The Old Fox tells his amusing tales..............

Old Fox selects a Pool CC Dream Team!

1. Dave Tidmarsh (NZ)

Scored over 1,300 runs in his first season. Only draw back - was a copper! More than useful bowler and the first overseas player to ever buy Old Fox a pint! Only ever overseas player to attend the annual Dinner and personally collect his trophies - must have cost him a fortune in air fares! Who can forget the lovely Nicole????

2. Anthony Gownes (Australia)

.BIG HITTING opening bat from Melbourne. The only man who has ever hit Old Fox over the Club roof!! Liked scoring runs as much as he did with women on a Saturday night! In yer face Aussie who tried to rustle a sheep whilst on a visit to the Tan Hill pub (highest in England).

3. Travis Rowe (Australia)

Quality all rounder who took great delight in hurting fellow team members in the nets! Had a great appetite for ugly birds and was possibly the laziest bastard I have ever met. He tried to get a ventilator supplied as part of his deal, thus allowing him to not even breath for himself!

4.Kingsley Smith (NZ)

The first overseas player Pool ever had, and therefore remembered with great affection. Quality all rounder who dined on Yorkshire puddings every lunch time in the Half Moon. Convinced himself that he would make a fortune by opening a Yorkshire Pudding shop on his return to Rotorua! Went home 2 stone heavier than when he arrived and with liver problems. Always a good choice to stand next to in a NightClub............without doubt our ugliest ever overseas! Now happily married in NZ and retired due to injury.

5. Oliver Wilhelm (Australia)

2003 overseas player makes a tremendous middle order with Richard Nineham. If both these players bat to their potential, prepare for fireworks and hitting of tremendous power. Equally so, Old Fox could be left with egg on his face, as both are capable of making a right balls up before returning to the Pavilion to tell me how good they are, and they cannot lower their abilities to this standard!!!

6. Richard Nineham (Namibia)

THOUGHT HE WAS A Viking.......raped and pillaged his way through the Village until we bundled him off to Wakefield on a free transfer mid season. Old Fox bumped into him at a Funeral some years ago, was still trying to convince me that he really was an Air Traffic Controller in Namibia. (How hard is it to scare off the odd Elephant off a runway in the middle of the jungle for Christ sake).

7.Naved Arif (Pakistan)

The little maestro. 100 WICKETS AND 700 RUNS WITH THE BAT. Quite simply the best opening bowler Old Fox has seen in local league Cricket.

Old Fox remembers his beautiful speaking brother who broke up every broken English sentence with the word 'fucking' !

8. Steve Charmen (NZ)

A quiet young man from the outback somewhere, loved writing poetry and drinking coke (all previous overseas usually snorted it!). Old Fox saw very little of him in the Half Moon and when he did, he had always left his wallet at his digs! Without doubt the tightest bastard Old Fox has come across. Made his fortune working at Steven H Smith's every hour god sent and will probably be running a highly successful accountancy firm by now! All joking apart, a very good Cricketer who could open both batting and bowling and come back and bowl off spin.

9. Clive Baldwin (South Africa)

Came over in the early 90's for a trial with Leicestershire C.C.C. and the rest as they say is history .Can even boast to have sired a next generation Pool Cricketer in young Harry Baldwin.

10. Richard Carlton WK & Captain (Pool & Wanderers C.C.)

The first Pool Player to do it the other way round and play abroad in our Winters. Borrowed my coffin for at least 2 winters whilst playing for the famous Wanderers in Johannesberg. Needs a hard little character and good keeper to keep this lot under control, always coped well with the sharp turn of Dr Sujay. Hardest part of the game for him should be deciding who to open bowling with Nav, and collecting match fees and tea money from all the tight bastards!!

11. Dr Sujay Jaya (Sri Lanka)

The spin king from Sri Lanka discovered the Club whilst getting himself lost returning to the L.G.I having enjoyed afternoon tea at Betty's in Harrogate. Great character, always smiling and could produce snakes out of a flat pitch with his sharp turn. Old Fox also remembers that without doubt he had the fittest bird (Vicky) - who became his wife and the last we heard they had a family in Birmingham.

