By Gary Watton
June 11 2013
Oh I should quickly point out that this doesn't mean that the city of Bradford is in its twilight years, just in case any startled browser chances upon this fine item! Instead, I have most thoughtfully decided to compile a record of all the County Championship engagements that Yorkshire CCC played in the final couple of decades in which first-class cricket was hosted by Park Avenue cricket ground in the metropolis of Bradford.
versus Derbyshire; 2 and 4 May 1970; Derbyshire won the toss.
Derbyshire first innings: 107 (Old 5-14, Wilson 3-36)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 238 (Hutton 104; E.Smith 7-84)
Derbyshire second innings: 111 (Cope 4-44)
Derbyshire could not 'cope' with the Yorkshire bowlers. One of them, Richard Hutton, hit his maiden first-class century.
YORKSHIRE won by an innings and 20 runs; YORKSHIRE 17 points, Derbyshire 4 points
versus Gloucestershire; 3-5 June 1970; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 267 (Leadbeater 70, Sharpe 62; Procter 6-38)
Gloucestershire first innings:304 (Green 69, Bissex 53; Wilson 3-59, Nicholson 3-84, Old 3-92)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 152 (Bissex 5-34, Allen 3-43)
Gloucestershire second innings: 116 for 1 (Nicholls 79*)
This encounter was in the balance until Yorkshire were blown away in the second innings.
Gloucestershire won by nine wickets; YORKSHIRE 8 points, Gloucestershire 20 points
versus Surrey; 8, 10-11 August 1970; Surrey won the toss.
Surrey first innings: 193 (Knight 59; Old 5-44)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 244 (Boycott 77; Intikhab Alam 5-93)
Surrey second innings: 171 (Cope 6-55, Wilson 3-61)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 122 for 5 (Intikhab Alam 3-47)
Pakistan bowler Intikhab Alam didn't deserve to be on the losing team in this low-scoring contest.
YORKSHIRE won by five wickets; YORKSHIRE 17 points, Surrey 6 points
versus Kent; 1, 3-4 May 1971; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 93 (Underwood 7-28)
Surrey first innings: 307 (Cowdrey 83, Leary 74, Luckhurst 66; Old 3-51, Hutton 3-63)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 122 (Shepherd 6-36)
Jack Shepherd and Derek Underwood shared sixteen wickets as they made light work of Yorkshire's pitiful batting.
Kent won by an innings and 92 runs; YORKSHIRE 2 points, Kent 17 points
versus Leicestershire; 21, 23-24 August 1971; Leicestershire won the toss.
Leicestershire first innings: 204 (Tolchard 54; Nicholson 5-54, Old 3-59)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 325 for 6 declared (Boycott 151, Hampshire 95)
Leicestershire second innings: 53 for 2
Only a handful of overs were possible on the first day which explains why dominant Yorkshire failed to win this fixture.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 9 points, Leicestershire 3 points
versus Sussex; 5, 7-8 August 1972; Sussex won the toss.
Sussex first innings: 283 for 5 declared (Prideaux 69, Parks 51*)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 128 for 5 (Joshi 3-59)
Only 69 overs were played on the second day and none at all on the final day as the weather won this contest.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 2 points, Sussex 3 points
versus Kent; 30-31 August 1972
YORKSHIRE first innings: 98 (Underwood 3-26, Julien 3-27)
Kent first innings: 362 (Luckhurst 109, Asif Iqbal 67; Old 6-69)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 183 (Underwood 8-70)
Derek Underwood proved too hot to handle again for the inept Yorkshire batsmen who badly missed the absent Boycott.
Kent won by an innings and 81 runs; YORKSHIRE 5 points, Kent 23 points
versus Nottinghamshire; 21, 23-24 July 1973; Nottinghamshire won the toss.
