Whitley Lower Cricket Club

Whitley Lower CC

Following on from the Uncle Dickie saga, in 1921 a new cricket club was born: Whitley Lower CC.
This club had no connection with the mill – it was simply a collection of villagers. Hence the new club’s name – signifying a geographical rather than occupational identity. (The new club might even have had a link with a village church). That said, a number of ‘Hopton Mills’ players would have stayed on and played for ‘Whitley Lower’. Whitley Lower CC survived right up until 1989 and the merger with Dewsbury & Savile CC.

For decades the new club competed in the Dewsbury & District League. It prospered at its beautiful headquarters, Woodbottom, surrounded by luscious greenery and a handsome monkey tree located right next door to the pavilion! 

Hopton Mills Cricket Club (1895)

OriginsHopton Mills CC was formed in around 1895 as the ‘works team’ for the nearby Hopton Mills. The cricket club was a recreational facility for workers, and it paid a shilling a year to the company as a peppercorn rent.

Closure
Unfortunately, the first ‘Hopton Mills CC’ was soon shut down. This was because a local man affectionately known as ‘Uncle Dickie’ – a Mills employee (probable full name: Richard Wheatley) – was spending too much time in the club bar. The authorities at the mills were annoyed with this behaviour (it was affecting productivity!) and thus closed the club down as punishment. Today there are photos in the Woodbottom pavilion that relate to this fascinating period in the club’s history.

Dewsbury & Saville Cricket Club

Dewsbury & Saville CC

Now that the Bradford Park Avenue cricket ground has been partially redeveloped, the most famous lost ground in the county is surely the old Dewsbury and Savile ground which was located in Savile Town, Dewsbury.
As a club, Dewsbury & Saville CC had a phenomenal record in the early days of the Heavy Woollen Cup, reaching the Final in the first eight years of the competition: 1883-1890.
In all, they won the cup nine times in an incredible 21 Finals between 1883- 1926. The first time they actually won the Final was in 1887 when Henry Hill scored 139 helping his team amass 393 versus Spen Victoria.
This was the first century recorded in the Heavy Woollen Cup Final. The club took part in the Heavy Woollen League in the early part of the century winning it in 1910.
Later, in 1919, a famous Yorkshire player Edgar Oldroyd featured for them, recording 156* in one memorable match. Oldroyd, who was born in Batley, was a right-handed batsman, who played 383 games for his county.
He made a total of 15,925 runs at an average of 35.15, with 36 hundreds. He also took 203 catches. His right arm off-break and medium bowling took 42 wickets at an average of 39.47.
John Arlott, speaking in 1981, credited Edgar Oldroyd of Yorkshire with being ”the best sticky-wicket batsman in the world.”
In more modern times, the club found isolated success in the Central Yorkshire League, winning the top division title in 1955, and the senior cup in 1978. The fame of the club was magnified by its impressive pavilion that helped to host 53 First Class Yorkshire matches between 1867 and 1933.
However, the ground was abandoned in the 1990s after the club could not afford to renovate the classic pre-war pavilion to modern standards. The local council refused financial aid without a guarantee that the club, ground and adjoining football field could be used for the wider community.
As a small club, this was unrealistic to fund and the ground reverted to the council. The ground ceased to be a cricket ground and became a general recreation field and later the pavilion was demolished. A merger between Whitley Lower CC and Dewsbury & Savile CC created the newly named ‘Hopton Mills CC’ – who progressed to the Bradford Cricket League via the Central Yorkshire League.

Idle Cricket Club - Update

Scratch the update bit.
I can't find an original post, even though I had prepared the photo.

This Police report details of how many break-ins or incidents of arson/vandalism have been recorded at cricket clubs across the Bradford district in the last three years. Please provide a figure for 2015, 2016, 2017. For each incident, please specify the date, location and a brief description of the crime. Please see the attached document listing offences occurring at cricket clubs across Bradford district between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2017, broken down by offence type and month and year the crime was committed.

Is it any wonder that Idle closed down?

