NEW Farnley may have finished fifth in their first season in the JCT600 Bradford League top flight last year but their priority this season may lie elsewhere.
Experienced former county cricketer James Middlebrook, who will have a mentoring role at the Leeds club, said: “It would be nice for us to win a trophy, and we are targeting the two cups – the Heavy Woollen and the Priestley.”
The 38-year-old ex-Yorkshire, Essex and Northamptonshire player has had a long association with Pudsey Congs, where his dad Ralph has been an influential figure for decades, so most people assumed that is where he would return once his successful county career was curtailed at the County Ground last September.
However, as the all-rounder explained: “Congs had already sorted out their team by November and it would have been unfair to upset that but I was already talking to New Farnley.
“I have known New Farnley’s Craig Russell for 25 years since he was involved at my dad’s cricket school, and I know JB (John Baldwin) down there too.
“I have met the lads three or four times already and they are passionate about cricket, but winning is not the be all and end all for them.”
New Farnley open their campaign at Woodlands
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