ASKHAM Bryan Cricket Club has been booted out of its home of nearly half a century to make way for football.

Just weeks before the start of the season the village club was officially told that its ground at Askham Bryan College was required for football pitches for its students.

The HPH York Vale League club has managed to relocate six miles away to York University sports field in Heslington Lane. It will open its division two season there against South Cave & Brantingham on Saturday.

The club had no written contract with the college to whom it paid rent for use of the ground.

Askham Bryan Cricket Club had existed in the village since Victorian times with pitches situated in the grounds of Askham Bryan Hall and on Main Street before houses were built on the outfield in the early 1960s.

As a temporary measure the club relocated to a farmer’s field at the east end of the village, using a disused poultry hut donated by the college as a pavilion.

With no other suitable or affordable land in the village for a cricket field, in 1966 a lifeline was thrown by the then college principal, Lance Gilling, who offered the club a new home at the agricultural college.

A player loan scheme will come into effect for the first time this season with the aim being to reduce the number of conceded matches through lack of player numbers.

Vale League matches will begin earlier this season with 1.30pm start.

There will also be flexibility in lower divisions to reduce overs, subject to both captains agreeing prior to start of games.

Division one champions North Cave, who have recruited Damian Sharp from Hemingbrough, start the defence of their title with a home fixture against Kelfield. Melbourne, promoted as division two champions, face Ovington on Knavesmire. The other promoted side, Ben Johnson, travel to Burn.

At the league’s pre-season meeting at Fulfordgate, clubs were advised to be aware of Tour de Yorkshire road closures in parts of York which could affect fixtures on Saturday, May 2.

Where potential problems are anticipated clubs have the option to switch games to Sunday, May 3.

Entry forms for the Raven Junior Sixes at Pocklington on Sunday, June 28 will be sent out in the next few weeks.