HEPWORTH v BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

Despite the fall of snow that cancelled the first week of the local cricket season, football continued but with some very wet pitches. Once again the Hepworth Juniors U12s marched on towards the end of their season with a 7-3 win against Greetlands-who, well look at a map, you will find the settlement somewhere near Huddersfield. The clue is the fact that they play in the  Huddersfield RCD Junior Football League, reputedly the largest in the country.

HUJFC U12s play in Division 6 and doing very nicely thank you.

It is the end of a long year of football and the cup finals are coming thick and fast. We do not feature in many but the Adult Open Age team played last Monday as reported (see previous blog) and this afternoon I drove from our wet victory this morning to the Huddersfield Amateurs FC Ground at Old Earth (interesting name?), Elland where U13s (Netherton v LS27), U14s (Dewsbury RGS v Kirkheaton), U15s (Greetland v Rastrick Bulldogs) and U16s (Hepworth v Park Avenue B) Cup Finals were played out.

Huddersfield Amateurs have a very pleasant club house and two good pitches which were in good condition. The club was founded in 1905 and originally joined the Yorkshire Old Boys' League, now part of the Yorkshire Amateurs League.

Disappointingly the photographs of past teams round the walls were sadly neglected and I didn't see anybody paying much attention to them. A club house should be a museum and reference room for members, young and old, to be nostalgic over and maybe to learn a bit about the legacy of their club. Kirklees College sponsored the match day programmes and were touting for business as many of the youngsters would be thinking about moving onto College once they get their GCSEs out of the way. Kirkless College provides a very active educational experience.


The good news was that the HUJFC U16s won their "Trophy" which is a competition for those clubs knocked out early of the "prestigious tournament". Both teams gave all their best on a dry pitch with a bouncy ball and keen wind and made a 1-0 victory an interesting game. Congratulations to the coaches and boys.

Park Avenue teams are associated with the actual and famous Bradford PA (see previous blog!) and the club runs U8s, 10s, 12s,13, 14A and B, 16A and B and a Dads' team.

Hepworth runs twice as many teams, so should be very proud and satisfied about being a "Community Club".