12th Man . Keith 'Gruffler' Dickinson. (Pool & Kent 2's)

Could not leave these duties in better hands, who else is better qualified to be left in charge of Drinks???

All of the above know that Old Fox is only joking and has nothing but admiration for the skill and pleasure our overseas have given over the years. It would be great to hear from any of them and see how they are doing. Charmers.....just in case you became a Lawyer rather than an Accountant, Old Fox is a pseudonym for Yan Keddle!!

Old Foxes Christmas Cricketing Quiz.

1. The only Pool Cricketer to play in a Wembley Cup Final? Paul Bottomley ( Guiseley & Bridlington Town)

2. Dean Jones played for Nostell C.C. against Pool - who caught him out and who was the bowler? Caught Dickie Bolton bowled Alan Stead

3. Born in Pool , a former Yorkshire Colt and opened our Score box ? Peter Whiteley

4. Aggressive Left hand Pool batsmen, dismissed first ball of the innings, clean bowled at the Bridgetown Oval, Barbados in 1987 ? Yan Keddle

5. The first winner of the Airedale & Wharfedale Newspaper ''Cricketer of the month award''? Dickie Bolton

6. Pool 2nd XL first ever league match in 1984, name the two brothers in the team? Keith & Peter Thompson

7. Name the two Leeds students, both opening fast bowlers who have played for Pool 1st XL, one from Kent, the other from Surrey? Andrew Robertson (Kent) Mathew 'flames' Weller (Surrey)

8. A former Yorkshire C.C.C. & E.C.B employee who played for Pool 1st & 2nd XL? Wayne Morten

9. Four fathers have played with their sons for Pool 1ST XL, name the fathers? Mick Wood Keith Thompson Gordon Megson Clive Singleton

10. In 1993 Pool 1st XL had a Sri Lankan, an Australian and a South African, name the players? Dr. Sujay Jaya Anthony Gownes Clive Baldwin

11. Pool 1st XL played their first League match at Mirfield Parish in 1984. Name 3 players who played in the 1st XL last year who played in that first fixture? John Wood Dickie Bolton Steve Wood

12. In a rare 1st XL victory at Carlton in the 1990's, who clean bowled the last Carlton batsmen off the last ball of the innings? He did so with a cunningly disguised full toss over his head, now an illegal delivery? Dean Hewitt

13. 1st XL opening bowler of the 1980's who found fame and fortune as lead singer with Clanjamfrie? Karl ''Rocker'' Robins

14. Name the six players who have scored a century for Pool in the Whiteley Cup? Tracey Mahoney Dave Singleton Dickie Bolton John Wood Steve Shaw Richard Carlton

15. Who were the Clubs first league scorers at 1st & 2nd team level? Frank Newns John Holdsworth

16. What could you almost guarantee on the last Friday in January in the 1970's & 1980's? Snow! (see this years pictures in news section!)

17. Pool 1st XL v. Esholt 1987. Esholt all out for 99 and Pool are 99-5 with nine overs remaining………what happened next? It poured with rain and the ground was flooded without another ball possible……..match abandoned!

18. Two members of the original Test Match Special team have spoken at our Annual Dinner, name them and another speaker who is currently a Sky TV Cricket Commentator? Fred 'I just don't know what is going on out there' Trueman Don 'the Alderman' Mosey Paul Allott

19. On the 29th April 1962 he played against Pool C.C. and scored 97*, he opened the batting with Billy Sutcliffe on that occasion. He went on to bigger and better things at County and International level…………. name the Legend? Sir Geoffrey Boycott

20. This pace man of the 1980's left the batsmen in no doubt that he hated them .His surname like Q.13 suggests a more tranquil creature to be found flying around the gardens of Britain? Gordon Finch

Answers will be printed on the web in January 2003, the first correct 20 answers will receive will receive a copy of '' Cricket is for Gentlemen '' foreword by Mr Adrian Atter

Old Fox casts his mind back across the seasons to think of the many Tours and Club Dinners he has attended.

