Upper Wharfedale Cricket Club

Club History

In 1973, Grassington Cricket Club started competing in the Craven and District Cricket League. The year after they changed their name and Upper Wharfedale Cricket Club was formed. The Rams spent 27 years in the C&DCL and in that time they won 2 Division 2 Championships (1974 and 1978) and 3 Cowling Cups (1975, 1976 and 1996). After almost 3 decades and with a thriving junior and senior setup the Men in Green said goodbye to the C&DCL. In 2000, UWCC joined the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League. The Rams now had an established player base and for 15 years successfully fielded 2 teams every Saturday and a 3rdXI in 2009 and 2010. During these years the club enjoyed relative success. In 2005 under the captaincy of Andrew Smith. The 1stXI were crowned A&WSCL Division 3 Champions. The club, then, cemented their place in Division 2 and remained there until 2012 when they were unfortunately relegated. While the 1stXI was thriving, so too was the 2ndXI. In 2005 they managed to reach the semi-finals of the Birstwhistle Cup where they were knocked out by a strong Harden team which went onto win in the final. And again in 2009 they battled to the semi-finals but this time they succumbed to the strength of Steeton. Despite relegation in 2012, the 1stXI bounced straight back under the leadership of James Freebury. Although their record, of 16 wins out of 22, was not enough to be crowned champions, the Rams finished second and secured promotion back into Division 2. On top of that, in 2013, UWCC was awarded the A&WSCL Fair Play Trophy. In 2014, whilst the 1stXI struggled, the 2ndXI were crowned A&WSCL Division 3 Champions and promoted into Division 2.

2016 was the darkest year in the clubs history. As the numbers of players playing cricket contracted more generally in the A&WSCL, UWCC felt the strain significantly. The club was looking to move forward and in early March of that year the club had its plans for a new two-storey clubhouse approved. However, both the 1stXI and 2ndXI were disabled due to a lack of players to pick from. Consequently, at the end of that season, the Rams withdrew from the A&WSCL and the plans for the new clubhouse put to one side. 

The following year, with a core of players still hungry to wear the ram and play Saturday cricket, the Men in Green entered one team into the Theakstons Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League. The success achieved in 2017 and 2018 was unlike none other in the clubs history. The Rams went undefeated in the league in both of these seasons and were crowned back-to-back league champions. UWCC was also victorious in the Wath Cup in 2017 after a comprehensive victory over Arthington. Now in 2019, the club is consolidating these accomplishments. With the development of the new two-storey clubhouse on hold, the Rams have renovated and refurbished the existing pavilion and are also looking to improve the bathroom facilities as they start life in TNL Division 4.