Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2026

Wednesday 5 March 2025 Arnie Sidebottom Ex professional footballer/ cricketer When God created man he made Adam. When he created a Yorkshireman he made Arnie Sidebottom, an individual whose very name conjures up essential elements of men from ‘God’s county’. The 70 year old remains slim, confident and ebullient, with some cracking tales to tell. Did some stretch credulity? Possibly a tad but no-one cared as his personality and humour easily won attention. A raconteur has the gift of drawing his listeners into the story, of being in the moment, and that was evident here. ‘The best speaker I have heard here’ said at least one devotee, to general agreement. Sport is a virile breeding ground for memories, quotes and peculiar happenings, and Arnie had the rare luxury of two professional careers to draw on. Although football (Manchester United, no less) chose him first and he made close to 100 starts for a total of three clubs, he was to turn to cricket for a much longer stint, spending 18 years with Yorkshire (594 First Class wickets). Debuting for YCCC in 1973 he wasn’t capped until 1980, by which time he had left football. But not before cocking a snook at Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest who wanted to sign him. Brian was so tardy for their meeting that Arnie took up and left - you don’t mess a Yorkie about! If you missed the evening but bump into him, ask him about Boycott, Close and the dressing room hook…! Wednesday 2 April 2025 Jack Birkenshaw MBE Ex pro cricketer/umpire/ coach After a lifetime in the game, memories and individuals clearly remained pin sharp in Jack’s memory. He had a lot to tell and did so with candour and little concession to modern, polite or woke ways of forming his opinions! Coached as a youngster at the renowned St Lawrence Cricket School, gave him a great start, and a Yorkshire contract followed. Once, when batting in the slips with an equally non experienced ‘slipper’ in Vic Wilson, they twice in successive overs let edges bisect them for boundaries… off a less than impressed FS Trueman. When offered an apology Fred snarled, ‘Don’t worry, lad, it’s my fault for putting you there!’ In 1961, competition for places and the chance to join the impressive Willie Watson at Leicestershire made sense. After six years when his lower order batting was more useful than his off spin, things changed. Fellow spinner Tony Lock, was prominent in having ‘the nature of the wicket’ changed which resulted in Jack being immediately and consistently in the wickets. He was called up for the Test tour of India where his first wicket was that of Sunil Gavaskar, no less. Jack won the County Championship with LCCC before turning to umpiring for over 250 first class games. He coached Somerset and Leicestershire, leading the latter in two Championship winning campaigns. There was virtually an instant response or story about nearly every question from the floor - he clearly enjoyed himself! at the crease SPEAKERS 2024-25 by Andy Pack Arnie’s a rare breed Late bloomer... 41