Daisy Hill Cricket Club

Another good club history.

A complete statistical history of the club is unfortunately impossible due to records having been lost but the first record we have is of a meeting on the 25th October 1897 of Daisy Hill Cricket club as it was then known. At this meeting what we do know is that the club would play in the West Bradford Alliance League with the following officers elected Mr Issac Smithurst (President) Mr Tom Rowling (Chairman and Financial Secretary) Mr E Beedham (Treasurer) Mr Ernest Lee (1st team Captain) Mr Walter Noble (1st team Vice Captain) Mr E Rowling (2nd team Captain) Mr H Haigh (2nd team Vice Captain)
We believe this was the first competitive season of the club and the minutes show that the match subscriptions were 3 shillings per player with the umpires and scorers being paid a shilling each.
The club resigned from the West Bradford Alliance League at the end of the 1898 season and joined the West Bradford Sunday School League for the 1899 season. Unfortunately, the club was declared bankrupt in 1900. The last entry in the minute book was on the 29th May 1900 when a men only trip was arranged to Bramham Cricket Club whether or not this trip caused the financial downfall is unknown.
On the 3rd May 1901 the club was reformed under the name of Daisy Hill and Heaton Road Primitive Methodist Cricket Club with the first action being to pay off the debts of the old club and take their place in the West Bradford Sunday school League. The following officers were elected for the new club Mr S Beecroft (Chairman) Mr B Craven (Secretary) Mr K Riddiough (Treasurer) Mr F Wilson (1st team Captain) Mr R Trefall (1stteam Vice Captain) Mr W Pickles (2nd team Captain) Mr E Pickles (2ndteam Vice Captain)
The subscriptions were 2 shillings and sixpence per game with any player not helping to get the ground ready on match days being fined tuppence.
In 1903 the club re-joined the West Bradford Alliance League and in 1904 Heaton Road was dropped from the club’s name and the club became known as Daisy Hill Methodist Cricket Club.
In 1907 the club re-entered the West Bradford Sunday School League and were First Division Champions that season.
Mr A Beecroft became secretary in 1902 and served the club in that position for the next fifty years
Records show that Daisy Hill Methodist Cricket Club joined the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League in 1913 and spent the next ninety years in that league until the merger with Cross Roads at the end of the 2003 season. Unfortunately, we have not traced specific records until the Telegraph and Argus started reporting local cricket results from 1945. However, records show that the club won the Group B (second division) title in 1933 although we have no photo or record of the individual players from that team
In 1945 the war was still ongoing and Daisy Hill Meths competed in a one division Bradford Mutual Sunday School League and finished 17th out of 25 teams. The following year we were in Group B the second division of the league but were relegated to Group C at the end of the 1947 season where we remained until 1952 when we were relegated to Group D.
We won Group D in 1954 under the leadership of Louis Mann with telling contributions from Harry Kitson, Frank Mann and Arthur Jennings. Unfortunately, relegation back to Group D came at the end of the 1957 season
Group D was the fourth and bottom division of the league and the club needed to rebuild. The Daisy Hill ground located next to West Bradford Golf Club between Lynfield Mount Hospital and the Haworth Road Council Estate had its square cut out of a sloping field and the fielder on the bottom boundary needed to be over 6 feet tall to see the play on the square. Although not an ideal cricket field the club had the foresight in the fifties to purchase the cricket field and an adjoining field from the local farmer who owned it.
The pitch was somewhat lively and good fast bowlers always came to the fore. The team was being rebuilt with quick bowlers A. Robertshaw 7 for 8 against Yews Green in 1958, B.Mercer took 46 wickets in 1959. Peter Kirby destroyed Sandy Lane with the clubs best ever bowling feat of 9 for 10 including a hat trick on the 27th June 1960. In 1961 Peter Kirby and Ralph Attack took 62 wickets each a staggering 124 wickets for an opening pair of bowlers. Ralph Attack took 7 for 22 including hat trick against YMCA in 1961 as he and Peter Kirby took 41 wickets each that season
Peter Kirby continued to be prolific in those early sixties and would go on to take 7 wickets on three more occasions for the first team as well as repeating the feat three times for the second eleven towards the end of his career.
It was however, Peter Kirby’s new ball partnership with Dennis Oliver who joined from Allerton for the 1962 season ably backed up by Geoff Lumb that brought success to the club. In 1963 Dennis Ryder captained the team to win the Group D title with strong batting from himself and the Vines brothers, Clay and veteran Kitson but it was the bowling of Kirby (50 wickets), Oliver (58 wickets) and Lumb that did the damage that season Oliver producing the best figures of 8 for 16 against Dirkhill Meths.