Haworth West End Cricket Club

• 
  

A haven for dog walkers

& the "residue" left behind

From The Keighley News

9th February 2017
Bingley Congs and Oakworth third teams move to Haworth West End
By Bill Marshall

Haworth West End's Penistone Hill ground will be shared by third teams from Bingley Congs and Oakworth next season

HAWORTH West End will be in regular use for cricket again this season.
The Penistone Hill club's facilities will be used on alternate weekends by Mewies Solicitors Craven League third teams from Bingley Congs and Oakworth, who have both left Bronte Fields.
Oakworth Thirds have used Bronte Fields since 2006, apart from a three-year spell at Carleton when the changing rooms at Bronte were being redeveloped.
Congs, meanwhile, only formed their third team last year.
Haworth West End's second team folded in 2014 and their first team the following year, but the ground has been used since.
Aire-Wharfe League club Olicanian's second team played there early last season after their own ground was hit by the 2015 Boxing Day floods, while Oakworth Thirds have used the ground once a season for the past two years.
Oakworth spokesman Michael Davison said: “Oakworth Cricket Club are delighted to confirm that they are looking forward to playing their third-team fixtures on Haworth West End’s former ground at Penistone Hill from the 2017 season.
"We are pleased to be able to work with and support the trustees of the West End club in maintaining cricket at Penistone Hill, together with our colleagues from Bingley Congs Cricket Club, who will also be playing at Penistone.”
Congs secretary and third-team skipper Graeme Love said: "Last year was a new adventure in itself in forming the third team.
"This season presents a new adventure with a new home ground. We thank Oakworth Juniors and Bradford Council for their hard work over the course of 2016 and look forward to a new season and a new ground.
"We are thankful for Haworth West End allowing us use of their ground. We (as a third team) built many memories at Bronte Fields. Let’s hope they continue into 2017."
A cycling club and a running club also use West End's clubhouse.

A previous article from the Keighley News
12th November 2012

A look back at 125 years of cricket

According to an old minute book, Haworth Cricket Club was formed in 1887 and was originally called Haworth Wesleyans CC, with the earliest information available being of a match against Lees Albion on September 14, 1889.
Their first games were played in a Haworth field at ‘Long Bridge’ and then, from an unknown date, games were played at Cooke Gate (just off West Lane) until the present ground at West Lane was purchased and opened in 1951.
From 1893, the club has played in the Keighley and District Junior League, the Keighley section of the Craven Junior League and the Craven Senior League.
By 1905, the Craven senior and junior leagues gave way to the Keighley and District League and the club was a member of the senior section, before being admitted to the West Bradford League.
The 30s and 40s were very successful as they were Keighley Cup or West Bradford League winners 11 times in 14 years. The club stayed there until 1984 when they joined the Craven and District Cricket League. The club changed its name from Haworth Wesleyan CC to Haworth Methodist CC, then in 1992 it was changed to Haworth CC – although it still gets called ‘Haworth Meths’ even now.
Over the years the two senior sides have had good years and bad. From 2008 the committee started to work on the improvements needed to bring the club facilities up to date and able to be used by other groups. Plans turned into action over the next few years, culminating in the social room being built, thanks in part to a lottery grant, over the dreadful winter of 2010/11. Half the pitch was mud and club stalwarts worked hard making the new room and pitch playable for the start of the 2011 season.
From the beginning, visitors and locals couldn’t say enough about the vast improvements that had been made and this was the springboard for the club to continue to press forward – two senior players gained their ECB Level 2 Coaching Certificates last winter and in 2012 Haworth CC was proud to be accredited with the prestigious ECB Clubmark status.
2012 is the year that will go down in the Haworth CC history books as the 1st XI became Craven and District Cricket League champions for the first time in the club’s history.
Haworth CC is keen to work with local primary schools as well as churches and other organisations as their facilities are unique and can be used all year round. The club wants to be more than a cricket club. Now though, the focus is on running an under-9s side for 2013, as well as maintaining its existing junior sides.

For more information, phone (01535) 642965 or visit haworthcricketclub.org.uk or haworth cc.play-cricket.com.
Can you put names to faces on the early team photo? Please contact the club if you can.

Great Horton Methodist Church Cricket Club

I can't remember how I came across this ground.

