A publication built on all things grassroots cricket in Yorkshire, Cricket Yorkshire is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month with owner John Fuller publishing his fourth grassroots cricket book, Brews on the Boundary to celebrate.
Cricket Yorkshire, founded in 2011, is the voice of grassroots cricket in the county and came to be when Fuller and his wife moved north from London. He identified there was a gap in the market for cricket coverage with a travel writing feel that focuses on the people and places connected to the sport rather than just the actual games themselves.
With a pool of nearly 800 cricket clubs in Yorkshire as potential topics and a huge potential audience of local readers, as well as those across the country and overseas, Fuller launched Cricket Yorkshire as a full-time website business built around grassroots cricket.
“It was certainly a bit of a risk at the time, but I had a huge love of the game and a desire to turn a sporting passion into a career,” said Fuller.
“And the reaction was overwhelming. Clubs welcomed me through their doors like a long-lost friend, provided great support for my early efforts and shared articles on their social media platforms. Word spread about what I was doing and I was soon in a position to work out a model that has enabled me to make a living out of grassroots cricket – and it’s still going strong 15-years later.”
“I love nothing more than turning up at a club, working my way round the boundary over an extended period of time and talking to those enjoying the game.
“And the people you meet can be absolutely anybody – from groundsfolk to dogwalkers; players recently dismissed to parents watching their children take their first steps into senior cricket. Everybody has a story and it’s fascinating digging into them and retelling them for other cricket lovers to enjoy.”
As well as being published on Cricket Yorkshire, many of the stories John has told have wound up being retold in his acclaimed and much-loved series of grassroots cricket books – the fourth of which, Brews on the Boundary, has just been published.
Meanwhile, a partnership with Yorkshire Tea has proved a huge hit – with the Cricket Yorkshire Teas of the Year Awards now into their fifth year. Celebrating the wonderful tradition of cricket teas being served between innings in senior matches, the awards are popular across the region. Ripon CC won the inaugural trophy back in 2022, having impressed the judges with their two roast teas served on white table cloth covered tables at the club’s Studley Road club house.
“Cricket teas are a truly fabulous part of the grassroots scene” added John. “Lots of players rank their favourite ones from the grounds they play at during the season, clubs pride themselves on positive feedback and I really enjoy judging them – from tasty sandwiches to wonderful home baking; beautiful presentation to tastebud tingling dishes; and, of course, the stories of the people who make them.”
The deadline for this year’s awards has just been extended to July 19. To find out more and nominate your favourite tea or your club’s go to: www.cricketyorkshire.com/cricket-yorkshire-teas-of-the-year/
“If you’d told me when I was little that I would spend the largest part of my career visiting local cricket clubs and writing about them, I would have wondered what planet you were from!”
“But seriously, I count myself extremely lucky to have carved out such a niche career writing about a sport and a way of life that I love. Here’s hoping it’ll continue for many years to come.”
