South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 12 September 1942
Presentation of Yorkshire Council Trophy
In the absence of the President of the Yorkshire Council, Mr. T. Harrison, the cup was presented to the Hickleton captain. J. Hutchinson, by Mr. F. Idle, 86-year-old vice-president.
Mr Idle said Hickleton had played a grand game, and were worthy winners of the cup.
Mr. Hutchinson congratulated Batley for getting into the final, and for the splendid sporting game they had given his team. It was the first time Hickleton had played Batley, but he hoped it would not be the last. This was their fourth attempt to win the cup and success had been a long time coming
Mr. J. Bearden, Agent of Hickleton Main Colliery, accepted the cup from Mr. Hutchinson, on behalf of Hickleton Colliery and the Doncaster Amalgamated Collieries. Ltd. He congratulated his team on winning and the Batley side on its performance. Although he did not wish to dwell on Individual players the three outstanding performances of the match were the batting of Turner and Gibbs and Riley’s bowling. I am quite satisfied that we have won it once, said Mr. Dearden.
“We are the first team in the D.A.C. group to win the cup. I thank the Colliery Company for providing our ground and giving us the facilities we required. Without their assistance we could not go far. I thank the Committee for working with the players, the Committee of the Council for organising the competition, the spectators and our supporters for following us week by week.”
Mr. Idle then presented the cup for the runners-up to Barratt. Batley’s captain, who congratulated Hickleton on their win. Turner, Gibbs and Riley on their performances, and the Brodsworth groundsman for keeping the wicket in good trim. Alban Turner said he was pleased that Hickleton had won. He, personally, had had a very memorable match. Individual performances did not really count the game was the thing Hickleton had enjoyed the match, and he hoped the spectators had enjoyed it too. He offered the club’s best wishes to Batley and hoped they would be successful next time.
Mr. W. Auty, an old captain of Batley cricket team and rugby club, moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Idle, who had been a good cricketer in his day. Mr. Auty said he had been on the beaten side four years. Like Mr. Hutchinson he had watched three teams beaten by a decimal point for three successive years and again to-day Batley were runners-up. Batley came as triers but found a better team of triers. Nothing beats youth like age and Turner’s performance was brilliant. It was an exhibition of courage and patience, and the performance would live in his memory. Hickleton had had a magnificent bowler in J. Riley. When he saw Riley’s first over he told the Batley team what they would have to face. He was sorry Batley had not put up a better performance but give them another chance and they would get their own back.
A Batley supporter seconded the vote of thanks, and Mr. Idle thanked the Brodsworth Cricket Club for their valuable assistance.
Turner’s Record.
Alban Turner began his cricket career 42 years ago, playing for Hickleton. When he was only 15 he won a medal for taking 7 wickets for no runs in a charity match at Hickleton.
He left Hickleton Just after the last war, and played for Farsley In the Bradford League. He played in that league five years, heading the batting averages for the whole of that period. His best performance was against Saltaire in the Priestley Cup. Going in first man he carried his bat through the innings for Barnes against the bowling of Sid Barnes, the England bowler.
He then went for six years to Bolton-on-Dearne, when that club played in the Yorkshire Council. topping the 1,000 runs for three successive seasons. He returned to Hickleton in 1931, and has played with them ever since.