Streethouse Cricket Club

Sitting in the Station Hotel, after watching and suffering at local cricket match where the standard of play was poor to appalling, a small group of ex-players were of the opinion that if they could not perform better, they would reveal a certain part of their rear anatomy to the village. That glib conversation was the sowing of the cricket club seed. Little did they anticipate the frustrations, anxieties and pleasures to come.
The club was founded in July 1962 and entered the West Riding League in 1963. Having no ground we played all games away from home. Numerous fund raising activities were held and a weekly Templegate ticket was organised to raise the finance to purchase a field.
A farmer's infertile swamp was obtained in 1964 at a cost of £775. D.C.Graham a landscape contractor prepared the playing surface, cost £2,700 . W. Hirst built the pavilion, cost £5000.At a time when grants were few and very far between the bulk of the finance was raised by the members. To save money the club relied heavily on volunteer labour e.g. the first fence around the field was erected by groups of able bodied people fit enough to carry concrete posts, dig holes and heave buckets of ready mixed cement 400 yards across the neighbouring common. Regular workers developed an easily identified cricket club gait. It was known as the Streethouse Shuffle .It resembled the shamble of a lop sided Neanderthal, where the back of the hand of the elongated cement carrying arm trailed along the ground. Golden were the days of our youth.
For four seasons we continued to play every game away from home. Stan Brooksbank's bus was our customary form of transport. The vehicle was loaded not only with players but also included a host of supporters who travelled for the apres ( and during) match alcoholic refreshment. It was a wonderful experience. Times rich in laughter, song, and sport. The sun always blazed brilliantly down and umpires decisions were never disputed. hrmph. If you had a car you were guaranteed not only a place but also a top order batting spot and a bowl.
The council granted the club £200. The local enthusiasts raised the rest.
Early success included the winning in 1963 of the West Riding League(div2) , the championship play off and the Exley Cup under the captaincy of D. Redman.
Committee meetings over this period tended to be elongated as our first chairman, J.W.Rhodes, enjoyed interspersing the the club business with regular breaks for alcoholic refreshment. Members of the original committee still involved and interested in the development of the club are K. Brabbs ; F.Mortimer; B.Shaw; D. Redman;

Founding committee
Chairman J.W.Rhodes
Secretary K. Brabbs
Treasurer B.Shaw
General Committee F.Mortimer N.Bullock D. Redman A.Salter B.Bailey C.Goodwin
Annual Subscriptions were: Schoolboys 2/6p; Ordinary members 7/6p; Vice Presidents 10/-.
The subs were always paid willingly , with a smile and witty quip.
In 1974 we were admitted to the Pontefract and District Cricket League, where we quickly leapt from division two straight into division one. In those days there were only two divisions. It was another enjoyable period in the clubs life where all matches were keenly contested but not with the acrimony and selfishness exhibited in many of today's games During these early years our most successful period was under the captaincy of K.Kingsbury, now a respected umpire in the Central Yorkshire League, who led us to two Hepworth Trophy Finals 1978, 1979, and league runner up spots the dates of which I can't remember. We also appeared in the Beaumont Cup Final losing to Altofts.
The club hit the doldrums in the late 1980's when having a team comprising mainly junior players we were relegated to division 3, and sank to the bottom. We were a laughing stock. The butt of many jokes. Yet as the youngsters were told " your time will come , things will alter"
The 1990's commenced the change in the club's fortunes with the arrival of some older, sorry, more mature players. T.Mason , (a superb wicket keeper) K.whitehead (a refugee opening batsman from Huddersfield League) and K.Perry (opening batsman, motivator and political thinker). Their wealth of experience blended with the existing youthful exuberance to bring the club out of the dark ages.
We were promoted in 1990 from division 3 and moved through the ranks to became division one champions in 1999.
The major building development of the 1990's was the revamping of the pavilion and the bar extension, which came about when we secured a Sports England award of £90,000. It was constructed by R.Ward and Son through the bitter winter of 1997-8,and completed for the start of the playing season '98. The official opening was performed by the Rt. Hon. G. Lofthouse .M.P. on a beautiful summer afternoon in July '98.
The creation of the bar was not a unanimously approved committee decision. Several not wanting alcohol to be sold on the premises. Paradoxically it is the objectors who are now doing most of the bar duties. The early enthusiast having left the scene.
The golden playing period for the club coincided with the arrival of our present club captain Richard Vigars.
I remember standing in the bare shell of the extension with R.V. trying to persuade a young blond warrior to join the club. I wonder whether Richard Wild could see in his mind's eye what I envisaged. I don't know but he was to become a major force in the club's success.
The golden playing period for the club coincided with the arrival of our present club captain Richard Vigars, the "Rev "Richard Wild, Mark Roberts, Nick Toplis and Tich "the Gloves" Howard in 1998. The squad continued to grow as we welcomed to the club S.Batty: D.Hyde; P.Langley; I.Lloyd; C. Tennant; R.Sykes, B.Percy:
Recent years have been remarkably successful;
1998 Dyson-Skidmore Trophy Winners Man of the match M.Rhodes
1999 Division 1 Champions
2000 Division 1 Champions
2001 Division 1 Champions
2002 Division 1 Champions
2003 National Village Knockout Semi Finalists
2005 Division 1 Champions
2005 The Yorkshire Council Play Off Champions Man of the match M. Rhodes
2006 Division 1 Champions
2007 Division 1 Champions
2008 Division 1 Champions
2009 Division 1 Champions
2009 National Village knockout Finalists
2011 Division 1 Champions
2011 Dyson-Skidmore Trophy Winners Man of the match I.Patel
2011 Division 4 Champions
Beginning in 1999 under the inspiring leadership of Richard Vigars, the amateur Streethouse cricket team has won the Pontefract division one title ten times in thirteen years. An achievement and record that will be difficult to match.