Being arguably the quickest and definitely the best-looking fast bowler the club has had will not unfortunately sum up my time at the club instead it will be the fact that I was the only person to ever reply to Mr Lindley's annual advert for new players in the Telegraph & Argus!

It was autumn 1989 and I had fallen out with Sandy Lane midway through that season and returned temporarily to my first club Daisy Hill to help them out before considering my future destination. It is important to say at this point that Sandy Lane were a first division Central League side and I had never played in the lower divisions so as my time at Sandy Lane coincided with Adwalton being in the lower divisions I had never played there or heard of them let alone knew where the ground was

So having made that fateful decision to ring the number I now found myself driving around the Moorside estate in the dark trying to find the club for an 8pm meeting with Mr Lindley. After several wrong turns I arrived at Moorside Vale and saw the lite up club sign on the side of the clubhouse. Even when I got out of my car I still thought the proper cricket ground must be located elsewhere on the estate!

I walked into the club where I was instantly given a warm (if not shocked that i had actually turned up) greeting by the one and only Ian Lindley who in an attempt to impress me introduced me to "england rugby union ace Andy Sales" (hate union love league) and the legendary Brian Gibson who instead of wearing his famous cravat had an annoying musical tie. Despite these deliberate attempts to put me off I loved the place and would spend the next seven seasons at a club that I still class as home

We had good players Andy Goor and Andy Coulson were not only (in my opinion) the best opening bats as a pair that I played with or against at the club they were also top-quality slip fielders and many of my wickets in those early seasons were down to their safe hands. Mark Higgins, Gabe Norde, John (the best teas) Hill, Mitch, Sean Moore, Russ, Mr Lindley, Jan, G Force, Mr Wilcox and of course Gary Hopkins were a delight to play with in that first season.

Looking back those seven seasons were the most enjoyable in my time of writing 46 year playing career and that's why the club will always hold a special place in my heart.

I even went on to skipper the team for a couple of seasons and just missed out on promotion managing to blend the youthful Bennett's into first team cricket alongside my surprise opening batting pair of Pete Haslam and the late much missed Dave Brownlow it worked a treat two veterans proving they could complement young precautious talent and I look back fondly at how well that team performed.

During those years we really enjoyed one another's company spending many a late night at the club and always regardless if it was as far away as Riddlesden stopping behind for a drink with the opposition. Times have changed, leagues have changed but those years were very special, great teammates, tough opposition and quality cricket.

I left following the 1996 season to continue playing 1st team cricket. Adwalton had and have continued to have a fantastic junior section and it was their time (even though us oldies kicked ass in a classic young v old match that year)

I was invited back in 2007 to bring through juniors into the 2nds and loved every minute of that season mentoring some very good young cricketers. (Matty Lyles, James Emmett) I left again at end of that season to help the project at my first club Daisy Hill and although that is still continuing it can never take away the special place in my heart that I have for Adwalton, I guess in truth playing with or against I have never left home.

Having Adwalton in my life built lasting friendships. Opening the bowling with, living in the same village and both having our first born during that 1990 season brought about a best mate friendship with Gary (someone has to listen him!) that has lasted for other 30 years. The legend that is G Force (Adwalton's finest gully) Sean Moore, Phil, Dogger Peter, Ronnie and so many more but whenever I think about Adwalton the first image I see is the same one I saw that autumn night back in 1989, Mr Adwalton Ian Lindley who in 30 years (even when I kept pinching the bowling award from his grasp)has never had a cross word and has always been there whether it was helping getting Byron started in Gordon Bowers, turning out for the over 50's, getting me players when short for the Evening League, invites to golf days and above all making you feel that you have never been away from home which is Adwalton .

A few standout memories

Best inquest after a match.......G Force (beep beep) Johnson trying to understand how he had been run out running two when Dave Brownlow never set off for one
Biggest 6 Hitter.....sorry Gary but Sean Moore with that senior counties bat always went further
Funniest moment...there has been many but the look on Bagge'rs face when he can't get you out is right up there
Umpires best friend.....Jan Beugal
Most naturally gifted batsman.....Andy Coulson
Best Fielder.......Andy Goor
Slowest Fielder......Russ Laycock
Best Keeper.........Phil Hopkins
Best Head Shaker.....Roy Catton
Best Teas.......John Hill Asda specials (1990)
Most pleasant team mate...........Pete Haslam (in spite of the low moor incident!)
Most difficult team mate........best kept secret!
Most enjoyable game......the very few wins against are always enjoyable but the classic oldies v young guns is up at the top
Personal batting memory....0 not out v Cross Roads watching Gary Hopkins score 60 odd against John Pullen at the other end
Personal bowling memory.... 4 dubious LBW's and 3 un-droppable catches from Mr Lindley to give me a 7 for at Westwood to win the bowling award remains the highlight
Best Memory......The celebrations and opening of the Peter Goor scorebox.

Priceless memories looking forward to the celebrations