Flintoff’s cricket team

[CleggHall]

BBC1 for last 3 weeks, Freddy Flintoff recruits a cricket team from some disengaged youths on a Preston estate and nearly turns them into a cricket team. A challenging task but Flintoff wins them over, teaches them teamwork, application etc. Sad and amusing in places but shows Flintoff in a new, positive light, well done.

[DCWat]

I’ve not seen this weeks yet but really enjoyed the first two.

[Claret Till I Die]

Just finished the last one. A great series and as said above I've certainly seen him in a new light

[ClaretTony]

Just watched the last part - wasn’t what I expected but brilliant to see some of those lads get a passion for cricket through it. Well done Freddie.

[Top Claret]

Good watch and enjoyed it.

Still hard to believe that the 16 year old Afghan lad is actually 16, I would have put him around mid to late 20s

[Nori1958]

Good watch and enjoyed it.

Still hard to believe that the 16 year old Afghan lad is actually 16, I would have put him around mid to late 20s

Looks older than any 16yr old I've ever seen

[Red Fox Rocks Socks]

I found it interesting that they made a big deal how working class kids had no access to playing cricket.

I found the opposite in our town with school cricket and then club cricket.

[ClaretTony]

I found it interesting that they made a big deal how working class kids had no access to playing cricket.

I found the opposite in our town with school cricket and then club cricket.

I played cricket at school but it is virtually non existent in many schools now sadly.

[Red Fox Rocks Socks]

I played cricket at school but it is virtually non existent in many schools now sadly.

My lad def plays it at st teds

[ClaretTony]

Looks older than any 16yr old I've ever seen

I thought the same, hard to believe his age. Obviously the best player in the team and clearly got some potential given he’s training now with Lancs.

[welsbyswife]

Looks older than any 16yr old I've ever seen

Bit like playing Walton in a late 80s Pendle Junior Cricket League friday night match. Lads steaming in to bowl with moustaches and beards. Was supposed to be under 16s!

[BigChaCha]

I found it interesting that they made a big deal how working class kids had no access to playing cricket.

I found the opposite in our town with school cricket and then club cricket.

Absolutely spot on... I live right next to a club cricket ground and you couldn't get more working-class from the crowd to the people in the bar room that keep the club going to the staff right down to the players!...

My son plays for the club and although we are pretty well off, all of his mates that also play for the club are not and there are absolutely no boundaries whats so ever... Even if someone can't afford the equipment, there's always a solution or someone or the club will lend out gear... The club cricket scene is incredibly inclusive as well in terms of ethnicities...

I was never aware of how important local clubs were to the community until I moved next to one and it is vital that we don't let them disappear like many other traditions in this country...

The narrative that celebrity cricketers keep moaning about it being a privileged middle-class sport is utter nonsense!

[TheFamilyCat]

Bit like playing Walton in a late 80s Pendle Junior Cricket League friday night match. Lads steaming in to bowl with moustaches and beards. Was supposed to be under 16s!

Who did you play for, out of interest?

[TheFamilyCat]

Really good series. Flintoff was a great player but never really taken to him as a TV presenter. Thought he was great in this though, passionate about cricket and engaging with the kids. Very natural too, wasn't afraid of showing he was ****** off with them at times.

[ClaretTony]

Absolutely spot on... I live right next to a club cricket ground and you couldn't get more working-class from the crowd to the people in the bar room that keep the club going to the staff right down to the players!...

My son plays for the club and although we are pretty well off, all of his mates that also play for the club are not and there are absolutely no boundaries whats so ever... Even if someone can't afford the equipment, there's always a solution or someone or the club will lend out gear... The club cricket scene is incredibly inclusive as well in terms of ethnicities...

I was never aware of how important local clubs were to the community until I moved next to one and it is vital that we don't let them disappear like many other traditions in this country...

The narrative that celebrity cricketers keep moaning about it being a privileged middle-class sport is utter nonsense!

I partly agree with you but the lack of cricket in schools means less and less kids are gaining any interest in the sport at an early age. While not being the greatest cricketer on earth, I played at both junior & senior school. When at senior school, our headmaster was the Burnley second team captain and so we were introduced to that particular club in that way. There were some very good cricketers at my school of similar age who went on to play Lancashire League cricket.

That step from school to club cricket has virtually gone in many places so real credit to those cricket clubs who are holding coaching sessions for young people and in doing so trying to give them an interest in the game.

When I was young in Burnley you could jump from schools cricket to playing in local leagues at Towneley. At the time there was the Sunday School League, the Midweek League and the Works League. They are all gone now and that means less opportunity to play the game.