1963 also saw the then highest score by a batsman for Daisy Hill when P.Vines playing for the 2nd X1 smashed 93 not out against Tetley Street.
This was arguably the clubs best period as the team followed their success in 1963 with back to back promotions in 1964 finishing runners up to Wyke Westfield on run rate. M. Vine producing a then club highest score of 88 not out against Lower Wyke Moravians. Kirby, Oliver and Lumb once again devastating with the ball. Oliver showing his all round talent with 72 against Great Horton Meths.
Cricket was exceptionally strong across Bradford in the sixties and Group B proved too strong for Ryder’s team in 1965 resulting in relegation back to Group C. One highlight was the bowling of Geoff Lumb producing his best figures of 9 for 25 against Salem MC
It was back to Group C and although Peter Kirby was coming towards the end of his first team days, Dennis Oliver was emerging as Daisy Hill’s most prolific bowler in his time at the club 1962 to 1974 he took 7 wickets or more in a game a phenomenal eleven times an era where he shared the new ball with the likes of Peter Kirby, Geoff Lumb, George Garland, Barry Thomas, Sam Roomes, Stewart Bairstow and his own younger brother Peter Oliver all of whom took 7 wickets or more in a game for Daisy Hill. Dennis Oliver’s best figures were 8 for 6 against Denholme Clough in 1968
1968 was the season the club once again achieved promotion from Group C and yet again only missed out on the title to Shipley Providence on run rate. Dennis Ryder and Eric Wilson scored half centuries with the bat but Dennis Oliver now captaining the side took 7 wickets or more twice with George Garland a top order batsman and change bowler taking 7 for 40 against Lower Wyke Moravians
In 1966 four players who had come to England from the West Indies joined the club Barry Thomas, Sam Roomes, Frank Barnett and Eric Clarke all four were to play a significant role in 1969. Thomas and Roomes were flamboyant all rounders who contributed significantly to the team finishing runners up in Group B and achieving promotion to Group A for the first time. The two Dennis’s Ryder and Oliver led the way with bat and ball Ryder hitting a then career best of 70 not out against Idle Baptist with the devastating Oliver taking 8 for 20 against Cambridge Place. Harry Atkinson came on as a part time spinner and took a hat trick.
From 1945 right through to 1969 Daisy Hill Meths 2nd X1 were always in Section Two the bottom division for second teams and were not the strongest in fact in 1952 the seconds had their worst ever season when they played 18 lost 17 and drew one leaving them with just the one point for the whole season. Notable performances during this era were J.Garner 52 wickets and George Bunn 44 wickets in 1961. Louis Mann 43 wickets in 1962, two half centuries from Jack Simpson in 1964 However 1969 saw a bowling attack of the veteran Peter Kirby in partnership with George Bunn who was a wily second eleven bowler who took over 7 wickets in a match four times in his second eleven career at Daisy Hill. The outstanding bowling performance came from M. Proctor who took 7 for 18 against Union Croft seconds. This attack together with the all round skills of Frank Barnett, flamboyant batting from Eric Clarke together with solid batting efforts from Dave Rowan Gordon Barraclough and Ian Hammond clinched the runners up spot in Section Two meaning that both the first and the second teams achieved promotion in 1969
The euphoria of 1969 was quickly extinguished in 1970 when both teams were relegated back down to Group B and Section Two respectively. The only achievements of any note that season was a half centuries by Colin Pell and George Garland for the firsts against Great Horton Meths and George Bunn who took 7 for 24 against Park Chapel for the seconds.
Over the next few seasons the first eleven performed consistently well in Group B without getting promotion. 1971 saw a couple of half centuries from both Barry Thomas and George Garland together with a further half century from the consistent Dennis Ryder. 1971 also saw the lowest score by a Daisy Hill team as the 2nd X1 were all out for 13 against Great Horton Meths
In 1972 only Dennis Oliver scored a fifty but Peter Oliver took 7 for 45 against Greenfield with Barry Thomas showing what a class act he was when he took an incredible 7 for 7 against Haworth Road Meths. Peter Oliver took 52 wickets that season.
1973 saw Sam Roomes take an impressive 7 for 18 against Sunbridge Road Mission in the June only for Dennis Oliver to better it in the return fixture at the end of August when he took 8 for 15. Dennis Oliver took 61 wickets that season with Peter Kirby taking 53. George Garland, Sam Roomes and John Broadbent scored half centuries that season. The club also started its first Junior team in 1973
1974 saw George Garland score another two half centuries with Sam Roomes once again hitting a fifty. On the bowling front a young Stewart Bairstow took 7 for 20 against Idle Upper Chapel but it was Dennis Oliver again leading the way with 7 for 28 against Bingley Road and 8 for 24 against Park Chapel as he took 58 wickets that season.