Nottinghamshire first innings: 248 for 9 declared (Harris 61; Bore 3-60, Nicholson 3-71)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 219 (Boycott 129; Taylor 3-53, Wilkinson 3-55)
Nottinghamshire second innings: 126 for 3 declared (Harris 57; Bore 3-50)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 59 for 1
Bore and Boycott added 108 for the tenth wicket, thereby enabling the captain to record a remarkable century.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 3 points, Nottinghamshire 5 points
versus Middlesex; 8, 10-11 September 1973; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
Middlesex first innings: 102 (Nicholson 5-23, Cooper 3-20)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 106 (Gomes 4-22)
Middlesex second innings: 211 (Brearley 83; Wilson 4-67, Nicholson 3-38)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 207 (Johnson 78, Bairstow 56; Selvey 6-74, Titmus 4-41)
In the closest of tight finishes, Cooper and Robinson added 15 for the last wicket before the latter was bowled by Selvey.
Match tied; YORKSHIRE 10 points, Middlesex 9 points
versus Surrey; 24, 26-27 August 1974; Surrey won the toss.
Surrey first innings: 204 (Younis Ahmed 74; Cope 4-71, Carrick 3-11)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 343 for 5 (Boycott 142*, Hampshire 74; Jackman 3-90)
Surrey second innings: 137 (Carrick 6-43)
The spinner Phil Carrick applied most of the damage as Surrey suffered an innings defeat, after having won the toss.
YORKSHIRE won by an innings and 2 runs; YORKSHIRE 17 points, Surrey 3 points
versus Leicestershire; 31 May, 2-3 June 1975; YORKSHIRE won the toss
YORKSHIRE first innings: 303 for 6 (Old 115*)
Leicestershire first innings: 201 for 8 declared (Davison 87; Old 5-32)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 23 for 0
The west Yorkshire weather prevented any play on the second day. Chris Old at least made the most of the limited time.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 7 points, Leicestershire 4 points
versus Northamptonshire; 30 August, 1-2 September 1975; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 178 (Bedi 5-50)
Northamptonshire first innings: 190 (Virgin 53; Cope 6-69)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 192 (Boycott 71; Mushtaq Mohammad 5-50)
Northamptonshire second innings: 102 (Mushtaq Mohammad 50; Cope 5-39, Carrick 4-47)
The spinner Geoff Cope helped himself to eleven wickets. Only Mushtaq Mohammad provided any resistance to the hosts.
YORKSHIRE won by 78 runs; YORKSHIRE 15 points, Northamptonshire 5 points
versus Middlesex; 10, 12-13 July 1976; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 228 (Love 77; Jones 4-56, Edmonds 3-51)
Middlesex first innings: 206 (Cope 6-60)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 214 (Hampshire 59; Featherstone 3-12, Jones 3-44)
Middlesex second innings: 235 (Featherstone 78; Cope 5-107, Bore 4-83)
Middlesex lost their last three wickets for five runs. Geoff Cope struck the decisive blow, when Radley was stumped.
YORKSHIRE won by 1 run; YORKSHIRE 16 points, Middlesex 6 points
versus Nottinghamshire; 7, 9-10 August 1976; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 415 for 7 (Love 163, Boycott 141; Wilkinson 3-98, Stead 3-105)
Nottinghamshire first innings: 349 for 6 (Todd 90, Rice 68, Smedley 53*; Cope 3-104)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 210 for 8 declared (Lumb 87, Squires 70; Allbrook 3-99)
Nottinghamshire second innings: 181 (Cope 5-46, Carrick 3-89)
England spinner Geoff Cope again thrived at this venue, ably assisted by some fine batting efforts.
YORKSHIRE won by 95 runs; YORKSHIRE 16 points, Nottinghamshire 7 points
versus Northamptonshire; 25-27 May 1977; Northamptonshire won the toss.
Northamptonshire first innings: 186 (Steele 59; Stevenson 5-68)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 277 (Boycott 70; Mushtaq Mohammad 6-63)
Northamptonshire second innings: 303 for 6 declared (Larkins 110, Mushtaq Mohammad 50; Robinson 3-66)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 213 for 4 (Boycott 74, Hampshire 58)
The in-form Geoffrey Boycott put on 135 with fellow England batsman Jack Hampshire to ensure a successful run chase.