[TheFamilyCat]

Absolutely spot on... I live right next to a club cricket ground and you couldn't get more working-class from the crowd to the people in the bar room that keep the club going to the staff right down to the players!...

My son plays for the club and although we are pretty well off, all of his mates that also play for the club are not and there are absolutely no boundaries whats so ever... Even if someone can't afford the equipment, there's always a solution or someone or the club will lend out gear... The club cricket scene is incredibly inclusive as well in terms of ethnicities...

I was never aware of how important local clubs were to the community until I moved next to one and it is vital that we don't let them disappear like many other traditions in this country...

The narrative that celebrity cricketers keep moaning about it being a privileged middle-class sport is utter nonsense!

There's no doubt that kids at 'posh' schools get more exposure to cricket than state schools.

I personally believe cricket is something kids need to get into at a young age and grow their love of it as it's a much harder sell to a teenager. It's not like football where any kid can kick a ball about anywhere.

[fatboy47]

No barriers to cricket for working class kids insofar as I can see.
The problems are more about the need for instant gratification, brainless razzmatazz, saturation TV coverage and innability to focus on anything other than a screen for more than a few minutes.

[ChrisG]

The ECB All Stars programme for kids has been good, basically 8 or 9 weeks of coaching for £40 including kit.

My lad started this around 3 years ago and is now playing regularly for the under 9s team.

We're lucky that there are a lot of decent cricket clubs with good junior sections where we live, however I imagine it's not the same everywhere.

[Nori1958]

The ECB All Stars programme for kids has been good, basically 8 or 9 weeks of coaching for £40 including kit.

My lad started this around 3 years ago and is now playing regularly for the under 9s team.

We're lucky that there are a lot of decent cricket clubs with good junior sections where we live, however I imagine it's not the same everywhere.

There are plenty of good cricket clubs in East Lancashire, many operating that scheme and all are very welcoming to new players whatever age group.

[Clarets4me]

I've enjoyed this series .... clearly inspired by the " School of Hard Knocks " series from a few years ago, presented by Scott Quinnell & Will Greenwood, using Rugby as a similar focus to change lives. That scheme is still very much active ...

https://www.schoolofhardknocks.org.uk/our-story

There are brilliant families of all types doing a great job bringing up children, but I may be old-fashioned in thinking both these projects highlight the benefit of a strong male role-model and the work ethic ..

[ChrisG]

There are plenty of good cricket clubs in East Lancashire, many operating that scheme and all are very welcoming to new players whatever age group.

Absolutely, East Lancashire is another area with a plethora of clubs. I played for Pendle Forest a few years back.

We're in the South Manchester area now, and there are a lot of strong clubs here. It's also handy for getting to Old Trafford so my lad gets to watch Lancs regularly too as an added bonus.

[Quickenthetempo]

Just finished it now.

Showed cricket in a decent light, even if they played on a few mis truths.
Preston has lots of Cricket clubs they could join, but as Tony has pointed out, state schools don't play much cricket anymore.

There is a problem with posh schools over supplying first class cricket but they get more opportunities in all walks of life.

Local cricket is certainly working class, but the big problem we have in this area is you have to be pretty good at it to play around here.
All the local leagues where average cricketers/lads who didn't take it seriously used to play, are gone and the cricket clubs in the area focus on their first team and then youth players who might make their first team.

The good thing about the series was after my lad refused to watch it with me (but sort of watched it in the background) asked me if we had a bat and ball to have a game.
He has never shown interest in cricket despite me trying to get him into it. He prefers football and rugby.

[Nori1958]

Just finished it now.

Showed cricket in a decent light, even if they played on a few mis truths.
Preston has lots of Cricket clubs they could join, but as Tony has pointed out, state schools don't play much cricket anymore.

There is a problem with posh schools over supplying first class cricket but they get more opportunities in all walks of life.

Local cricket is certainly working class, but the big problem we have in this area is you have to be pretty good at it to play around here.
All the local leagues where average cricketers/lads who didn't take it seriously used to play, are gone and the cricket clubs in the area focus on their first team and then youth players who might make their first team.

The good thing about the series was after my lad refused to watch it with me (but sort of watched it in the background) asked me if we had a bat and ball to have a game.
He has never shown interest in cricket despite me trying to get him into it. He prefers football and rugby.

Did state schools ever play that much. We had to play a team in the Friday night league, and only because we had a teacher who was involved in cricket locally, but never played against other schools, and that was in the 70s

Ive seen kids of all abilities enjoy cricket at local clubs, granted only the good ones will get into the 1st team, but that's true of every sport. Most cricket clubs run many teams below the first team, which give everyone a chance.

