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Denzil Webster |
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from Albert Pattison |
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The York Senior League has lost one of its most respected stalwarts with the passing of Denzil Webster. He will be sadly missed within both cricket and rugby league circles after a successful career in both sports. Denzil was a true all-round sportsman who played professional rugby league with considerable success and cricket at a high level for 35 years. Cricket-wise he was a good enough batsman to top the League’s batting averages and, as a bowler claimed his wickets at under 13.50 runs in all but one season. He started his cricket career as a schoolboy with Castleford Cricket Club in the Yorkshire League in 1948. After a number of seasons at Savile Park he switched his allegiance to York C.C. which fitted in with his rugby transfer from Castleford to York in the winter of 1956-57. However a knee injury at rugby ended his career with the oval ball and also put his cricketing activities on ice for a while. Having recovered his fitness he returned to the cricket scene with Acomb, making his Y&DSCL debut at Bedale on 27th May 1961. He made an immediate impact as his end of season figures showed 37 wickets at a miserly cost of 8.62. Throughout the 1960s he played a major part in his club’s success as he performed equally well with both the bat and the ball. Whereas he ceased to be a regular bowler once the seventies got under way he started off the decade by topping the First Division batting averages with 556 runs at 46.33. He more than made up for his lack of bowling by become a popular and successful captain whose tactical know-how guided Acomb to their first League Championship in 1978. His leadership qualities were recognised on the inter-league stage when he became skipper of the York Senior League’s representative team. He was applauded onto the field when he made his final home appearance at Acomb’s ground in 1982. Denzil was invited to become the 10th President of the York Senior League in 1998 in succession to the legendary Claude Skilbeck and, having accepted the invitation, filled the role with great enthusiasm. His appointment coincided with the introduction of the Premier Division with the consequential extra dimension adding to the responsibilities of all the League’s officers, including the President. This was all taken in his stride and his cool head and awareness of ‘the Spirit of Cricket’ served the League in good stead. Having completed his three years stint, Denzil proved to be most supportive to his successor, Tony Frith, during his three year term as the League’s first Immediate Past-President. Fortunately Denzil then opted to remain on the League Committee where his opinions were always sound and well thought out. He decided to stand down at the 2008 AGM but remained in contact with the League’s management and served on the Appeals Committee and various working parties, including the recently established Centenary Committee. Denzil’s prowess as a rugby league player deserves a mention since his record of scoring 63 tries, a total of 189 points, in 98 appearances for Castleford between 1952 and 1957 is outstanding. Following a transfer he then played for York at their Clarence Street ground for two years before his career ending knee injury in 1959. He was the recipient of a ‘Lifetime Achiever Award’ when he was inducted into the York Senior League’s ‘Hall of Fame’ last November. The sympathetic thoughts of everyone involved with the York Senior League are with his wife Doreen and the rest of Denzil’s family. |
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© 2008-2010 York & District Senior Cricket League |
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President (1998 – 2000)