I think that it was from spotting a cricket ground on google maps

I was a bit sceptical until I turned round and saw this on the floor

From the T & A in 2001

28th May 2001

Letters to the Editor

SIR - I am writing on behalf of the committee of Great Horton Methodist Cricket Club, which has been established for almost 100 years. We play in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School Cricket League.
The reason for this letter is to inform readers of a new threat to our existence.
Recently we were requested to attend a meeting, held by the church, who own the ground, and told that it was their intention to sell the ground for building private dwellings.
We as a committee and players of all denominations, colour and creed, aged from seven years to 60, provide excellent facilities funded by ourselves at very little cost to the church by fundraising of various kinds and general goodwill and patronage, both private and commercial.
We have been reliably informed that the general congregation are unaware of the proposals aforementioned and that through your excellent readers column, we would try to inform past and present members of Great Horton Methodist Church of these proposals and ask their support for our intention to fight long and hard to maintain our right to play cricket at Hollingwood Mount.
If we fail, cricket lovers past, present and future will be the losers. Can we afford to lose any more cricket in this area, ie Lidget Green? I think not.
Gerald Smith, Eltham Grove, Wibsey.

News 1st June 2001

Cricket club under threat in land sale 

A Bradford cricket club could be forced to close after 80 years amid fears its ground is to be sold to property developers.
The Great Horton Methodist Church plays at Hollingwood Mount, Bradford, on land owned by Great Horton Methodist Church.
Club committee members attended a church meeting recently where they were told that the church was considering selling the land.
Club chairman Gerald Smith, of Eltham Grove, Wibsey, said the club is preparing for the 'worst case scenario'.
He said: "I've spoken to a few long-serving church people who were on the church council and they know nothing about selling the land. I just don't know why they're doing it."
As well as losing its ground, Mr Smith says the move could affect the club financially.
"We've had grants from the Sports Council and we have to guarantee that we'll be here for ten years, but we could be asked for that back now."
A spokesperson for Sport England, previously known as the English Sports Council, confirmed that it did sometimes ask for funding to be returned, but would be sympathetic to the club's position.
Mr Smith also fears a legal loophole could threaten the club's future.
"I got a copy of the deeds and there was a clause that said we weren't allowed more than three players from outside the church in the team."
It is currently made up of players from outside the church.
Tom Priestley, secretary of the Bradford Area Cricket Council, is also concerned that the ground could be lost.
He said: "The cricket club has been in touch with me, they're very upset about it.
"They've been established 80 years, have a nice ground and no one wants to see it sold. I don't think selling sports grounds is a good thing, you have to look to the future."
The Reverend Paul Flowers refused to comment on claims that the site was to be sold.
A spokesman for Bradford Council said no planning applications were lodged for the site.

From the state of the sign still outside the ground it doesn't look like the initial threat to sell was carried out, nor does it look like any development has occurred on the grounds.

Did the failure to sell quickly enough force the closure of the church?

This site would suggest the church was still going in 2011. The Faceache page looks like it died a couple of years ago.

New Wortley Cricket Club

There doesn't seem to be any information about New Wortley and their apparent demise

Bradley & Colne Bridge Cricket Club (Old Ground)

Now buried under Mama's & Papa's

Pontefract Cricket Club

Looks like I only just beat the developers, though there is a football ground at the back.

Article from the Pontefract & Castleford Express

CASH-STRAPPED Pontefract Cricket Club - one of the longest established in the district - could close unless it gets urgent financial help.
Pontefract and District Cricket League has ruled that the club can no longer play matches at the Skinner Lane ground because facilities are so bad - there is no electricity or water and the graffiti-covered pavilion desperately needs repairs.
The club - founded in 1863 - has been given eight weeks to come up with an action plan or it will be axed from the league next season.
Club treasurer John Cookson said: "The league is behind us but we have to comply with its regulations in order to continue.
"We had a meeting to see how we go forward. We don't know who owns the ground, so we need to find out. We've applied for a 2,000 Community Chest grant from the council so we need to push for that, find out how much will it cost to reconnect us to water and electricity and who will support us.
"We intend to speak to the MP Yvette Cooper and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation that we believe may lease the ground from the Duchy of Lancaster.
"We have eight weeks to come up with an action plan or we will be dropped from the league altogether."
Club captain Darren Green said the pavilion was regularly attacked by vandals that had smashed windows and the roof, ruined carpets, trashed boundary fences and damaged sight-screens and the score board.
He added: "We now have only one open age team here that was relegated from division two last year straight down to division five of the league, but we have a lot of good lads and we'll keep on playing.
"We are broke and we desperately need Wakefield Council to help us financially.
"The pitch here is one of the best in the league but everything else is falling apart. To make things worse we have been ordered to play all home games at away grounds and on Sundays instead of the normal Saturdays."
Pontefract councillor Jack Kershaw said he would do everything he could to keep the club in existence. He said: "We realise the club is one of the founder members of the league and I will do all I can to make sure it remains in business.
"None of us wants to see this fine old club with a great tradition fold. We realise the seriousness of the vandalism problem and that it needs to be sorted out so that cricket lovers aren't denied the use of this facility."
Pontefract and District League secretary Mike Crossland said he and his colleagues were fully behind the club in its search for survival and would do all they could to help.