[Chobulous]

My son plays for the club and although we are pretty well off, all of his mates that also play for the club are not and there are absolutely no boundaries whats so ever...

How do you play cricket without boundaries. A bit boring if 4s and 6s aren’t allowed

[claretonthecoast1882]

How do you play cricket without boundaries. A bit boring if 4s and 6s aren’t allowed

Have you never run a 27 off a cover drive ?

[Red Fox Rocks Socks]

Have you never run a 27 off a cover drive ?

You used to run 7’s down towneley on the middle pitches if you were fit enough

[ClaretTony]

Did state schools ever play that much.

Very much so in the Burnley area and right from primary school age. Was a hugely important part of sport at my schools.

[Nori1958]

Very much so in the Burnley area and right from primary school age. Was a hugely important part of sport at my schools.

Never played at primary school, and as stated only at secondary school because the English teacher was keen

Both schools within 4 miles of burnley... Late 60s to 1975....

[Quickenthetempo]

Did state schools ever play that much. We had to play a team in the Friday night league, and only because we had a teacher who was involved in cricket locally, but never played against other schools, and that was in the 70s

Ive seen kids of all abilities enjoy cricket at local clubs, granted only the good ones will get into the 1st team, but that's true of every sport. Most cricket clubs run many teams below the first team, which give everyone a chance.

In the late 80s our Junior school used to play on Saturday mornings at St Andrews, where there was a few matches all going on at once. This was thanks to a cricket loving teacher.
Then at high school we played 5 or 6 games a year as well as PE.
This might have been pupils oining teachers to play but we were Burnley champions for a few years running at Gawthorpe.

My mate at Habergham got days off to play cricket at posh schools.

On the subject of clubs. It used to be 1st team, 2nd team made up of young players/older players not good enough for the firsts anymore. Then a 3rd team for average players and young players.
Now they have 3rds and 4ths all U18s.

[Inchy]

I enjoyed it but the working class/upper class divide thing is a bit far fetched. I get that the majority of England cricketers were privately educated but I think a fair few of them come from working class backgrounds and gained scholarships at private schools due to their sporting abilities.

I played cricket as a kid and was bloody useless but it’s one of the most inclusive games about. Not many sports where you get rich and poor, white British, British Asian and other ethnicities all getting on and having a knock. Certainly is more inclusive than football.

[Inchy]

One of the issues with cricket, and it effects golf as well, is how long a game takes. 4 hours plus every weekend is a big ask

[Rileybobs]

One of the issues with cricket, and it effects golf as well, is how long a game takes. 4 hours plus every weekend is a big ask

That’s the main thing isn’t it. And the weather of course. Difficult to get a quick game of cricket going at a school with a bunch of kids where everyone is involved.

[A.Claret.Fan]

Played cricket at Junior school level (Heasandford) but it wasn't on the curriculum at Secondary (Barden).

Wasn't until 20 years later I picked up a bat for my works dept in an inter department league that I got interested again.

[Nori1958]

That’s the main thing isn’t it. And the weather of course. Difficult to get a quick game of cricket going at a school with a bunch of kids where everyone is involved.

I think it takes a couple of hours the format they play nowadays... Everyone bat's for same amount of time, and are never out, so the poor ones get the same batting time as the good ones

[Quickenthetempo]

Crickets certainly changed over the last few years in the area.
Townley league gone.

Lancs league expansion

Ribb league and Bolton cricket league started talks last night over a merger.

[welsbyswife]

Who did you play for, out of interest?

Not your lot but did once have the pleasure of opening the batting with you for Jimmy's. Should narrow it down a bit for you

[arise_sir_charge]

Not watched this yet but will be doing.

I think club cricket, at junior level is stronger than its ever been, more teams playing in well organised leagues and the move for clubs to manage ‘town team’ cricket is also better than the old schools system.

That said it’s a shame there isn’t more school cricket.

One misconception about kids from posh schools playing professional cricket is that they all come from well to do back grounds, the reality is, in a lot of cases, it’s the fact that those lads are good at cricket that gets them into the posh schools on scholarships etc. Lowerhouse have had two girls given scholarships at Stoneyhurst based on their sporting ability.

[TheFamilyCat]

Not your lot but did once have the pleasure of opening the batting with you for Jimmy's. Should narrow it down a bit for you

Desperate times when we had to scavenge through Foulridge's reserves to make up numbers.

I can't quite remember how that came about. Was it the 6-a-side?

