Tony Balmforth died on Monday 19th March aged , we estimate, 85 year sof age , dying of pneumonia. Tony was one of the club all-time great players described in “A Century at the Homestead” as “Tony Balmforth was one of the most graceful batsmen to tread the North Leeds turf and never played for another club “. A left-hander he stroked the ball through the offside or pulled it to leg.

Then at Leeds Grammar School he joined the club in 1948 as a junior and his talent was acknowledged when in 1951 he was selected to player for Yorkshire Under 19s ( for Yorkshire Cricket Federation , the forerunner of Yorkshire Cricket Association and Yorkshire Cricket Board).

He was a young member of the Club League Champions teams of 1951 and 1953 and in 1951 it was noted “Youngsters Gordon Wales and Tony Balmforth proved their worth“. In 1953 he scored his first league century at Calverley scoring 108 in a partnership of 133 with Peter Wright, with the partnership for the 3rd wicket still being a club record. That same year Tony won the Aire Wharfe League U20s Batting Award with 379 runs at 27.1. He had also played for the League X1 representing the League in the Huddersfield Cricket Festival, an inter-league week.

Unfortunately he missed the 1954 and 1955 seasons (including the Waddilove Cup winning side of 1955) as he was overseas doing his National Service. However he was back in 1956 and again a member of the 1st X1 League Champions team and still scoring some centuries. In 1960 when the 1st X1 finished third he shared at opening partnership of 201 with Steve Finch (86*) and Tony 107* against Knaresborough ( 2nd best ever for the club) . Declaring at 201-0 the first team however lost! They were again however 1st X1 League Champions in 1962.

He succeeded Steve Finch as 1st X1 captain in 1965 with the side finishing 5th ( after 9th in 1964) . Tony had a good season in 1966 averaging 39 runs an innings. In the last match of the season they needed 4 points for the championship and declared at 183-5 (Tony 68*) but lost to Knaresborough when a draw would have won the championship. Season 1967 saw them reach the Waddilove Cup final ( winning in the 3rd round by just 2 runs) but Tony missed the final due to an annual holiday already booked and they lost to Guiseley by 10 wickets. The following year they again reached the Cup Final (for just the third time) but on a green pitch were bowled out for 45 at Ilkley by Tong Park.

At the end of 1968 Tony stepped down as captain and effectively retired form playing. His connection with the club continued however as from 1969 he was Chairman of the Junior Section and “a task he enjoyed almost as much as playing”. He effectively re-organised the Juniors with the Section really taking off from 1970 now playing 12 games , with junior trophies and also a tour to North Wales for the Colts and also a Lords Taverners grant for equipment. In 1971 they entered the Leeds and District Junior League and team managers were appointed for the Under 18s and Under 16s teams and a committee secretary. The U18s won the league at their first attempt. Tony’s organisation effectively established the pattern for the future and the success at this level.

In recent years he has lived at Stainburn , North of Otley and leaves behind a son Mark, daughter Anna and a third wife Julie.

He was a great teammate, enjoyed his pint and the conviviality after the match. So Tony Balmforth was a great servant to the club, a good player and excellent team man and will be remembered as a good friend by all who knew him.

He also was a junior coach when current 'legends' Steve Wales our Chair and Nick Bull, our grounsdman ,started at the club as juniors.

Ian Chappell, President