Notable 2nd X1 performances over this same period were George Bunn 7 for 25 versus Cambridge Place in 1972, the evergreen Peter Kirby 7 for 6 against Baildon Meths in 1973 and Ian Hammond with his china man getting a career best 7 for 54 against Union Croft
1975 saw the consistency of the previous seasons pay dividends when the first team gained promotion back to Group A by finishing runners up in Group B. The Daisy Hill square had improved season upon season and in 1975 six half centuries were scored by the first team, two apiece for Dennis Ryder and Sam Roomes with John Broadbent and George Garland adding the others. Peter Oliver and Sam Roomes both took seven wickets in a match.
Dennis Oliver and Sam Roomes left the club to join Union Croft for the 1976 season and with Barry Thomas already gone to Crofts in the Bradford Central League the club was back in Group A but facing a rebuilding process.
1976 and 1977 saw the club hold its own in the top division. In 1976 Dennis Ryder and Colin Robinson both scored half centuries and Stewart Bairstow took a career best 7 for 7 against Bolton Meths. In the seconds David Rowan with 85 against Cambridge Place and Frank Barnett with 7 for 9 against Bradford Falcons were the stand out performers. Another standout performance that season was that of the juniors who finished runners up in the league and reached the final of the cup only to be beaten by Low Moor. The 1976 junior team was Andy Nichols (captain) Mick Pascal, Bryan Greenwood, Richard Butterfield, Andrew Broadbent, Steven Roberts, Kevin Broadbent, Derek Bailey, Andy Craven, Robert Ryder and Stephen Brown
1977 was an outstanding season for George Garland he got the best bowling performance that year with 7 for 24 against Central YMCA hit 55 against Great Horton Meths and an agonising 97 against Salem Athletic falling three runs short of becoming the first Daisy Hill player to ever score a century. George was a school teacher and due to changing schools 1977 was his last full season with Daisy Hill before moving to Glusburn midway into 1978 but his contribution to the club was significant and at the time of leaving he had scored the most half centuries (eight) for the club.
1977 was also the year for the 2nd X1 when they finally tasted silverware under the captaincy of Harry Atkinson by winning Section Two. Keith Holdsworth, John Hagerty and David Brown all scored half centuries. Ian Hammond and Gordon Barraclough made regular contributions along with Eric Clarke. Billy Freeman was prominent with the ball but it was the all round dominance of Frank Barnett that made the difference especially with the ball where he took 7 for 10 against Park Chapel and 7 for 17 against Great Horton Church. Frank finished with 71 wickets for the season. It was also a year where the clubs junior policy began to pay dividends with Stephen Watson, Andy Nichols, Bryan Greenwood and Steven Roberts all getting games
Although the youth was making the club stronger, it is always difficult to replace key players and this was the case in 1978 when George Garland left during the season. Jack King made the only half century that season against Bolton Meths as a youthful first team which included Andy Nichols Bryan Greenwood and Kevin Liney were relegated back to Group B. The 2ndX1 managed to hold their own in Section One despite losing Keith Holdsworth who was replaced as wicket keeper by Graham Langton. Half centuries from Billy Freeman who also took 55 wickets, Eric Wilson and Steve Hainsworth were significant for the second eleven.
1979 saw Winston Bull arrive at the club from Shipley Providence. Dave Greenwood was prolific with the ball taking 8 for 28 against Haworth Road and 7 for 27 against Great Horton Church. Stewart Bairstow also scored a half century in the match against Great Horton Church but it was the return fixture against Great Horton Church on the 18th August when history would be made as Winston (Winnie) Bull became the first Daisy Hill player to ever score a century hitting a magnificent 100 not out
1979 was also a record breaking season for the second eleven as Frank Barnett contributing a half century against Clayton Meths and seven wickets against Low Moor ensured a solid season in Section One but it was eighteen year old Andy Nichols who delivered a devastating spell of bowling against Great Horton Meths on the 12th May when he bowled 4.4 overs 3 maidens 7 wickets for one run. His opening partner Billy Freeman took 3 for 4 as Great Horton Meths were bowled out for a record breaking 5 runs a fitting revenge for 1971
1980 saw a consistent if unspectacular season for both teams with Dave Greenwood the standout bowler with 7 for 34 against Great Horton Meths. Jack King contributed another half century but Colin Robinson was now established as the main batsman scoring 83 not out against Grange and 51 not out against Wyke Westfield. Dave Harney and Steve Close (another product from the juniors) scored half centuries for the 2nd team.