YORKSHIRE won by six wickets; YORKSHIRE 19 points, Northamptonshire 5 points
versus Warwickshire; 25, 27-28 June 1977; Warwickshire won the toss.
Warwickshire first innings: 330 for 5 declared (Kallicharran 90, Whitehouse 58)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 28 for 3
There was no play on the second and third days - perhaps to Yorkshire's relief as they were a distant second here.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 2 points, Warwickshire 5 points
***versus Lancashire; 20, 22-23 August 1977 [See the section about Roses Skirmishes, 1970-1979]***
versus Middlesex; 14-16 June 1978; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 307 (Sharp 91, Hampshire 61; Selvey 5-109, Jones 3-80)
Middlesex first innings: 277 (Oldham 3-60)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 194 for 9 (Gatting 3-13)
This match was finely poised and probably deserving of an extra day's play to settle the outcome.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 8 points, Middlesex 7 points
versus Warwickshire; 8, 10-11 July 1978; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 227 (Hampshire 132; Hemmings 4-51)
Warwickshire first innings: 85 (Old 6-34)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 185 for 3 declared (Lumb 73, Boycott 55)
Warwickshire second innings: 264 (Abberley 81; Old 3-58)
The visitors were actually cruising at 204 for 3 before their run chase ran out of steam. Old took another hatful of wickets.
YORKSHIRE won by 63 runs; YORKSHIRE 18 points, Warwickshire 4 points
versus Surrey; 2, 4-5 June 1979; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 162 (Boycott 52, Carrick 50; Jackman 5-59, Clarke 4-55)
Surrey first innings: 161 (Butcher 69; Old 3-33)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 191 for 6 declared (Hampshire 64)
Surrey second innings: 181 for 5 (Howarth 58)
Peculiarly, Surrey fell twelve runs short of their forty-overs target. They had been strolling at 147 for 2.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 5 points, Surrey 5 points
versus Hampshire; 14, 16-17 July 1979; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
Hampshire first innings: 297 (Greenidge 90, Southern 61*, Cowley 50; Oldham 4-76, Stevenson 3-67)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 171 for 7 declared (Stevenson 3-64)
Hampshire second innings: 158 for 4 declared (Jesty 68*)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 59 for 4
The Tykes resorted to a rearguard action in the second innings, scoring 59 off 43 overs. Southern conceded 3 off 13 overs!
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 5 points, Hampshire 6 points
versus Leicestershire; 4, 6-7 August 1979; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 211 for 8 (Higgs 3-32)
Leicestershire first innings: 317 for 7 (Steele 77, Davison 58, Dudleston 55; Carrick 3-113)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 156 for 5
The hosts just about batted themselves to safety as they spent 65 overs compiling their second innings total.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 5 points, Leicestershire 7 points
versus Worcestershire; 18-20 June 1980; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 334 (Lumb 118, Old 89, Stevenson 62; Holder 4-77, Pridgeon 4-86)
Worcestershire first innings: 363 for 9 (Turner 115, Inchmore 64; Carrick 6-138)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 101 for 0 (Lumb 51*)
The Yorkshire captain and opening batsman Richard Lumb had a fine game here. No play was possible on the final day.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 7 points, Worcestershire 8 points
versus Glamorgan; 5, 7-8 July 1980; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 317 for 3 declared (Lumb 129, Athey 74, Hampshire 61*)
Glamorgan first innings: 231 (Llewellyn 53*, Featherstone 52; Old 5-68)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 213 for 5 declared (Lumb 70; AA.Jones 3-106)
Glamorgan second innings: 57 for 1
Richard Lumb enjoyed another profitable stay in Bradford, even if his team could not convert their superiority into a win.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 8 points, Glamorgan 3 points
versus Warwickshire; 20-22 August 1980; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 312 for 6 declared (Hampshire 101*, Lumb 68, Ingham 59)
Warwickshire first innings: 250 for 6 declared (Amiss 75, Lloyd 72)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 212 for 5 declared (Hampshire 64, Love 63; Doshi 4-91)
Warwickshire second innings: 134 for 5 (Humpage 51)
The home captain and veteran Jack Hampshire enjoyed this contest as he compiled two more noteworthy scores.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 6 points, Warwickshire 5 points
versus Nottinghamshire; 13, 15-16 June 1981; Nottinghamshire won the toss.
