AFTER the departure of one of their leading clubs, Crossflatts, to the Bradford Premier League this winter, the Craven League could do with some good news.

And it has come in the shape of Hepworth & Idle, who have decided to put a third team into the grassroots cricket league for the new season.

With either their first team or second team playing at home, Hepworth & Idle needed a venue for their third string to play at, and happily for them it is literally across the road from their Westfield Lane ground at Cambing.

Negotiations have now concluded between Hepworth & Idle, the Cambing ground’s owners - Idle Upper Chapel - and Cambing, and the result is a 35-year lease for Hepworth & Idle to use the ground.

Hepworth & Idle’s vice-chairman Dave Matthews said: “It has been an idea of ours to form a third team for the past two or three years, and we now have enough players for our third team and second team, but want a top-three batter for our first team, as well as an all-rounder and an opening bowler.

“We have seven players who are joining us from Central YMCA in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League, and we have also signed Anthony Devanney and Dave Clayton, who used to be team-mates of mine at Eccleshill, and Simon Raistrick from Rodley.

“We have lost opening bowler Alex Robinson, who has signed for Rawdon in the Aire-Wharfe League.

“By forming a third team we are doing our bit for the community as we are very much a community club.

“We just don’t want people not to play cricket.”

In addition, Hepworth & Idle, who also run Under-9 and U11 teams in the Airedale Junior League, have put their U13 team into the Bradford Junior League and are looking for players at all three age groups.

Matthews can be contacted at hepworthandidlecc@gmail.com or on 07483 143322.