80 YEARS AGO

IN A week when a petition to Bridlington Corporation to allow cinema screenings on Sundays attracted the signatures of 500 residents within three hours – churches naturally objected – there was embarrassment at the Football League annual meeting.

A proposal for four up, four down for the 1936-37 season was passed 34-14 but then it was realised that the majority needed to be a three-quarters rather than two-thirds and that it had therefore failed.

Another vote took place, which was 33-15 in favour – they needed 36 for it to pass – but it was hoped that four up, four down would come into being in time for the 1937-38 campaign.

Arthur Mitchell (49) and Len Hutton (37) put on 87 in almost two hours for Yorkshire against Middlesex at Lord's but were barracked for scoring too slowly.

Brian Sellers (20 in an hour) also came in for criticism but the end justified the means as Yorkshire made 242 in five-and-a-quarter hours on a wicket that was always giving the bowlers assistance, Middlesex then being dismissed for 168.

Yorkshire made 165 second up and Middlesex were 77-6 when rain saved them.

Earlier the Tykes had beaten All India at Park Avenue, with only the tourists' skipper CK Nayadu (41 and 30) offering much resistance as they were dismissed for 86 and 115.

However, Mohammed Nissar – their fastest pre-war bowler – also proved his worth by taking 6-74 as Hedley Verity shone with bat and ball, making 96 not out and taking 3-21, Frank Smailes bagging 4-26 and 6-36 plus scoring 77 to help Verity add 128 for the eighth wicket.

50 YEARS AGO

YORK were claiming a cricket world record for the number of stumpings in an innings – seven by H Mackilvenny for the Forty Club against St Peter's School.

The school made 132, the Forty Club replying with 134-3, of which former Yorkshire and England player Willie Watson made 72 not out.

Great as Yorkshire were, there was no Tyke in the England team that had lost to the West Indies by an innings and 40 runs in the first Test at Old Trafford, a selection which Brian Close described as "rather disappointing".

However, that was remedied before the second Test at Lord's with the recall of Geoff Boycott and Ray Illingworth in the 12, where there was also a new captain, with Colin Cowdrey replacing Mike Smith.

American athlete Jim Ryun broke the 880 yard world record, clocking 1min 44.9sec in Terre Haute, Indiana, while Bradford Northern centre Ian Brooke scored two tries as the Great Britain rugby league tourists defeated Sydney 15-14 at the SCG.

Selby Old Boys RUFC decided to drop the old boys from their title, which broke a 12-year link dating back to when they merged with Drax Grammar School, while York RUFC announced that flanker John Hutt would be their captain for the 1966-67 season, with Colin Bell as vice-captain.

20 YEARS AGO

YORKwon 38-8 at Bramley but both clubs were facing the prospect of fines after a mass brawl with a minute to go.

Visitors' prop Rich Hayes and home second-row Glen Freeman were both sent off, with referee Nick Oddy putting all the other 23 players on report, Bramley substitute Kenny Hill having already been dismissed for a 42nd-minute high tackle on Damian Ball.

Jason Laurence (2), Keith Mawer, Chris Hopcutt, Ball and Mick Johnson got the York tries, with Terry Smirk landing seven goals.

York also signed former Bradford winger Craig Moore on loan from Dewsbury.

Former York City boss John Ward turned down the chance to manage Scarborough, the job going to ex-Liverpool and Middlesbrough striker David Hodgson.

The main conclusion to be drawn from Henry Wharton's super-middleweight clash with Stephane Nizard was that Nizard was 'ard as Wharton won on points over ten rounds at the Barbican.

However, how many rounds the Frenchman won was more open to question. Referee Mickey Vann bizarrely gave Wharton five rounds and Nizard three with two drawn, but most knowledgeable onlookers gave Wharton ten rounds with two drawn.

What wasn't in doubt, however, was that the Barbican was a great boxing venue, with promoter Micky Duff saying that he would be happy to stage Wharton's third crack at a world title there.

Yorkshire almost pulled off their greatest fourth-innings knock when faced with a target of 344 against Middlesex at Lord's.

The chase was very much on but the Tykes lost their last six wickets for 28 to lose by 21 runs after Michael Bevan had scored 107 and Michael Vaughan (67) as Phil Tufnell bowled his 43 overs in succession to take 4-106.