1981 saw the first team once again captained by Dennis Ryder win promotion to Group A by finishing second in Group B. Andy Nichols and Eric Wilson scored half centuries but it was the bowling attack of Nichols, Dave Greenwood and Winnie Bull that made the difference Greenwood taking 7 for 12 against Grange with Bull taking 8 for 24 against Greenfield only to better that with 8 for 23 against Muff Field. The second X1 once again performed well in Section One with Bryan Greenwood switching from opening bat to opening bowler and taking 7 for 15 against Clayton Meths.
The Eighties at last saw consistency for both teams as the firsts established themselves in Group A and the seconds maintained their position in Section One
1982 saw Winnie Bull hit three half centuries with Colin Robinson adding another and then on the 4th September against Idle Upper Chapel Colin became the second Daisy Hill player to score a hundred when he hit 107 not out. In the seconds Stewart Bairstow took 7 for 32 against Idle Upper Chapel but it was the second team batting that excelled that season with Brian Bell (on debut) Alwyn Clapham, David Tessyman (another junior product) Frank Barnett and Ken Lines (twice) all scoring half centuries
1983 saw some strong bowling performances in the first team with Winnie Bull 7 for 21 against Greenfield and 7 for 39 against Clayton with Brian Bell taking 8 for 24 against Odsal. In contrast the second team saw some strong batting performances with Henry Daff Andy Watson (another junior product) Dave Greenwood and Steve Hainsworth all scoring half centuries
1984 saw another very good season for the first team as in a very competitive season the team finished 4th but only 3 points behind the champions that year Great Horton Meths. Colin Robinson hit another 100 as well as scoring six half centuries as he won the League averages amassing 653 runs for the season which was a record for the top division. Winnie Bull was the other half century maker that season. The seconds finished mid table in section one with Frank Barnett taking 45 wickets and scoring two half centuries alongside Mark Brogden another youngster who hit two half centuries that season
The start of the 1985 season had seen Jack King and Dave Greenwood leave to join Salem Athletic and despite a further 100 from Colin Robinson plus a maiden century from the now veteran Dennis Ryder the first team had an average season. Robinson with two and Ryder contributed half centuries as well as Winnie Bull and Steve Roberts hitting fifties for what was a strong established batting line up. It was the second team that almost delivered silverware that season finishing 2nd in the league by just 2 points to Bingley Road. John Penny winning the division batting averages that season as he, Dave Rowan and Andy Nichols all hit half centuries with wicket keeper Graham Langton hitting a seasons best 82. Bryan Greenwood taking 50 wickets
1986 saw a change of direction as Colin Robinson changed the makeup of his side by opting for the expressed paced Bryan Greenwood and the often unreadable medium pace of Junior Boyce to spearhead the new ball attack as well as bringing in young paceman Andy Roberts as the change bowler alongside veteran Winnie Bull. This group of bowlers delivered with Roberts (1st) Greenwood (3rd) and Boyce (5th) in the league bowling averages and Greenwood (59) and Boyce (58) taking 117 wickets between them nearly bowling the club to the title but in the end having to settle for runners up the clubs highest ever position as a previously successful batting line up floundered with only three half centuries that season from Robinson, Boyce and Steve Roberts. The second team had a mid-table finish with two half centuries from Andy Watson and veteran Frank Barnett winning the divisional bowling averages.
The near but yet so far 1986 season led to Colin Robinson and Ken Lines leaving to join Salem Athletic with Steve Roberts opting to join Sandy Lane in the Bradford Central League. A mid-table season followed in 1987 with Winston Bull (81) and Andy Watson the only ones to score half centuries and the bowling once again was the team’s strength with this time Winston Bull 45 wickets leading the way. Bryan Greenwood’s career best 8 for 28 against several of his former team mates was the highlight. The seconds were once again mid-table with half centuries for Peter Daff and Omar Mussa the highlights
It is worth noting that up to the mid-eighties the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League was on a par with the Bradford Central League but that the Central League was now attracting better players through the improved facilities of their grounds whereas the Sunday School League was accepting more clubs that used council owned grounds with limited facilities. In an attempt to gain access to the Central League the club had developed its second field by excavating it from a sloping field into a an Odsal type bowl giving a large flat cricket field within the bowl. The club had encountered problems through the excavation work which resulted in flooding the gardens of the adjoining houses and its completion was stalled and was not playable until 1989
The club lost Bryan Greenwood to Sandy Lane and Junior Boyce to Bradford West Indians who were famous for having a Sunday team but had now decided to enter a Saturday team in the league for the 1988 season.
