Post War

The War meant that cricket was played on a much more sporadic basis, problems with transport due to petrol rationing, player shortages, equipment shortages all creating a difficult environment in which to try to play cricket in a formal league.

So it was not until 1946 that the NYSD was back on a sound footing, though the above-mentioned problems still existed. 1946 was Carr's final season for the club, and we finished 7th. During the 1946 season, Rex Crane was selected for Durham, the first Blackhall amateur to be selected for the County. Harry Archbold was to follow him in 1953, and Stuart Young in 1956.

The second team had their first major NYSD success in 1947, winning the Haith Cup.

It is notable that the club still continued with the post of Groundsman / Professional until 1952. The players who followed Carr in this position were not of his class, though it is notable that Tommy Gale was appointed in 1948. When the 1952 professional JH Clarke was signed, Tommy continued in his role as head groundsman for many years, producing what are accepted to be the best wickets ever seen at Blackhall during the 50s and 60s.

Tommy had played at Horden before coming to Blackhall, and it is fitting to see that in the 21st century his memory & his links with the two clubs is commemorated by the two clubs playing for the Tommy Gale Trophy whenever they meet.

See a little more about Tommy here

At this point, Keith's excellent club history suffers due to a lack of available records, many have been lost, something which it must be said the club has probably been guilty of ever since, so the playing details become a bit more sketchy, but it is probably fair to say that the 1950s saw Blackhall find the NYSD league a tougher proposition than in the 30s. Bear in mind that Blackhall is essentially a cricket team representing a village (albeit a sizeable one) competing against teams from towns such as Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Darlington, and in the main holding their own. This must be regarded as a notable achievement.

A list of the professionals engaged in the fifties is

1952 - JH Clarke
1953/4 - Arthur Fawcett
1955 / 6 - Don Aitcheson
1957 - No professional
1958-60 Jack Watson.

A point to note is that Aitcheson was a Jamaican wicket keeper / batsman, thus becoming Blackhall's first ever overseas professional.

The arrival of Watson led to an improvement in the club's on-field results. An experienced Minor Counties player with Durham, he led Blackhall to three consecutive top 5 finishes in the league, and a third Kerridge Cup in 1960. In addition, the second team won the NYSD B Division in 1958, winning by virtue of having a greater average runs per wicket after teams finished level on points.