They still have a presence on Facebook

Brook-Walton Cricket Club

As I was heading through PonteCarlo the other day, I checked to see where the cricket ground was.

It is n't, they folded a number of years ago.

My googling came up with they following link. A club I hadn't heard of.

In one of those strange co-incidences Richard Vigars was mentioned in my East Ardsley link yesterday. Just to prove I do read the club history's.

Another article from Cricketyorkshire

Brook-Walton Cricket Club, who were formed in 2013 as an entirely new cricket club, are reluctantly calling it a day at the end of this season because of a lack of players.
It was the vision of ex-Streethouse and Wrenthorpe cricketer Richard Vigars to start something from scratch and their first competitive fixture was away at Brodsworth Main in the 3rd Division of the Pontefract & District Cricket League in April 2014.
What followed, in a incredibly short period of time, was Brook-Walton’s successive titles as they raced up the divisions before finished second to Sandal in 2016 in the top flight with successive Dyson & Skidmore Trophy triumphs to add further kudos.

Where could Brook-Walton go next?
The reorganisation of Yorkshire club cricket into four Premier Leagues with feeder leagues offered a choice: consolidate or a chance to move again for this ambitious outfit.
They could either stay in the Pontefract Cricket League, aligning with the South Yorkshire Cricket League, or cast their eye north to the Bradford Premier League.
At a players meeting, no-one wanted to go South due to travelling times and to stay in the league they were in was to worry that players would get restless at the notion of a lack of progression.
Wanting to push themselves, Brook-Walton were accepted into the Conference of the expanded Bradford Premier League and their 1st XI are currently 12th (out of 14) with 97pts and 2nd XI also 12th with 84pts – but both sides have played their last ever league game.
It takes more than one person to form and run a cricket club but this was Vigars’ project and a conversation with him this week illustrated the roller coaster that has seen league and cup titles before a premature, juddering end.

