rhodes and George Herbert Hirst.
* Fartown - county venue till the 1980s.
* Dalton -the second oldest club in Kirklees (1831).
CHEERS!
Some clubs back on to pubs:
* Leymoor - Walkers Arms.
* Armitage Bridge - The Monkey Club.
* Primrose Hill - The Crimea.
* Heckmondwike - The Cricketers Arms.
* Holmbridge - The Bridge Tavern.
HIGH & MIGHTY
Grounds with altitude:
* Cartworth Moor - 1,014 feet above sea level.
* Upperthong - 863.
* Marsden - 843.
* Scholes, Holmfirth - 827.
* Denby - 823.
* DR PETER DAVIES starts a 10-part series on cricket heritage in Huddersfield in the Examiner on Mondays, from June 26.
Trivia from the world of local cricket
* Workers with time on their hands during the 1926 General Strike helped to construct Flockton CC's ground.
* Edgerton play at Dalton and have just officially become Edgerton & Dalton CC.
* Golcar Band practise in the pavilion at Leymoor CC.
* An episode of Last of the Summer Wine was once filmed at Woodhead Road, home of Holmbridge CC.
* Ex-Town manager Neil Warnock used to keep wicket for Holmfirth CC.