‘You can’t win anything with kids’

It was over 30 years ago that Alan Hansen uttered those immortal words.

Lightcliffe couldn’t win the match against a useful East Bierley side who now sit third in the Debenham U13 League with kids tonight.
But they won the admiration of those watching at Till Carr Lane.

7 of the 11 that took the field for the home side were U11s players. Some were playing their first U13s game. One was playing only his second ‘proper’ game of cricket and his first in the league.

The game was ultimately lost, however each of them in their own way won personal battles that will only improve them as cricketers in the years to come.

Max opening the bowling and taking a contender for catch of the season.

Ernie joining him from the other end with the ball and, despite facing some rapid deliveries from lads twice his size, scoring 3 off 9 faced with the bat.

Ben showing the safest of hands in the field and firing balls in from the boundary, all backed up with a tidy spell in the Villagers’ attack.
Jack diving to save a certain boundary and finding some real zip when bowling.
Aidan showing real intent and offering us glimpses of the quick and accurate bowler he can become.

Jacob with miserly figures of 2 for 9 from his 2 overs and some acrobatics to turn fours to singles and singles to dots.

Jim hammering the ball through the covers for four with the best shot he’ll play this year and finding the boundary another two times as he reached 20 off just 14 faced.

Seth opening the batting for the second match running this week and not letting a fast ball that flew up off his glove and into the chest dampen his enthusiasm.

Harry making vital stops to slow the opposition’s run rate and joining the list of those finding good line and length.

A series of battles across the piece. With definitely more of them won than lost.

In many ways, the night was one for the Powe brothers to remember. Nobody deserved their retirement on 30 more than Henners, coming as it did off just 36 faced with 4 fours. And all after stepping up to keep wicket on a blazing hot evening. It was an innings that’s been coming for a while. His smile as he left the field said it all.
I reckon Joey will eventually forgive his elder sibling for dropping the one that caught an edge from his bowling. He may not stick a copy of his figures from tonight on his bedroom wall, but he should put this report up. Because like so many of his U11s teammates, he should remember the way he walked out to the crease and faced some of East Bierley’s quickest and most accurate bowlers. They had saved some of their best with the ball for later in the innings and it showed.

In the last few weeks, the visitors have pushed league leaders Moorlands close and beaten Batley. Their impressive 166 from their 20 overs with 2 retirements was no fluke. Nor was that total a comment on the quality of Lightcliffe’s attack. Yes, there were misfields and mix-ups. The extras were undoubtedly higher than they should be. But we all learn from our mistakes. The boys are no different. They will learn. They will improve.

I suspect more people remember Alan Hansen for that memorable quote than they do his 8 league titles and 3 European Cups. It was a line that would come back to haunt him. August 1995 saw Alex Ferguson’s side lose 3-1 to Aston Villa. It was that loss that led the former Liverpool skipper to utter those words on Match of the Day. August 1995 also saw the start of a winning dynasty that would bring them title after title, much to the displeasure of your correspondent!

I reckon the future will be just as bright for the boys on that field tonight. And this time, I’ll be able to enjoy them proving Hansen’s words to be wrong once again. You can win with kids. And we will.