The Club has displayed its talents in many far and distant lands, the most popular being Cambridge & Oxford, playing on the delightful College grounds. Old Fox recounts the many matches played at Middleton Stoney in the grounds of Lord Jerseys estate, wonderful days with characters such as mad Mark Miller, Mike Cassidy & John Dealey, being entertained pre match at Nicky Prices Hotel, after the game we would booze in front of the wonderful old Pavilion, attempt to play skittles! . We stayed at the Littleborough Hotel in Bicester, scene of the famous rendition of climb, climb sunshine mountain, Barry Crighton called to the table set off like Jonathon Edwards, leapt clean over the table and landed on poor old Bob Amos! On to Cambridge & Oxford, scenes of Cartlidge, Amos, Stead etc, getting pelted by Thommo and gang with mud from a bridge as they punted along the river! Bubbles complaining of a terrible night's sleep, not knowing the mattress had been removed and he had slept on the springs with a sheet over! Sayer taking a look at one of the rock hard college tracks and huge outfield, that went on and on and on, and decided he had a shoulder injury and could not take the field! Chinese tourist taking a picture of what he thought was a river festival. It was in fact a semi naked Bolton in a bearded mask, Old Fox, Woody & Hubes in a punt chasing the Gray family and Sayer in a rowing boat! The same semi naked Dickie with said mask on, getting out of Berties bus in a traffic jam and sitting behind an old biddy on her scooter - frightening her to death! There were the games of fizz buzz and the total lack of understanding of them by BJ & Dick ''the cat'' Isles. Resulting in them both being put to bed early on more than one occasion, much the worse for drink. Dick Isles was particularly bad on one occasion and still felt delicate in the pub next lunch time. He asked the waitress for a round of beef sandwiches to bring him round a bit; they were as rare as a Bernard Bolton round! He took one look at the bloody pink texture and returned to cubicle 3 of the toilets. BJ Martin, as senior member of this Tour took us all on to one side before we departed Pool, reminding us of the fact that we were representing the Club and our behaviour must be impeccable at all times. On the first night in the Hotel bar we had to pull BJ off Donald Gray whom he was dragging off in the direction of the car park to kick 7 bells out of!! Aaahh , those were the days There was the time Artie Holland volunteered to give Bertie a rest from driving duties in Somerset and promptly reversed in to the car park wall! Returning from one game Artie retired to his room to change, as he and ''the cat'' were going for a night out. Artie came downstairs, looking immaculate and off they went. Artie was furious as he had gone to all this bother to promptly return with the ''cat'' 30 minutes later clutching one of each wrapped in Newspaper! There was Brain Sloggit , a character at Hardington Manderville , sloggit by name sloggit by nature! It is here that Sean Atkinson had his quickest run attack ever, due to the laxative chocolate he had been eating, totally unaware for the previous 24 hours, Artie Holland umpired and was keen to get in the bar, Hardington being 17 for 7 when the rain ended play, Artie's raised finger claiming 6 of the 7 (all LBW)! Old Fox remembers the banter of the many Hotel dining rooms, we would gather in the morning, nursing our hangovers, seeing who could manage the full Monty English breakfast - aaaahh those were the days! Table manners and dress code were far more impressive at the Annual Club Dinner; Old Fox has attended the last 24! We have had speakers of all standards, we discovered the Bank Manger, David Kendall, listened to Don Mosey, Brian Bolus, Mike Stephenson, Canon Reg Smith, Freddie Trueman, Don Wilson, Geoff Cope, Paul Allott & Geoff Miller. We have laughed at Tim Healey, John Hannam, John Morgan, John Cox (wrestler), Arnie Martin, Brian Walsh QC, wonderful nights! We have listened and never interrupted Graham Roope, Mike Pedley, John Holder (umpire), Michael Crawford to name but a few and we have been spell bound by the vocal artistry of our own Rev D.De La Hoyde, John Holdsworth, Keith ''BOOMER'' Thompson, Michael Rhodes, Doctors Metcalfe & Rhodes and indeed your very own ''Old Fox'' Caterers in the old days were Jack Hollings and his famous Steak Pie, a tradition that remains today. He took great pride in trying to out face Messrs Bolton & Cryer. Bernard used to leave his flat cap on the stage, behind the curtain. At the end of the evening there was always a large hunk of Cheddar in his cap for supper! The waitresses always wanted to work at this event, the collection was always £100 plus, this was over 10 years ago! Carlton Jane carries on the catering today with the same high-class professionalism. The dinner is always held on the last Friday in January, for years it always snowed! Old Fox and his chums used to be greeted by his Father as we left Pool School for the day, we would be given spades & shovels to help clear the car park, on more than one occasion Ernie Stead was called from Pool Crook Farm to clear away the snow with the tractor! Everybody still got their, 120 plus attendance's, indeed in the 80's, there would be a reserve list for any backwords, the hall holding a maximum of 128, the new format allowing 140! Great days, wonderful memories and here are to many more! The Old Fox

