WOODHOUSE Grange CC have found themselves reflecting on what was a surprisingly busy 2020 as they continue to plan for the coming 2021 season.

The club is proud of the progress it has made on and off the field, having redeveloped the clubhouse and ground, as well as accelerating the graduation of younger players into the first team.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Yorkshire Premier League North campaign was condensed into just nine matchdays, and the re-seeding meant the first team had to play each of their nine fixtures away from Sandhill Lane when cricket got underway with adapted regulations at short notice in July.

"Just a couple of weeks earlier it was looking like there might not be a 2020 season," a spokesman explained. "And Woodhouse decided to give youth a go and look to the future with several senior players staying on the sidelines while half-a-dozen teenagers were handed a first taste of Premier League action.

"Woodhouse fielded three young Saturday teams at senior level in 2020, with some excellent individual performances on show.

"In addition to the sides fielded in the league, there were also two months of junior matches on the second ground at Sandhill Lane, and the season closed in September with a couple of enjoyable invitation games."

The aim for 2021 is for a full complement of 12 teams from the off. The first team will feature the Yorkshire Premier League North, backed up by three lower sides in the York & District Senior League.

Grange also aim to have two midweek sides in the Foss Evening League, junior teams at under-9, U11, U13, U15 and Academy level, plus the over-50 Grey Foxes all playing competitive cricket, in addition to a number of friendly and invitation games via the Men of Derwent are in the pipeline.

All home games will be on display in front of the new-look clubhouse, which has had both its bar and kitchen refurbished and re-fronted.

Both grounds have had roadside nets put up to catch errant balls, and new sightscreens have also been completed.