Where did it all go wrong?
On the surface, Brook-Walton were winning and expanded to two teams with their second eleven unbeaten for two years until the decision to join the Bradford Premier League.
Hindsight is a fine thing but did Brook-Walton over-extend themselves?
Vigars acknowledges that in an ideal world they might not have gone into the Bradford Premier League for a year or two but a decision needed making.
The club undertook the latest chapter of their adventure believing they had the strength and numbers to compete including the signing of their first overseas player, Sri Lankan all rounder Thilantha Perera.
According to Richard, their player base of 35 or so was enough to compete in 2017 – yet what followed over winter and into the season was a staggering loss of 22 players:
“Half of those 22 have stopped playing cricket…they’ve not joined other clubs, they’ve just lost interest in playing the game or got other things happening in their lives.”
As Vigars references, with a very young club, there is not the heritage and network to call upon in difficult times and with a squad of 13 left, things were simply unsustainable.
He is quick to credit the Bradford Premier League with being understanding and allowing the club to go down to just a first eleven mid-season.
It was, however, the act of a cricket club on its last legs.
The final fixture the 1st XI officially completed was at home to Windhill & Daisy Hill on Saturday 1 July.
With only two regular first-teamers available, Brook-Walton won by three wickets and captain Vigars was unbeaten on 56 in their 188-7 before the bowlers got them over the line.
The next week, they had to forfeit their away fixture at Oulton and the writing really was on the wall.
No-one can keep a cricket team going with a squad of 13 with injuries, availability and the typical exodus that August holidays so often bring.
Richard explained: “It drew me to a conclusion that it wasn’t fair on myself or others or the league to carry on in the state we were. It was a very painful decision. All the time, effort, commitment and passion I’ve put in over the last four years but I had to be very realistic.”
You can listen to the audio interview with Richard at the end of this article but he made the salient point that, when all said and done, you can’t force people to play cricket.
The Brook-Walton under-13s will continue until the end of the season and there is a Sunday side who might also carry on as players can be drafted in from elsewhere but as it stands, Brook-Walton Cricket Club won’t exist next season.
Of course, there are bound to be a range of views as to why the club lost all the players they did over six months or so.
But whether cricketers defected to other Bradford Premier League clubs, wanted to stay in the Pontefract area, fell out or had other reasons, it hardly matters now.
Vigars believed it important not to stand still as a club hence the decision to move into the Bradford Premier League that was aimed at retaining ambitious players.
Brook-Walton could be battling Streethouse at the top of the Pontefract Cricket League this season and in fine health had things turned out differently.
Would that have been less progressive? I’ll let you decide though it’s a devil’s choice trying to keep everyone happy.
The death of any cricket club is to be lamented but that it’s happened to one so new and so successful emphasises that no cricket club is immune to a rapid decline in fortunes.
Whether you’re 150 years old or just four years young, you’re only as good as your last season.

It does raise the issue of how to retain your squad, the relative merits of switching leagues and whether accelerated success can come at a cost.
It’s also another reminder that cricket clubs tend to be run by a small pocket of men and women on whom so much depends and hinges.
Brook-Walton’s ascent has put some noses out of joint and ruffled some weathers but they can proudly look back on a flurry of silverware though it is not the Fairy Tale ending, more grim than Grimm.
For Richard, there’s a period of reflection.
He’s achieved a dream he’s had going back 20 years to create a cricket club and the first eleven players who ever took the field for Brook-Walton was particularly memorable as were the cup wins.
Other highlights have been reaching the national stages of the National Village Cup losing to eventual champions Sessay last year and getting to the last 32 this year before Hawk Green got the better of them.
What next?
“Going to another club is not going to be the easiest thing to do!” he laughs, adding: ”I’ll probably end up playing cricket somewhere because cricket’s in my blood but where that’ll be, I’ve no idea.”
He might even find that just turning up to play without the captaincy (only one season in 24 years to date) might be liberating.
If nothing else, his phone bill is set to shrink considerably.
In the end, Brook-Walton’s fate came about as swiftly as their rise as another cricket club appears to bite the dust.

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Leeds Police Cricket Club

First mention that I've seen of a Leeds Police team is in the Woodhouse CC History
They played on Woodhouse Ridge in 1906

As there is a mention of Leeds Police in the Wetherby records, Sherlock says they must have played in this league

8 for 15 John Cain (South Milford v Leeds Police) 2004
8 for 38 Arshad Hussain (Leeds Police v St Chads)
8 for 33 Andy Conboy (Leeds Police v Old Modernians) 2006

Other than that I'm guessing that they have folded.

Birkdale

Formerly Wheelwright Grammar School in Dewsbury.
Struggling to remember who played here.
This draft has been sitting here for a couple of weeks.

Come on it's got to be 30 years ago

Lidget Green Cricket Club

Spotted what looked like an old scorebox as I was travelling up through Bradford today.

It was difficult to get a decent photo, but all signage has been changed to the Rugby League club.

Bradford Museums Website confirms that this is the ground.