POOL CC PRAYER

OUR BEER

WHICH COMETH IN BOTTLES

HALLOWED BE THY ALE

THY WILL BE DRUNK

I WILL BE DRUNK

AT HOME AS WE ARE IN THE PUB

GIVE US EACH DAY OUR DAILY BEVERAGE

AND FORGIVE US OUR SPILLAGES

AND WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SPILLAGE AGAINST US

AND LEAD US NOT INTO POOFY WINEBARS

OR DETRACT US FROM REAL ALE

FOR MINE IS THE BITTER

THE TOTTY AND THE FOOTY

FOREVER AND EVER

BARMEN

OLD FOX CASTS HIS MIND BACK OVER THE SEASONS TO ALL THE DIFFERENT VENUES WE HAVE NETTED AT.

IT ALL BEGAN WAY BACK IN THE SEVENTIES AT PRINCE HENRY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL . IN THOSE DAYS WE SHARED SUNDAY MORNING NETS WITH GREEN LANE , THIS WOULD BE LATE 70'S , THE BAY CITY ROLLERS WERE IN THEIR POMP AND SO WAS JOHN MAHONEY WITH HIS DEVASTATING LEG SPIN . IT WAS HERE AT A YOUNG AGE THAT OLD FOX DISCOVERED THAT BOYS COULD BE CALLED TRACEY AS WELL AS GIRLS !

LEAGUE CRICKET EVENTUALLY BECKONED , VILLAGE YOUTH THAT HAD MOVED ON , RETURNED , AND FOUND THE SPIRIT AND 'CRACK' TO BE MOST WARMING AT WOODHOUSE GROVE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS . THERE ARE MANY ABIDING MEMORIES HERE . THIS IS WHERE KEITH DICKINSON FOUND OLD FOX RELAXING AFTER ONE STRENUOUS SESSION , NIBBLING ON ONE OF 'WEEGMANS ' FINEST BEFORE THE ALE FLOWED ! ''WHAT THE ELL AV YOU GOT THEIR WOODY ?'' ''A GROWLER '' I REPLIED . GRUFFLER WENT HOME TO KENT AND REPORTED ON THE STRANGE GOINGS ON UP NORTH , ''THEY EVEN CALL MEAT PIES A GRUFFLER'' , HE REPORTED IN HIS LOCAL . ''IT'S A GROWLER YOU PILLOCK '' , RETORTED A PASSING WAGON DRIVER FROM CLECKHEATON . THUS THE NICKNAME EVER SINCE . .