With the bowling attack weakened it was veteran Dennis Ryder with three half centuries plus two from Andy Watson and one from Omar Mussa which enabled a struggling team to finish 5 points clear of the relegation zone. Sadly half centuries from Frank Barnett and Steve Hainsworth could not prevent the seconds from being relegated from Section One
Relegation followed for the first team in 1989 as the team finished bottom of the table, two half centuries from Tim Clarke plus a fifty from his brother Dave (DC) Clarke and 51 not out from Bryan Greenwood who had returned to the club halfway through the season being the only performances of note. The second team also struggled in Section Two but three half centuries from Zaheed Bashir and further ones from Peter Lawton plus 82 not out from Stewart Roberts who had joined from Greenfield gave hope for the future.
Bryan Greenwood opted to go back to the Bradford Central League for 1990 and the first team suffered successive relegations as they finished second bottom of Group B despite picking up Dougie Binns and Gus Norde from the now defunct Bradford West Indians both scored half centuries with Dave (DC) Clarke adding a further three and the promise of Zaheed Bashir coming to the fore with two fifties. Whilst it was a disaster for the first team, the seconds had a much better season winning Section Two in style. Veteran Winnie Bull, Abid Bashir and Stewart Roberts scoring half centuries but this was long serving Steve Hainsworth’s moment in the spotlight as he hit 358 runs including two half centuries, one of which was an agonising 99 not out.
The club built on the success of the second team when the first team finished runners up in Group C in 1991. Winston Bull defying the years to score 470 runs in the season including two fifties. Dave (DC) Clarke added another and Andy Nichols finally got the wickets he deserved with 54 that season. The seconds struggled in Section One but Abid Bashir, G.Fareed, Harry Line, Gus Norde and Stewart Roberts all hit half centuries
1992 saw several players join the club from near neighbours Greenfield who had folded and the first team had a mid-table season with the highlights being two half centuries from Tim Clarke the second being 90 not out and Winston Bull once again contributed another fifty. The second team in what was now the newly resurrected Group D were within a whisker of taking the title and ended up with the same points as United-Crescent only to finish runners up on runs/wickets averages. Abid Bashir and Gus Norde scored three half centuries a piece with Tim Clarke also scoring fifty
1993 saw the first team finish runners up in Group B earning promotion back to the top division. Andy Nichols once again led the bowling attack with 54 wickets but it was Winston Bull who rolled back the years scoring 106 not out fourteen seasons after he hit the first hundred for Daisy Hill. Winnie hit two further fifties. Peter Daff (2) Omar Mussa (2) and F.iqbal also hit half centuries. The second team managed to finish a respectable mid table with another veteran Gus Norde amassing 469 runs including two fifties. S.Robertson and Dave Rowan also scored half centuries and Dennis Ryder 30 years on from captaining the team to the Group D title scored a majestic 77
Sadly the return to the top flight was short lived as the first team were relegated in 1994 finishing 8 points from safety. Dave (DC) Clarke hit three half centuries with further fifties from S.Ijaz (2) and F.Iqbal being the only other highlights in a disappointing season. The seconds were once again mid-table in Group C. Abid Bashir 94 and 80 not out with Gus Norde 81, M.Hussain 73 and S.Rehman 50 the others to contribute.
Further issues hit the club before the start of the 1995 season resulting in the club only able to field one team in the league that season. The team struggled and finished second bottom of Group B and only survived a second successive relegation due to a restructure of the league the following season. The only performance of any note in 1995 was Graeme Crabtree with 81 not out
The Bradford Mutual Sunday School League celebrated its centenary year in 1996 and Daisy Hill managed to get back to two teams for the season. The first team finished 5th in Group B Jonathan Barnett son of Frank leading the bowling with 41 wickets and half centuries were scored by Peter Daff, Dave (DC) Clarke, Matt Barron, Graeme Crabtree and S.Bashir. The second team ended up bottom of Group D by just one point with again DC and J.Saddique hitting fifties.
Sadly the league was still haemorrhaging clubs and a further re-organisation for the 1997 season saw the club back in the top division. Clearly out of their depth the team finished bottom of the division. R.Smith leading the batting with 424 runs in which he scored a fifty and Graeme Crabtree once again contributing with two half centuries. The second team had an improved season ending 4th in Group D
Once again more clubs folded at the end of the 1997 season one of which was Sunbridge Road Mission whose remaining active players joined Daisy Hill for the 1998 season. The league in an effort to keep the clubs with the better facilities and who ran two teams formed a Premier Division and a Premier Seconds of which Daisy Hill were founder members. However, the extra players joining the club from Sunbridge Road enabled the club to run a 3rdX1 in Group B which effectively was the third division.