[welsbyswife]

Desperate times when we had to scavenge through Foulridge's reserves to make up numbers.

I can't quite remember how that came about. Was it the 6-a-side?

It was indeed. Also recall you asking me to take first knock cos the opening bowler was a bit quick.....

[WadingInDeeper]

I think it takes a couple of hours the format they play nowadays... Everyone bat's for same amount of time, and are never out, so the poor ones get the same batting time as the good ones

8 players, 2 overs each bowler and each pair bats for 4 overs, no one is out, just loose point each wicket. As you say everyone is involved at some point, not totally perfect but it gives everyone a chance.

A lot of work going on at junior level, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, unless you want it to, as the club provide the equipment. You do need children who are keen to play though, and parents who are prepared to support them.

There does seem to be a lack of investment in schools cricket in east lancs compared to west lancs. My youngest is fortunate he can access club facilities when he want, so can practice 4, 5 or more times a week, and we could afford winter training. Not everyone has that accessibility though.

[Dressinggown]

I've been lucky enough to play both school and club cricket in the Burnley area from a Junior despite being particularly average at the sport at best.

There weren't many schools in Burnley that regularly played cricket during the 80's. Fortunately, I attended a secondary school which was a former grammar school. It retained its grammar school connections and had members of the teaching staff who were willing to put in the extra hours that goes along with running school cricket teams. We played against Manchester, Bury, Bolton, Lytham, Hipperholme, Lancaster Grammar Schools amongst others. Those selected for the cricket team were allowed to have Wednesday afternoon off from their studies to play cricket.

Not many schools in the area could boast of an annual week long cricket tour in Somerset. Most of our players were attending the 6th Form Centre at the time.

One of the teams we played was Kings School at Bruton. Their side mainly consisted of Somerset 2nd XI players. Lunch was taken in their enormous Harry Potter style dining room with all the school pupils. It had 8 grass practice nets next to the pitch, the groundsman had his own cottage on the boundary. It was a different world. How we managed a draw there I have no idea. At the end of the game their captain came into our dressing room with a crate of Budweiser and said that we had exclusive use of their swimming pool. Lacking our 'Johnny Weismuller's' we plunged into the deep wearing our cheap Y-Fronts or cricket whites.

The member of staff who ran the tour only turned up on the day for games. The team stayed at a hotel in Weston-Super-Mare whilst the staff member was based with friends a good few miles out of town. It was the responsibility of our captain to organise us all, both on and off the pitch. Nights in Weston were epic, especially for the 3 of us who were only 16 at the time !

How many clubs are there within 20 miles of Burnley ? The Lancashire, Ribblesdale and other local leagues offer cricket for all ages and backgrounds. Some local clubs are running multiple teams at all levels. We are well and truly spoilt in East Lancs.

Best wishes to all local clubs this season. Keep up the good work.

[CaymanClaret]

I agree that schools could do way more to promote the game - even in the early 90's there wasn't much focus in school. If it isn't going to be, then better funding for local clubs is needed!

At St Christophers, our PE was told we need a cricket team, he got the year group together and asked who already played cricket and what team we played for.

I played at Lowerhouse at the time and so was straight into the team. No practices, no discussion, just a couple of games. Needless to say we didn't do very well.

On the flipside, the youth development at Lowerhouse was amazing and run by Reg Wardle - what a legend he was. If it hadn't been for the set up at Lowerhouse, and Reg then I'd probably have given up, but I managed to make my men's cricket debut at 14 in the 3rds before we moved away. As it stands, I've been playing (or trying to) for the last 30 odd years!

[pushpinpussy]

well done Freddie. i don’t watch much TV personally but this was very good. i have a lot of clients in the Preston area and i know the area around Moor Park and it is incredibly deprived. there is no fairness in this country at all. this country discriminates against the poorer people.

[Burnley1989]

I've been lucky enough to play both school and club cricket in the Burnley area from a Junior despite being particularly average at the sport at best.

There weren't many schools in Burnley that regularly played cricket during the 80's. Fortunately, I attended a secondary school which was a former grammar school. It retained its grammar school connections and had members of the teaching staff who were willing to put in the extra hours that goes along with running school cricket teams. We played against Manchester, Bury, Bolton, Lytham, Hipperholme, Lancaster Grammar Schools amongst others. Those selected for the cricket team were allowed to have Wednesday afternoon off from their studies to play cricket.

Not many schools in the area could boast of an annual week long cricket tour in Somerset. Most of our players were attending the 6th Form Centre at the time.

