West Indian Collis, 59, is still King of York’s Senior League (From The Northern Echo)

West Indian Collis, 59, is still King of York’s Senior League

9:45am Tuesday 24th August 2010 in

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FOLLOWING a gentle summer evening in the Vale of York, Saturday’s column told the happy story of how Sessay Cricket Club – near Thirsk – have reached the National Village Cricket Cup final at Lord’s for the first time since 1976.

So off the photographers went that afternoon for a few team pictures, Sessay home to Dunnington – and to catch up with a familiar, formidable member of the opposition.

Remember Collis King?

Nine tests and 18 one-day internationals for the West Indies of Richards and Garner and the man who helped them win the 1979 World Cup – also at Lord’s – by smashing 86 off 66 balls after coming in at 99-4.

He also played first class cricket for Glamorgan, Worcestershire and Natal but has spent the past 12 years in the York Senior League, initially with Stillington.

He’s now 59 and shows no sign of ageing, as Sessay discovered on Saturday – and by no means just King for the day.

Again he tops the premier division batting averages, again he’s among the wickets. Already a member of the league’s Hall of Fame, he’s hit 40 centuries. After joining York in 2001, he topped the league batting averages in his first three seasons and still averages more than 80.

He has a league record of centuries in ten successive seasons, has hit 1,000 runs seven times – no one else has done it more than twice – and hit 212 against Clifton Alliance, comfortably the premier division’s highest ever score.

Sessay totalled 184-7, King claiming 4-71. Dunnington smashed 185-2 in reply, King undefeated on 98 and his fellow West Indian Harwood Williams hitting 70.

The hall of fame citation talks of his playing ability, his sporting manner and his “extremely social post-match company.” Sessay chairman Guy Musgrave agrees.

“He really murdered us but afterwards he was coaching our under 11s, telling them a few of his stories, just a thoroughly nice man.

“He’s a gentleman off the field but an absolute monster on it. Thank goodness we won’t have to face him at Lord’s.”

THE column had taken itself to Penrith, where the Northern League’s finest pies may be had. At St James Park the following day, meanwhile, Newcastle United fans could get their teeth into the new, supposedly secret recipe, meat and potato Mag-pie.

Apparently a tasting panel was involved. “As it costs just £3 it represents really good value and I’m sure the fans will love it,” said catering director Colin Perkins. At peerless Penrith, they pay just half the price.

BACK in Shildon the previous evening, to help make the boxing club presentations with the admirable Gareth Howe, town mayor and football club secretary.

The club’s been battling on since 1918, reckoned the country’s second oldest amateur club after Repton, in London.

John Heighington, the chief coach, and chairman Tommy Taylor have both been in Shildon’s corner since 1957 and really do deserve medals.

The do was to have been in the Railway Institute, where the club’s based, but the roof’s leaking. Instead it was at the Civic Hall.

A further problem is that, a couple of months back, someone stole their £10,000 ring – they really did, unfair and square – from outside the town’s leisure centre, where it was stored.

They’re still sparring with Durham County Council over who’s responsible. The council, meanwhile, will fund a ring for the next fight night, in October. “They’re not off the ropes yet,” says Tommy.

WHILE Britain gears itself for the 2012 Olympics – and England, it’s to be hoped, for the 2018 World Cup – Ralph Ord forwards an email sent at the weekend to key organisers of the Asian Games in Delhi.

Ralph, former Crook cricketer and Wearhead United football manager, is one of them.

Today, says the email, they found a 6ft cobra inside Hall 7 (Uniform and accreditation centre.) It was removed and killed by security guards.

“We have advised all the team that they carry a long stick, are wearing covered shoes and do not walk around barefoot,” adds the email.

“I would respectfully suggest you to advise your teams to do the needful and stock a supply of antivenom, especially bearing in mind the number of people you will be processing through the site. Kind regards and good luck.”

Ralph’s philosophical. “I can’t imagine there being an occasion to warrant this sort of communication in London 2012,” he says.

WE wrote two weeks ago of Mitchell Spencer, the little lad from Hartlepool who’s headed to Missouri in October for a major operation that should cure his cerebral palsy. First, however, his mum Debbie and family need to raise £50,000.

Then they’d topped £15,000. Now the appeal’s beyond £20,000 and will shortly receive another £650 from that indefatigable charity worker Raye Wilkinson, in Middleham who read about ten-year-old Mitchell in the column.

£500 is from Raye’s annual golf day, sponsored by former pro Ian Todd of Snugtop in Darlington. The remainder, poignantly, is the estate of former Middleham stable lad and gallops man Tommy Burton.

As well known in Middleham’s pubs as on the early morning gallops – “one of life’s characters, a law unto himself,” says Raye – Tommy died unexpectedly in December 2008, aged 60.

He was from Hartlepool, too, but though he is believed to have had a sister and twin brother, extensive enquiries failed to trace relatives.

“It’s a brilliant gesture, absolutely made my day,”

says Debbie, still planning a major sports memorabilia auction on October 1.

That’s the one, it may be recalled, which will include a signed photograph of Chris Waddle’s still remembered free kick for Sunderland against Everton in May 1997 – the defenders, as Debbie memorably put it, “holding their bits.”

Raye – 07775 568374 – would still love to hear from members of Tommy’s family.

Full details of the fund, and how to help, at www.getmitchelltoamerica.

org.uk A REAL family occasion for our friends at North Bitchburn cricket club, between Bishop Auckland and Crook. Colin Henderson’s on strike, his son Lee at the other end.

Colin swipes at a short one from Graham Paxton of East Rainton and is caught on the boundary by Graham’s son Nick. Father and son split up by father and son.

MEANWHILE we hear that North Bitchburn skipper Graham Dunn scored his 20,000th run for the club in hitting 69 against Simonside – a feat which the incomparable Jack Chapman, the great Durham club cricket historian, reckons has only once previously been bettered for one club.

That was by Ian Somerville, who hit 23,406 runs for Blaydon. Jack, perchance, was watching cricket with Somerville last Saturday when they fell to discussing his masterwork, Cream Teas and Nutty Slack.

Ian called it up on his swanky mobile phone.

“Author deceased,” it said.

Jack’s wishes vigorously to advise them that they’re very much mistaken.

BRIGHOUSE is brass band, Floral Dance, territory. Last Tuesday’s column on Dunston’s FA Cup win at Brighouse Town – nice club, nice people – ended fairly predictably with the supposition that the hosts might be a bit brassed off.

Too true. The day previously, thieves had not only stolen equipment from the club’s hard-won social facilities but set fire and gutted the lot. Friends rally round but the club are said understandably to be devastated. It doesn’t just happen up here, then.

And finally...

THE three amateur international footballers who’ve played cricket for Bishop Auckland (Backtrack, August 21) are Bob Hardisty, Bobby Davison and Corbett Cresswell.

For all those who’ve asked, incidentally, Alan Adamthwaite’s long-awaited biography on the great Hardisty is launched on September 15, with a signing at Bishop town hall that night. More of that shortly.

Brian Shaw in Shildon today invites the identity of the only Football League club in the 20th century to win all its home games.

Every one a winner, the column returns on Saturday.