17 – One Step Up, Quite a Big One Actually!
The end of the Eighties marked the end of the club’s golden period on the field although off it we still had a lot to do. It would have been very hard to have improved on the previous decade’s achievements and although this was hardly a period of doom and gloom it always seemed that just as we got some momentum going again things stuttered once more.
Although a more sensible committee would have elected the safer hands of Rick Lawrence as the skipper to follow the successes of Dave Tattersall, we all know committees are not noted for logic and rationale. So it was me who took on the reins and went from team idiot to captain in a breath, given the news by my dad who was even more amazed than I was. In fairness, we were more than competitive in 1990 but we are all ultimately judged by results and there were no trophies. Having captained for a year – and spent almost every Saturday night having my tactics dissected by Browny, blathered on Grunhalle Lager well into the early hours – I decided that there were other things a 27 year old needed to focus on…she was called Hilary.
Safe Hands
The following year Rick took on the job for an eventful two-year spell (his only one strangely enough), and soon we were back in the hunt for trophies. Rick was an ideal choice as skipper, well respected, quiet, calculating and very competitive. Tight as a badger’s backside in truth but this was in keeping with his bean counting, clock charging profession as an accountant aka extortionist for one of the Big Five.
We reached two finals that year, the first being a return to the Waddilove Cup and this time played at the sadly decaying arena that once was the marvellous dual-sport venue called Bradford Park Avenue. Only a dimwit-infested local authority like Bradford could allow such a venue to fall into terminal decay and neglect – with the football ground already having succumbed. I swear if they had built the Millennium Dome in Bradford it would be either wrecked or a have a minaret on top by now. Sadly, we were the bridesmaids again.
Bingley Congs – 194/7 (M Adams 3/51, JAnderson2/63, S Wilson2/44)
BVCC – 152 all out (S Webster 37)
We had several chances to control this game but could never quite seize the initiative having the Congs 66/4 and 135/7 at varying stages. Once again having enjoyed a dominating bowling attack in the Eighties that reliance on a few high quality performers was now our Achilles’ heel as we simply did not have the quality to take over. At 71/2 we were in good shape but our batting also lacked depth and, more critically, late order power so we were second best by some distance in the end.
Ando And The Best Death Over Ever
However, the club were also entrants in those days to the Worthington Sports Trophy, competed for by teams in various leagues and most were of a higher standard than we enjoyed. So to reach the final was an incredible achievement …to win it against the might of money men of Methley from the Yorkshire Council was comparable with Wimbledon beating Liverpoolat Wembley. It was a very notable achievement and won by team spirit above all against the hired guns of our loftier opponents; to this day taking on the hired gun remains a challenge we all enjoy.
BVCC – 166/8 (S Webster 32, J Brennan 29*)
Methley – 164/7 (MAdams: 8-5-6-3)
At 115/7 it was left to JB again – this time accompanied by Steve “Spikey” Wright to see us to a competitive total which surely would not be enough against our higher ranked opponents. Although it was an incredible spell from Mick that set up this win, the last over still saw them needing only a few to win. Up stepped John Anderson to bowl the best “death” over I have ever seen – I am sure it was a maiden. A mixture of slower, slower and even slower balls embarrassed the batter so much so the captain tried to substitute him and we were victorious. And Brent, guesting albeit unpaid as our “Professional” went for a wicket less 8-0-44-0 spell. Strange old game as we all know.
Ando And The Best Death Over Ever
Reflecting Rick’s character on the field we were competitive, honest, tough to beat but lacked that cutting edge needed to transfer these qualities into trophies back on league duty. In 1993 though, the Messiah, Brent, was to return to captain probably the best all round team the Villas have ever put out – albeit for another truncated spell at the club. That being said, talent on paper does not always guarantee trophies. We won the title in 1993, as did the Seconds skippered by Binny the Beast. Between 1992-8 the Beast led the Villas’ Stiffs to two league titles and three cup finals – winning one of them – which is probably the best period the Stiffs, have ever enjoyed.
Strangely, we were even stronger in 1994 with the addition of another returning ex-junior from the Bradford League – Pete “PC” Clarke…and won nothing. And then Brent was away again, handing over the reigns to PC. PC’s reign was traumatic to say the least with interference from off the field an increasing feature culminating in a bizarre player’s strike in support of the skipper who refused a demand that all players should volunteer for the bar rota. The knives were out and eventually PC left unable to cope with the thought of wasting a night stood behind a bar serving half a dozen locals. It was silly on all parts and few of us came out of it with any credit.
More Brasso
There was only one more success that decade, with a winning return to the Waddilove Final in 1998 skippered by Mark Stephenson
BVCC – 184/8 (A Stockdale 56, S Wilson47, M Birts 38)
Harden – 154 (D Whitrick 5/37, M Jones 3/52)
To further confirm the assertion that talent on paper does not always transform to results…we should have got murdered that day as we had by the same opposition only a week earlier. Put in to bat on a pudding, we simply grafted our way to a competitive total – but they should have walked it, had it not been for the wonder of Molly who snared their star man, Andy Moulds, with a pie that he rammed down the throat of Craig Verity at mid-wicket having had five minutes to survey just which field he wanted to land it in. Once he had overcome his nerves, Dave Whitrick then bowled the spell of his life and we were winners again.
A Brave New World
On the field the decade was to end with a far greater prize, admission to the coveted Airedale & Wharfedale Senior League, ironically the dream of teams of yesteryear but with a playing complement arguably not exactly fit for purpose. It would be a baptism of fire and there would be tough years ahead but elevation to the league opened our doors to new and talented lads such as Barry Hawksworth and Chris “Chiz” Hizzett signed on free transfers from local high rollers Undercliffe CC.
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