WE USED TO GATHER AT THE VILLAGE HALL AROUND 9.00 AM TO BE COLLECTED FOR NETS . THESE WERE THE DAYS THAT YAN , DICKIE ,HUBES , OLD FOX , STEVE WOOD ETC , ALL DRANK HEAVILY FRIDAY , SATURDAY INTO THE EARLY HOURS AT MOONLIGHTERS , REGULARLY ARRIVING STRAIGHT FROM THE BED OF A LATE ENTRANT FROM CRUFTS TO ATTEND PRACTICE . OLD FOX REMEMBERS VIVIDLY A MASSIVE SCRAP AT THE TOP OF MILLCROFT LATE ONE SATURDAY NIGHT - THE NEXT MORNING WE ALL ROLLED UP . PAUL HUBY LOOKING LIKE POPEYE HAVING DONE 10 ROUNDS WITH MIKE TYSON , AAH THOSE WERE THE DAYS .

USUALLY OUR PICK UP WAS LATE , EVENTUALLY YOU WOULD HERE A LOUD BANGING , CLANKING COMING UP THE VILLAGE AND INTO SIGHT WOULD APPEAR 'BERTIES OLD CHARRA' . HE HAD BOUGHT A CLAPPED OUT OLD 30 SEATER COACH FOR HIS BUS COMPANY . WE WOULD SET OFF HUNG OVER , NURSING OUR BRUISES , UP OLD POOL BANK , LIKE A SCENE OUT OF ST. TRINIANS !!

WOOHOUSE GROVE WAS WONDERFUL , NETS ALL TO OURSELVES , AFTER AN HOUR THE ROOM SMELT OF BEER ,SWEAT AND HORRENDOUS FARTS ! NETTING FINISHED PROMPTLY TO ENSURE TIME FOR A GOOD SHOWER AND TO BE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF THE STONE TROUGH AT 11.59 AM . BEER WOULD BE QUOFFED HEAVILY , KNOCKED BACK AND THEN ON TO THE PEACOCK ( NOW A HOUSING ESTATE) , BEER WOULD BE QUOFFED , KNOCKED BACK AND THEN DOWN TO 'FROSTIES ' AT THE HALF MOON FOR THE LAST HALF AN HOUR . IF YOU HAD NOT SUPPED A GALLON YOU WERE CONSIDERED TO BE HOMOSEXUAL , LAST ORDERS WERE AT 1.55 PM AND YOU WERE HOME AND TUCKING INTO ROAST LOIN OF BEEF BY 2.30 PM . AAAH THOSE WERE THE DAYS !!

THE WOODHOUSE GROVE EXPERIENCE WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY THE NEWLY BUILT INDOOR SCHOOL AT HEADINGLEY. WE WERE TOLD OF OUR NEED TO BE SMARTLY ATTIRED AT THE NEW NETS , WE WERE PLACED NEXT TO A NET CONTAINING AN EARLY FORMATION OF THE KHALSA CLUB , ONE MEMBER WEARING A CHECKED SHIRT , BLACK TROUSERS AND A TWEED FLAT CAP , IT IS HERE WHERE THE DEMISE OF THE LEEDS LEAGUE CAN QUITE EASILY BE DATED .

OLD FOX REMEMBERS WELL OLD HERBERT TROT WHO ATTENDED THE NETS WITH ST.CHADS . HERBERT WOULD ATTEND NETS AFTER EVENSONG , STILL IN HIS CHURCH SUIT , BOWL 30 OVERS OF IMMACULATE LINE AND LENGTH . ALL THIS WITHOUT REMOVING HIS TIE OR JACKET . WE WOULD RETIRE TO VARIOUS HOSTELRIES , THE 3 HORSE SHOES , WOODIES , LAWNSWOOD ARMS OR EVEN THE FOX AT BRAMHOPE . AAAH THOSE WERE THE DAYS !!!! MOST MEMORABLE OF ALL TO OLD FOX IS THAT THROUGHOUT ALL THESE YEARS OF ADVENTURE , I HAVE NEVER BEEN BOWLED OUT ONCE !!!!!

NEXT MONTH: OLD FOX RECALLS CLUB DINNERS AND TOURS.