Gleave can't believe Delph success yet

Delph CC

SKIPPER Andrew Gleave has admitted that he is still trying to come to terms with Delph's phenomenal and unprecedented success in the Drakes Huddersfield League this year.

Incredibly, the Huddersfield Road outfit have remained unbeaten this season - ahead of Saturday's final game at Skelmanthorpe - and have secured the dream treble of Premiership title, Twenty20 Trophy and Sykes Cup.

After leading the table pretty much all campaign, Delph finally clinched the Premiership crown last weekend and are now 14 points clear of Hoylandswaine with that one round of fixtures to play.

Asked to try and reflect on a scarcely believable collective effort from everyone at Delph, Gleave told the Chronicle: "To be honest all this success hasn't really sunk in yet.

"I don't think it will until I'm sat on the beach in Portugal in a couple of weeks time.

"As the skipper, I'm just massively proud of all the players and the staff at the club. It has been a great team effort. It's been a bit mad really, I'm still struggling to find words to describe how I feel.

"There is so much work that goes on behind the scenes, and all that has paid off handsomely.

"We made plans during winter practise last year. We felt we'd have a good chance of winning the league with the squad we had, but to win the three trophies has been something else.

"There's been no real outstanding stars.

"Obviously people like Arron Lilley, Chris Laker, Greg Buckley and Shreevats Goswami have been brilliant as usual, but everyone in the dressing room has contributed to this. It has been a real team effort.

"There have been times in games when we've been up against it a bit, but we've always found a way to win.

"I never thought we'd go unbeaten all season. I always thought the law of averages would mean we'd lose one eventually, but it just hasn't happened and the lads deserve lots of credit for that."

Gleave stated that there will be no letting up against Skelmanthorpe on Saturday as Delph bid to wrap up their unblemished campaign in style.

Meanwhile, talented young batsman Laker - who is on Lancashire's books - will leave Delph during the winter.

He will play for Northern CC in the Liverpool Competition in 2017, though Gleave hopes Laker may return to Delph in the future.

The club also look set to lose the services of leg-spinner Buckley.

The former Kirkburton skipper is hoping to return to Australia to be reunited with his wife and child.

"We're 70-per-cent resigned to losing Greg," admitted Gleave.