One of the teams we played was Kings School at Bruton. Their side mainly consisted of Somerset 2nd XI players. Lunch was taken in their enormous Harry Potter style dining room with all the school pupils. It had 8 grass practice nets next to the pitch, the groundsman had his own cottage on the boundary. It was a different world. How we managed a draw there I have no idea. At the end of the game their captain came into our dressing room with a crate of Budweiser and said that we had exclusive use of their swimming pool. Lacking our 'Johnny Weismuller's' we plunged into the deep wearing our cheap Y-Fronts or cricket whites.

The member of staff who ran the tour only turned up on the day for games. The team stayed at a hotel in Weston-Super-Mare whilst the staff member was based with friends a good few miles out of town. It was the responsibility of our captain to organise us all, both on and off the pitch. Nights in Weston were epic, especially for the 3 of us who were only 16 at the time !

How many clubs are there within 20 miles of Burnley ? The Lancashire, Ribblesdale and other local leagues offer cricket for all ages and backgrounds. Some local clubs are running multiple teams at all levels. We are well and truly spoilt in East Lancs.

Best wishes to all local clubs this season. Keep up the good work.

Sounds class

[Nori1958]

It seems that many people had a similar experience to me, in that you only got to play cricket at school if there was a teacher who was interested in the sport, and prepared to give up their time out of school hours to run a team. We never played cricket in PE, that was always football or cross country.
I was fortunate that we had a teacher who gave up his time to run a team. I had already an interest as my dad always played, but the teacher got us playing in a team, which led to me playing for the town, and county teams. It was strange that I played at a higher level at cricket, than any of the other sports they taught at school.
I watched the program and although I enjoyed it, I was a bit surprised they pushed the cricket is only for posh kids line. I've been involved in several local clubs over the years, and also seen how other clubs are run, and believe me it is not a posh kids game, and I cannot see Preston being any different than the clubs in East lancs.

[arise_sir_charge]

I agree that schools could do way more to promote the game - even in the early 90's there wasn't much focus in school. If it isn't going to be, then better funding for local clubs is needed!

At St Christophers, our PE was told we need a cricket team, he got the year group together and asked who already played cricket and what team we played for.

I played at Lowerhouse at the time and so was straight into the team. No practices, no discussion, just a couple of games. Needless to say we didn't do very well.

On the flipside, the youth development at Lowerhouse was amazing and run by Reg Wardle - what a legend he was. If it hadn't been for the set up at Lowerhouse, and Reg then I'd probably have given up, but I managed to make my men's cricket debut at 14 in the 3rds before we moved away. As it stands, I've been playing (or trying to) for the last 30 odd years!

Morning Cayman, you’ll be pleased to hear that Reg is still going strong.

He moved away from Burnley to Cornwall in the 90’s and nobody really heard a great deal from him.

Then the other year in lock down my phone rang and it was Reg, full of life and telling me that he was now well in is his 80’s and had been coaching up until very recently.

It was great to talk to him, sharp as a tack and remembered all the names from the past and even some incidents and people that I’d forgotten about.

[NottsClaret]

Loads of cricket clubs in South Yorkshire, every village around Barnsley seems to have its own side with plenty of junior sides at each one. Club cricket still very much a working class sport too around here. Maybe the idea of a toff's sport is more a Southern thing, where it's played in private schools mostly.

[Nori1958]

Loads of cricket clubs in South Yorkshire, every village around Barnsley seems to have its own side with plenty of junior sides at each one. Club cricket still very much a working class sport too around here. Maybe the idea of a toff's sport is more a Southern thing, where it's played in private schools mostly.

The problem with the program was that it was filmed in Preston, and giving a false impression of the area, which like Yorkshire, there are many cricket clubs which all welcome players of any background, but very few from the posh end of society

[Quickenthetempo]

The advantage private schools have are they play sport every afternoon on great facilities.

My youngest has just finished high school and they hardly had any after school games of sport. He probably played 10 games of football in 5 years for the school, no cricket team and they played a few Rugby matches.

My own experience was we played over 20 games a football a year. 6/7 cricket matches. There was badminton club every night and dinner times. Mixed hockey, table tennis games.

But I think teachers are weighed down with paperwork so don't have the free time.

[CaymanClaret]

Morning Cayman, you’ll be pleased to hear that Reg is still going strong.

He moved away from Burnley to Cornwall in the 90’s and nobody really heard a great deal from him.

Then the other year in lock down my phone rang and it was Reg, full of life and telling me that he was now well in is his 80’s and had been coaching up until very recently.

It was great to talk to him, sharp as a tack and remembered all the names from the past and even some incidents and people that I’d forgotten about.

Amazing. That made my day!