Despite the influx of new players all three teams struggled the first team fourth bottom of the Premier, the 2nd X1 third bottom of the Premier Seconds and the 3rd X1 second bottom of Group B. The notable performances came from a young Haroon Rashid taking 42 wickets for the 3rd X1 as well as scoring a fifty. Ian Thompson who had joined from Sunbridge Road hit two fifties for the 3rd X1. Michael Downey hit a fifty for the 2nd X1 and Matt Baron and B.Smith hit fifties for the first team
The club lost some players for the 1999 season and reverted back to two teams with the league persisting with the Premier League idea. The first team once again struggled finishing third from bottom whilst the second team finished bottom of the Premier Seconds. Graeme Crabtree with two half centuries and further fifties from Matt Baron, John Hamilton, Ian Kerrison and H.Khan were the contributors for the first team with Nick Parker scoring two half centuries for the seconds.
Further clubs leaving the Premier League saw the league revert back to three divisions for the millennium season with the first X1 in Group A and the seconds in Group C. The first team had an average season with Matt Baron, John Hamilton, Nick Parker and M.Khan all contributing half centuries. The seconds finished bottom of Group C despite Adam Smith scoring 109 and half centuries from Stewart Roberts, Michael Downey, Andy Wilson and S. Ahmed.
2001 was the most significant year in the club’s history and summed up the highs and lows of cricket. The first team finished bottom of Group A and were relegated despite Nick Parker scoring 107 plus another half century, Ian Thompson 80 and two solid fifties from Graeme Crabtree. The second team although finishing mid table in Group C also had a century maker in Ijaz Khan as well as fifties from Michael Downey (2) A.Gouws (2) Andy Hainsworth and Nick Parker. What made the year so significant was that first team got to the final of the Sir James Roberts Cup where they then beat the favourites Cambing to win the cup. Stewart Roberts was man of the match in Daisy Hill’s finest hour
The team was Graham Langton (captain) Stewart Roberts Andy Nichols Graeme Crabtree John Hamilton Matt Baron Nick Parker Dave Clarke Steve Hainsworth Naheem Khan Andrew "Oggy" Smith 12th Man Andrew Hainsworth
2002 saw a resurgent first team narrowly miss out on promotion from Group B by finishing third although the seconds struggled finishing third bottom of Group C. Graeme Crabtree leading the way for the first team with 405 runs which included three half centuries. Stewart Roberts and Andy Nichols also scored fifties with Andy Nichols 41 wickets and Nick Parker 35 making the league bowling averages. In the second team Graham Langton led the way with 383 runs including a fifty and there were further half centuries for Adam Smith and Sean Parker.
Despite the recent success the club was fractured as several players turned up on a Saturday five minutes before the game started and left immediately it finished this prompted the club’s chairman Graham Langton to instigate a cull which saw most of the none workers leave the club. This meant that the club went back down to one team for the 2003 season and as the team contained several players who had been playing second team cricket it was no surprise to anyone when the team finished a distant bottom of Group A although, there were fifties for Graeme Crabtree (2) Matt Baron and Steve Hainsworth.
At the same time Daisy Hill were struggling with players turning up five minutes before the start etc, Cross Roads Cricket Club currently in the Bradford Central League were suffering the exact same fate and to such an extent they had decided enough was enough and would have to go to just one team for the 2004 season. This would cause issues with the once strong Bradford Central League as they were losing several clubs themselves to the Craven League. Ex Daisy Hill player Bryan Greenwood was now at Cross Roads who played at the Bronte School in Oakworth. Bryan was aware of Daisy Hill’s situation and knew that they wanted to play against teams with better facilities and raised the prospect of a merger with Graham Langton. A few meetings later Cross Roads/Daisy Hill CC was formed and accepted into the Bradford Central League for 2004 with the club playing at Daisy Hill as the ground was owned by the club unlike the Bronte School field.
The loss of so many clubs in the West Bradford area to the Craven League was the beginning of the end for the Bradford Central League and although Cross Roads and Daisy Hill were looking towards a more secure future other established Central League clubs like Shelf, Jer Lane and Clayton were looking for an escape.
The 2004 season saw Cross Roads and Daisy Hill first team hold their own finishing mid-table in the 2nd Division whilst the second team found it a little harder and finished second bottom of the 3rd Division. Graeme Crabtree was the main stay of the batting with 356 runs that season in which only Craig Pullen scored a half century. Andy Nichols showed why he should have played at a higher standard earlier by taking 48 wickets this included two 7 wicket and one 6 wicket hauls. Andrew “Oggy” Smith and Matt Baron also took 7 wickets in a match whilst Gary Hopkins and veteran John Pullen had 6 wicket hauls. John Moffat was the second teams leading bowler with 14 year old Byron Greenwood winning the league fielding trophy that season.
