My note about Sir Garfield Sobers playing for Paddock in 1964 has brought me further information from Derek Gledhill at Elland.

When Paddock announced they had engaged Sobers as their deputy pro two years earlier, for the 1962 Whitsuntide fixtures against the Hullen Edge Club, Elland responded by signing Wes Hall!

Hall’s pace was such that Ellland’s slips retreated five yards further back than usual, but Paddock had the better bargain, Sobers winning both matches for them, dominating with bat and ball in each game.

Derek tells me: “At the end of the season, Paddock were promoted as Section B champions and Elland rose with them in second place. Elland had been relegated the previous season for the first time since joining the Huddersfield League in 1926.

“The going rate for players of the Sobers and Hall class was £15 per match (well over £200 in today’s money), but Elland – and I assume Paddock – comfortably got their money back from the takings.

“Elland, in fact, were exempted from paying council rates at that time if they took a collection instead of having a fixed admission charge.”