Retro: The Sheffield school cricket team which won every match for five years

A Sports Retro reader recalls a team described by the Green Un as one of the most successful school cricket teams in Sheffield history.
From the Green Un of August 15, 1987From the Green Un of August 15, 1987
From the Green Un of August 15, 1987

Richard Shiel played for the All Saints RC team which won every game from 1984-1988, culminating in a County Shield victory.

Above is the Green Un picture of the team, printed on Saturday, August 15, 1987, when some of the boys had left school.

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At this stage the team had won all 28 matches in the previous seasons. The squad was formed when the boys were aged 12. And it stayed more or less together through the age groups.

In all 21 players were used during the run but about 15 were regulars under two skippers, Carl Rogerson and Richard Shiel, both being key batsman. Rogerson hit the highest individual score, 82, while Shiel’s best was 62. Daryl Bennett was top wicket taker with 60.

Two members of the squad, Fraser Foster and Mark Roe, were also good footballers and joined Rotherham United.

The boys aknowledged the debt they owed to two All Saints teachers, Paul Lally and then Brian Holmes.

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The closest the team came to defeat was in their very first match. Theyscraped home against Jordanthorpe b y six runs and were never seriously threatened again.

Richard Shiel, Pre Procurement Officer at Primetals Technologies Ltd, said this week: “The grassroots success of a set of working class lads coming together at the right time and place achieving an unbeaten record throughout an entire school like is one I’m very proud of.”

He has done his best to recalls the names of the players on the picture: Ian Dickinson, Darren Staniforth, Mark Roe, Fraser Foster, Chris Pick, Dominic Kimlin, Richard Shiel, Chris Chatterton, Darrell Bennet, Karl Rogerson and Shaun Kilbride.