Nottinghamshire first innings: 322 for 8 declared (Hadlee 142*, Rice 67; Ramage 3-56)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 78 (Hadlee 4-16, Hemmings 4-31)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 355 for 7 (Boycott 124, Love 97; Rice 3-52)
Richard Hadlee demolished Yorkshire with bat and ball, assisted by Clive Rice. The Tykes did manage to secure a draw.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 3 points, Nottinghamshire 8 points
versus Leicestershire; 1-3 July 1981; Leicestershire won the toss.
Leicestershire first innings: 249 (Roberts 52; Old 4-65, Dennis 3-48)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 358 (Hampshire 112, Bairstow 84; Agnew 5-72, Booth 3-52)
Leicestershire second innings: 194 (Balderstone 73; Dennis 3-19, Stevenson 3-51)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 89 for 3
The white rose suffered two run out casualties as they successfully chased their target of 86 inside sixteen overs.
YORKSHIRE won by seven wickets; YORKSHIRE 24 points, Leicestershire 4 points
versus Gloucestershire; 10, 12-13 July 1982; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 279 (Hartley 114, Bairstow 55; Graveney 3-33, Surridge 3-67)
Gloucestershire first innings: 266 for 7 declared (Bainbridge 103, Romaines 74; Stevenson 3-57)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 187 (Athey 73; Shepherd 5-43, Surridge 3-29)
Gloucestershire second innings: 201 for 5
All seven of the visiting batsmen reached double figures as they victoriously reached their target of 201 off 48 overs.
Gloucestershire won by five wickets; YORKSHIRE 6 points, Gloucestershire 22 points
versus Northamptonshire; 25-27 May 1983; Northamptonshire won the toss.
Northamptonshire first innings: 257 (Kapil Dev 81, Williams 59; Carrick 5-54)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 157 (Steele 5-48)
Northamptonshire second innings: 218 for 7 (Williams 104*; Stevenson 3-44)
The in-form Richard Williams and his team were left cursing the weather after no play was possible on the final day.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 5 points, Northamptonshire 7 points
versus Nottinghamshire; 20, 22-23 August 1983; Nottinghamshire won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 316 for 3 declared (Boycott 163, Metcalfe 122)
Nottinghamshire first innings: 303 for 7 declared (French 91, Birch 85, Robinson 50; Carrick 3-81)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 283 for 3 declared (Boycott 141*, Love 75*, Athey 56; Hemmings 3-128)
Nottinghamshire second innings: 149 for 3 (Robinson 70*)
In his first-class debut, Ashley Metcalfe shared a first-wicket stand of 248 with the prolific Geoffrey Boycott.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 7 points, Nottinghamshire 5 points
versus Gloucestershire; 7, 9-10 July 1984; Gloucestershire won the toss.
Gloucestershire first innings: 381 for 5 declared (Romaines 120, Shepherd 76*, Stovold 54, Athey 52)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 328 for 3 declared (Lumb 165*, Hartley 104*)
Gloucestershire second innings: 226 for 5 declared (Athey 114*; Carrick 3-93)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 281 for 2 (Boycott 126*, Sharp 95)
Here was another 'sharp' batting effort from 'slow coach' Boycott as his team polished off the target in just 50.1 overs.
YORKSHIRE won by eight wickets; YORKSHIRE 21 points, Gloucestershire 5 points
versus Glamorgan; 25, 27-28 August 1984; Glamorgan won the toss.