2005 was a tougher season for the first team and although finishing mid-table had been weakened by the loss of Warren Knowles to Oakworth. Graeme Crabtree had another fine season with the bat amassing 539 runs including three half centuries. Sean Parker hit 86 not out and 71 whilst Matt Gilmartin with a majestic 85 and Andrew “Oggy” Smith also hit fifties but the standout batting performance for the first team that season was Matt Baron who was stranded on 99 not out when heavy rain ended the game at Salem Athletic. Andy Nichols was once again the leading bowler with 35 wickets which included a seasons best 8 for 40. The second team had an improved season finishing outside the bottom two with veterans John Pullen 38 wickets and Graham Beaumont 36 wickets rolling back the years. Sean Parker with 137 recorded the highest century scored by a home player at Daisy Hill.
The club was now running under 15’s and under 13’s junior teams and the future was looking brighter but once again more clubs left the league. Adwalton, Jer Lane, Eldwick and Westwood Park all departed for pastures new. As a result 2006 was a much tougher season for the club as the Central league were now down to one division for first teams and one division for seconds.
2006 was without doubt a disastrous season Andy Nichols had retired at the end of the 2005 season and his opening bowling partner Neil Kennedy had decided to join Long Lee in the Craven League as a result most of the clubs under 16 juniors were thrown in to both teams. Heavy defeats especially for the second team were constant throughout the season. Only Sean Parker, Graeme Crabtree, Bryan Greenwood and Craig Pullen managed half centuries as both teams finished bottom of their divisions.
As a result the club decided that it would be wrong to continue in the Central League if we wanted to allow our young juniors to develop and with Shelf, Low Moor and Clayton all joining the Halifax League there would only be 9 clubs left in the league so the club decided to resign siting that we could only raise one team for the 2007 season. Our resignation was accepted allowing the club to re-join the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League in Group C with one team.
The only plus point from 2006 was that Bradford Council had removed both the current and the old cricket field from the green belt enabling the club to look for buyers of the land enabling them to build a new ground with brand new facilities elsewhere in the area. A prospective multi million pound offer was made for the land and the future looked very bright. After considering several options the club decided to explore the possibility of building a ground at Salem Rugby Union club who were happy to let us have their second eleven pitch as our potential new ground with the promise that once the money came through we would build them a new second team pitch on adjoining land.
The arrangement looked ideal for both clubs and conscious of the need to lay a cricket square the club accepted a short term loan of £25k to lay the new square in 2006.
Although a mid-table finish was achieved in 2007 the return to the Sunday School League had proved to be the correct decision as Graeme Crabtree amassed 476 runs including a career best 134 as well as two other half centuries. Dave (DC) Clarke contributed two fifties whilst his son Wayne a third generation Clarke contributed a fifty. Matt Baron led the bowling with 35 wickets.
Unfortunately the 2007 Financial Crash put paid to the multi million pound offer for the land and the club had to decide whether to leave the Daisy Hill fields and move on to the new ground at Salem Rugby club a telling factor was the recurring vandalism at Daisy Hill as well as potential future delay to selling the field currently being used for cricket if cricket continued being played there. As a result the club moved to Salem Rugby club for the 2008 season.
The 2008 season saw the club back to two teams in a restructured Sunday School League with the first team in Group B and the seconds in Group C. The first team had an excellent season finishing third in the table. Graeme Crabtree with 317 runs once again leading the batting. Crabtree, Bryan Greenwood, Matt Baron and Wayne Clarke with two all contributed half centuries. Matt Baron led the bowling with 38 wickets. Sadly the second team struggled and finished bottom with Graham Langton’s half century the only highlight.
The 2009 season saw the first team finish a respectable 4th place in the division and the seconds had an improved season finishing mid-table. The highlight for the first team was 124 not out by Wayne Clarke against Mandhata. Graeme Crabtree with 95 and a further two half centuries was once again the leading batsman and Ian Clayton announced himself on the first team stage with his first fifty. In the seconds there were fifties for Steve Close and Andrew Hainsworth but they were overshadowed by a returning Adam Hussain who scored four half centuries. The second team got to the final of the H Broadbent trophy that season only to lose to West Bowling by 29 runs.
