Picture courtesy of CounterPress Media. The logo for the new White Rose Files website.
Jonathan Doidge still remembers collecting the autographs of the likes of Geoffrey Boycott, David Bairstow and Gordon Greenidge when he first watched Yorkshire in a three-day Championship match at Headingley in 1977.
It is therefore quite apt that we write this piece to chat about some scribbling.
For, Doidge, the BBC Radio Leeds cricket correspondent since 2019, has added to his freelance journalism portfolio through a new website on cricket in Yorkshire, the White Rose Files, which has been running for almost a fortnight now.
“In my child’s mind’s eye, I remember seeing Greenidge hit a six over the old Football Stand into the rugby ground,” he said, of his first taste of county cricket.
“I’ve still got my childhood autograph book, which has got the signatures from that match. Some of the Hampshire players from that game were Greenidge, Trevor Jesty and Nigel Cowley. The Yorkshire players, Kevin Sharp played, David Bairstow, Geoff Boycott.
“I’ve still got some old programmes from those days, the one-day games.”
Doidge was appointed to his BBC role in late 2018 ahead of the 2019 and has witnessed a rollercoaster ride on the field for the men’s first team. Last year, he commentated on some of our women’s matches en-route to Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2 glory.
“That was a brilliant day, down at Worcester,” he smiled.
“With the men, it’s felt like on the field there’s almost been constant transition on the field with how the playing and coaching and backroom staffs have changed.
“So, I’m hoping, while we’ve still got a commentary contract with the BBC and ECB for this season and the two which follow, that they can get proper stability in terms of the squad and really push for bringing home some silverware.
“It would be a joy to commentate on them winning a trophy if they can get to that stage.
“I don’t see why they can’t do it this season, because they proved last year that they can play against the best in the 50-over competition. They just got it wrong on one day, or two days if you include the Somerset defeat in the group stage.
“In the T20s, we know they’ve been inconsistent for a while, all through my time commentating on the club full-time. But this year, they have got a very experienced and talented side. So, you’d be very disappointed if they don’t at least get to the knockout stages.
“Then, it’s about playing well on the night.
“In the Championship, I’ve been saying in the build-up to the season that I don’t see why top three is out of the question.
“You wouldn’t want to rule out anything in terms of the Championship title, but I still think that will be very tough. Top three or four would definitely be progress.”
As for Doidge’s new project, the White Rose Files, it forms part of the CounterPress network, the brainchild of Sam Morshead, the former editor of The Cricketer.
Aiming to re-energise local coverage of county cricket across the country – under a paid for, subscription model – they have signed up journalists to provide independent coverage of 17 out of the 18 first-class counties. Essex is the odd one out at this stage.
Sites include The Chester at Durham, The Rey at Surrey and LankyLanky across the Pennines.
The difference with the White Rose Files, however, is that local coverage of the White Rose doesn’t need energising, only supplementing, which Doidge aims to do.
“This is the first thing I’ve ever been able to do, carte-blanche,” he said. “With my BBC role, I obviously answer to a sports editor. With White Rose Files, I’m the editor. I decide what goes on, and it’s a blank sheet of paper in that sense.
“It’s hugely exciting to be able to cover the men’s and women’s teams and disability cricket. But, being somebody who has played a lot of league cricket, I want to provide good and strong coverage of that as well.
“I want to grow this organically, and at the moment it is being shaped by assistance and contributions from elsewhere. If anyone wants to get in touch with ideas, I’m happy to listen to all suggestions.
“Obviously the Yorkshire website covers the county extensively in-house, the BBC too, and the Yorkshire Post through Chris Waters have done a great job for a long time.
“And this is just another one of those publications in that space. It’s not intended to be the only one, and it can happily sit alongside what is already offered elsewhere.
“One thing I hope to be able to bring with this is a multimedia feel to it. So some quality writing, opinion, video content and regular podcast episodes.
“The club have been very supportive in the early stages with that, and I hope there’s something on there for everyone.”
To subscribe to White Rose Files, you can do so by visiting whiterosefiles.news.