Glamorgan first innings: 306 (Hopkins 73; Sidebottom 3-50, Swallow 3-58)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 283 (Robinson 92, Boycott 65, Sidebottom 53; Ontong 7-96, Steele 3-91)
Glamorgan second innings: 201 (Morris 58; Sidebottom 4-34)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 41 for 0
Arnie Sidebottom impressed with both bat and ball. Not surprisingly, England summoned him for test duty a year later.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 6 points, Glamorgan 7 points
versus Leicestershire; 26-28 June 1985; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 300 for 8 declared (Sharp 81, Bairstow 77; Agnew 3-73)
Leicestershire first innings: 230 for 7 declared (Butcher 82, Willey 60; Carrick 4-73)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 241 for 1 declared (Bairstow 100*, Boycott 82*)
Leicestershire second innings: 249 for 6 (Balderstone 79, Butcher 76; Carrick 4-76)
The away team's two openers put on 145 in pursuit of the target of 313, but they had to settle for an honourable draw.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 5 points, Leicestershire 4 points
versus Derbyshire; 31 July, 1-2 August 1985; Derbyshire won the toss.
Derbyshire first innings: 199 (Carrick 4-59)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 352 (Bairstow 122*; Barnett 6-115, Moir 3-115)
Derbyshire second innings: 129 (Carrick 6-46, Swallow 4-53)
David Bairstow enjoyed a second outstanding outing in Bradford in 1985 while Phil Carrick cashed in with ten wickets.
YORKSHIRE won by an innings and 24 runs; YORKSHIRE 22 points, Derbyshire 3 points
versus Surrey; 21-22 and 24 August 1992; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 341 (Kellett 78, Byas 70; Kendrick 5-60, Feltham 3-67)
Surrey first innings: 39 for 1 declared
YORKSHIRE second innings: forfeited
Surrey second innings: 306 for 9 (Thorpe 79; Hartley 3-51, Jarvis 3-65)
Both teams contrived to produce a photo-finish. Boiling and Kendrick defied Yorkshire with a tenth wicket stand of 24.
Surrey won by one wicket; YORKSHIRE 4 points, Surrey 19 points
versus Worcestershire; 13-15 and 17 May 1993; Worcestershire won the toss.
Worcestershire first innings: 192 (Robinson 7-47)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 196 for 4 (Metcalfe 76, Moxon 51)
No play was possible on the second day which ruined the chances of a home win. Robinson achieved his best-ever figures.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 4 points, Worcestershire 1 point
versus Somerset; 9-11 and 13 June 1994; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
YORKSHIRE first innings: 424 (Vaughan 105, Byas 102, Blakey 84; Dimond 4-73, Rose 4-78)
Somerset first innings: 332 (Rose 121, Trescothick 54; Stemp 4-67, White 3-43)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 273 for 5 declared (White 71*, Byas 62, Blakey 50)
Somerset second innings: 224 for 4 (Harden 71*, Folland 56)
Michael Vaughan recorded his maiden first-class century. Another England hopeful, Marcus Trescothick, also made a fifty.
Match drawn; YORKSHIRE 8 points, Somerset 7 points
versus Glamorgan; 18-20 May 1995; YORKSHIRE won the toss.
Glamorgan first innings: 135
YORKSHIRE first innings: 189 (Vaughan 74; Watkin 6-55)
Glamorgan second innings: 212 (Cottey 51; Hartley 6-64)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 161 for 3 (Byas 57, Bevan 51*)
The Tykes comfortably achieved their last-ever triumph at Park Avenue cricket ground with one day to spare.
YORKSHIRE won by seven wickets; YORKSHIRE 20 points, Glamorgan 4 points
versus Leicestershire; 20-22 and 24 June 1996; Leicestershire won the toss.
Leicestershire first innings: 681 for 7 declared (Whitaker 218, Wells 200, Nixon 77*, Simmons 69)
YORKSHIRE first innings: 342 (Bevan 82, Stemp 51*, Gough 50; Parsons 4-83, Brimson 3-57)
YORKSHIRE second innings: 188 (Bevan 65*, Vaughan 54)
The hosts collapsed from 149 for 3 in their second innings as red-hot Leicestershire won this last fixture by a landslide.
Leicestershire won by an innings and 151 runs; YORKSHIRE 4 points, Leicestershire 24 points
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