Problems with the rugby club around access to the changing rooms caused issues off the field in 2010 and these manifested themselves onto the field as the first team finished second bottom and were relegated from Group B, the second team also struggled and finished next to bottom of Group C. The highlights from a disappointing season were around Chris Hartley who hit 132 against Mandhata plus a further two fifties and the feat of taking four wickets in four balls against Great Horton Meths. Bryan Greenwood was the only other batsman to pass fifty that season with 66 against Mayfield. Bilal Mughal showed his promise with 62 for the second team
2011 was another poor season on the field as the first team narrowly missed relegation by one point and the seconds finished a distant bottom of Group D. The plus points were the emergence with the bat of Ian Clayton who amassed 552 runs which included four half centuries including an 86 not out and an 87 and Byron Greenwood with the ball who took 56 wickets. Byron also scored a career best 84. Bryan Greenwood with two half centuries and Graham Crabtree were the other contributors. In the seconds the highlight of a disappointing season was Bilal Mughal who hit 102 not out against Mayfield.
The club was struggling both on and off the field. A buyer for the old fields was no nearer being found and was reliant on member loans to survive . The move to Salem Rugby Club was not bringing the benefits that everyone had hoped as other than Dean McNicholl no rugby players were interested in playing cricket mostly because of the poor facilities and the standard of the league. The move away from the grass roots of Daisy Hill where the surrounding housing estate had always attracted juniors had come back to bite as the club no longer had a junior section. The subsequent retirements of Graham Beaumont, Graham Langton and John Pullen meant that the club would have to run just the one team in 2012 and gain some much needed income from leasing the ground out on alternate weekends.
Byron Greenwood took the captaincy for 2012 and the team transformed just missing out on the title to Bowling Baptists but achieving promotion back to Group B. Ian Clayton again led the way with the batting but it was the bowling partnership of Byron 46 wickets and Chris Hartley 41 that led the way on what was a rain effected season that had 6 games lost to the weather. Byron’s 46 wickets actually took the Leagues G F Terry Bowling Trophy for the most wickets in the season becoming the first Daisy Hill player to win the award. Ian Clayton’s 51 and Shaun Briggs 78 were the batting highlights that season.
The step up for 2013 proved just too hard not helped by losing Chris Hartley to Thornton as the team finished second bottom and were relegated back to Group C, Adam Hussain 78, Bryan Greenwood 68, Shaun Briggs 57 and Byron Greenwood 54 were the only players to pass fifty.
Gary Hopkins took the captaincy for 2014 and the team proved yet again that it was too good for Group C by finishing second and gaining promotion. Despite winning promotion nobody passed fifty that season with Byron Greenwood 44 not out and Bilal Mughal 42 not out being the best. On the bowling Alex Wood with 5 for 17 and Adam Hussain 5 for 36 were the standouts.
Bryan Greenwood agreed to take the captaincy back in 2015 with the understanding that Ian Clayton would be vice and would take over the season after, the team ended its yo-yo years by surviving in Group B the standout performance with the bat was a welcome return to form for Graeme Crabtree with 105 not out against Girlington. Byron Greenwood was the only other player to score a fifty that season but Ian Clayton with 6 for 45, Byron Greenwood two five wicket hauls and Bilal Mughal with 5 for 24 spearheaded a very strong bowling line up that also contained Josh Butterfield, Adam Hussain and Gary Hopkins.
Off the field relations with the rugby club were becoming strained. Bradford Council in its attempt to cut its recreation budget had effectively made the rugby club the cricket clubs landlords. Rugby training was taking place on the outfield leaving it damaged for the start of each season and on one occasion the rugby club deliberately marked out a second eleven pitch across a freshly cut cricket outfield even though the rugby season had finished weeks earlier. It was clear the relationship would not work long term. The plus point for the cricket club was that a buyer for the old ground had been found and although no longer a multi-million pound offer it would be sufficient to secure the clubs long term future.
At the start of the 2016 season Windhill announced that they were withdrawing with immediate effect from the Bradford League due to no scorers, no tea ladies or off the field help that could sustain the club. Cross Roads and Daisy Hill felt that this could be an opportunity to leave Salem and ensure that a famous club and ground at Windhill did not disappear and approached Ian Holdsworth at Windhill with a view to playing there in 2017
Meanwhile Ian Clayton as agreed took the captaincy for 2016 and the team had a good season finishing a comfortable mid-table. Bilal Mughal, Adam Hussain and Josh Butterfield all got 5 wicket hauls with a notable mention to Byron Greenwood who took 4 for 1 against Cambing. Byron was the only player to score a league fifty but the batting highlight was an unbroken stand of 134 for the 8th wicket between Ian Clayton 66 not out and Josh Butterfield 57 not out in the cup defeat to Bradford Gymkhana which was played on the Windhill ground.
The talks with Windhill were a success and Cross Roads and Daisy Hill resigned from the Sunday School initially being joined by players from VVS Laxman to enter the Bradford League for 2017 as Windhill and Daisy Hill CC
The Cross Roads name has remained for the Evening League team.