As does the following article from the T & A

News

17th October 2000
Clayton get the go ahead for move to Lidget Green

Clayton Rugby League club have been given the go-ahead to play at Lidget Green.
Bradford Council have given them permission to play on the former cricket pitch and they expect to stage their first game there before Christmas.
The ambitious Pennine League First Division club hope the move will enable them to achieve National Conference League status next season.
They have already marked out the ground and plan to renovate the old cricket dressing rooms.
The facilities will be inspected by the National Conference League officials before the end of January.
Clayton's move to Lidget Green ends 97 years of cricket at the famous ground.
Lidget were founder members of the Bradford League in 1903, but the club resigned from the competition midway through last season after offering their ground to Clayton.
The move was bitterly opposed by the cricket section of the club who formed a Save Lidget Green CC organisation and presented a petition to Bradford Council who own the land.
For Clayton to play there the council had to agree to a change from cricket and athletics to rugby which they did after four months of deliberations and consultations with ward councillors.
A spokesperson for the council said: "After careful consideration we have agreed to lift one of the restrictions in the lease so that Lidget Green Cricket and Athletics Club can play rugby on the ground."
Chairman Tom McCarthy said the news would boost the club's long term ambitions.
"We were approached by Lidget Green Cricket Club to see if there was a chance of us moving there.
"We have been in the Pennine League First Division for a number of years and there was a danger that we that we would lose players to Conference clubs.
"To get into the Conference, though, we have got to have pitch side facilities which we don't have at our current ground at the Delph which is council owned.
"Lidget Green have changing rooms adjoining the pitch and we are in the process of adapting and extending them to make them suitable for two rugby teams.
"I would like to think we could stage a match there before the end of the year, but we would like a fixture with a local flavour."
He added: "The Conference is our goal though. They require you to run two senior sides and a minimum of eight junior teams starting with under-eights so there is going to be a lot of sporting activity at Lidget Green in the future.
"We are looking at creating a training pitch down the side of the ground with floodlights.
"We also hope to attract good support at our new ground."

Soothill Cricket Club

Rather annoyingly, I must have deleted my Soothill photo, even more so as I could have retaken it this morning. 
An article from the Batley News regarding the old Soothill Cricket ground.

I have a long memory and history with the club, though never playing for them.

My Grandma used to live just around the corner, and I used to go with her on some Saturday nights to whist drives.

I earned an underage beer for my batting in a stand of 90+ with Dave Whitaker, in a friendly against Soothill, I think I scored 23 batting @ no 10 in holding my end while Dave cut loose.

I played against Pakistan International all-rounder ......., facing one ball and stroking it for 3.

Can I claim to be the greatest batsman against Pakistan pace bowling? A strike rate of 18. Beat that James Roy. To be honest he was so fast I never saw it, but played an amazing cover drive, guessing where the ball might have been.

I can find much other information about the club but I'm reasonably sure that the club folded when an official ran off with the clubs funds.

On that sort of thought, I wonder who made a packet over the sale of the grounds?

Hmmmmmmmmm.

New developer for old Soothill cricket ground homes

The former site of Soothill cricket ground.

Published: Thursday 02 July 2015

A property developer has stepped in to restart construction on homes at an old sports ground that were left in limbo.
The future was uncertain for 38 homes at Soothill Cricket Club in Soothill Lane, Batley, when original developer Southdale Limited went into administration.
But social housing firm Yorkshire Housing has now appointed Starfish Construction to complete the development, with work expected to restart this month.
A Yorkshire Housing spokesman said: “We are pleased to have appointed Starfish Construction to complete this development of 38 affordable homes.
“We sought a replacement contractor as soon as Southdale Homes went into administration, as we are keen to minimise delays.
“The homes will be completed to the original high-quality specification.”
The properties will consist of a mixture of two and three-bedroom houses, and two-bedroom flats.
AlixPartners confirmed that they were appointed as administrators for Southdale on April 29 due to severe cash flow problems because of loss-making contracts.
Concerns had been raised earlier by members of Soothill Community Forum, which campaigned to keep the land as a playing field for children before an application to build 34 homes and four apartments was granted in February.
After the future of the development became uncertain residents enlisted the support of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox (Lab) who said her office had been in contact with Yorkshire Housing about the future of the site.
Work was initially meant to be finished by early 2015.

Update
Dummy - They were already filed exactly where they should have been. The team photo is of "The Jesters" @ Soothill. It is of "my era", given I only played a few games for them (See my Jesters page).
My Chauffeur Graham is on there, as is used car salesman 😊😊😊, Barrie, and a couple of others I still recognise, even if it was 40 years ago.

Middle of nowhere, possibly abandoned cricket club

Sited on Weeton Lane, between Weeton and Huby

It looks like this pavilion

Nothing on the Almscliffe Village website

I'm claiming this one