As Yorkshire County Cricket Club celebrates its 150th year, the team begins its Championship season at Headingley, with a few fixtures later at Scarborough. However, the club once played across numerous out grounds, evoking fond memories for fans and players alike.
Former player Brian Bainbridge recalls rushing to Acklam Park in Middlesbrough to see stars like Geoffrey Boycott and Imran Khan. 'Yorkshire played the West Indies there,' he said. 'Charlie Griffith hit Doug Padgett and Jackie Hampshire on the head. The fast bowlers loved playing there.'
Bainbridge also praised St George's Road in Harrogate, where he achieved his best first-class performance. 'Harrogate was a nice ground because you were close to the crowd. It had a good old-fashioned pavilion and a nice big dressing room,' he said.
David Warner, cricket correspondent and author, noted that each ground had its significance. 'In terms of area, Yorkshire was the biggest of the counties. People looked forward to the games on their patch,' he said. Bradford Park Avenue, known as 'The Bullring', was particularly popular with players for its atmosphere.
Yorkshire CCC was formed in Sheffield, initially playing at Bramall Lane. The club moved to Abbeydale Park in 1974, home of Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club. Chairman Richard Ibbotson described Bramall Lane as 'the Mecca' and said Abbeydale offered a beautiful setting. He recalled Viv Richards 'peppering the marquees with sixes' and noted that hosting Yorkshire helped attract players like Michael Vaughan and Joe Root.
