Greatest Moment

1958 – getting promoted to Division 1 for the first time.

Local Hero

Tommy Balmforth – club member for 60 years before his death in 1996.

Bizarre Fact

Dickie Bird sent the club a ‘good luck’ note before the Parish Cup final of 1994.

High and Historic

Bradshaw - in the far north-western corner of Calderdale - is one of the highest parts of Halifax.

Queensbury, just the other side of the local government boundary, lies approximately 1,100 feet above sea level, so Bradshaw probably comes in at around the 1,000-foot mark.

The village - blighted in 1631 by a deadly plague - is home to two historic churches: Mount Zion (a key landmark on the John Wesley Heritage Trail - Wesley preached here in 1790 on his last visit to West Yorkshire) and St. John's (the local parish church, only a six-hit away from the cricket ground - its churchyard is where Kenny Carter, the former Halifax speedway ace, is buried).

The place is also famous for its mummers - traditional, face-painted mime artists.

In the Association

Bradshaw has had a cricket team since 1923.

In the early days, the club played in the Halifax Association, but in 1954 it joined the Halifax League; the glory days came in the 1990s when the 1st XI won the league twice (1992 and 1997) and the cup once (1991).

The image of a white castle dominates their club crest - due recognition of the fact that White Castle Breweries owned the Bradshaw Lane ground in yesteryear.

Today, the main sponsor is Wilby Ltd.

Houses and Courts

The club's ground is visible from Bradshaw Lane - situated just behind houses, tennis courts and the local bowling green.

Legend has it that only one batsman in 80 years has managed to clear the boundary, and the farmer's field that lies beyond it, and deposited the ball onto the bowling green.

Knur and Spell

The ground lies adjacent to the Bradshaw Tavern.

Indeed, visitors to the pub can watch the action from inside the bar, and drinkers who wander out into the beer garden can see the game at even closer quarters.

Televisison Fame

In the early 1990s, the pub actually became famous.

Trans World Sport, an international television company, were looking for a venue for the Knur and Spell World Championships (K & S is an early, antiquated form of golf).

The TV people liked the look of the pub, and the ground, and brought the event to Bradshaw - in their view, an ideal and hugely picturesque venue.

Steep Slope

From the A647, the Bradshaw Lane ground looks like it is located on a steep slope; when you are actually at the ground, you don't notice the pronounced fall down from the pavilion to the far boundary, but it is a gentle slope, and nothing more.

It's a windy spot, but on a sunny day, when the shadow of the pavilion stretches out onto the outfield, it's also a very pleasant spot.

Club spokesman Mick Turner says that opposition players like visiting Bradshaw: 'They appreciate the facilities, but they're always a little wary about the weather. If it's not a sunny day, they know it will be pretty chilly!'

Short and Square

The playing area is well kept, and on three sides surrounded by a low, whitewashed dry stone wall.

The boundaries straight of the wicket are shorter than those square of it (when the ball beats the slip cordon it's usually four) and the sightscreens are 'sliders' (and relatively new).     

New Pavilion

Plans were under discussion in 1959 for a pavilion to be built and fencing would also be altered.

At a meeting it was decided that the pavilion could not cost more than the
£273 that was quoted by the National Playing Fields Association.

The new pavilion was officially opened on 29 May 1960.

Memorial Gates

A 15-mile walk was arranged in order to raise money for the club’s
memorial gates.

In September 1968 they were officially opened, a short service was
conducted by the Vicar of Bradshaw, and a cricket match followed.
Bradshaw celebrated their 50th birthday in 1973 by organising a dinner at the Saxon Hotel which was attended by many ex-players.

In 1978 a Mr T.Corbett asked the club if six sheep could graze on the
outfield. The club committee immediately agreed – realising that this was a means of ensuring the grass was kept short!

Clothes and Crests

The Ladies Section decided to organise some social events in 1988, including an aromatherapy demonstration, a body shop evening, a reflexology demonstration and a knickerbocker clothes party!

The image of a white castle dominates the club crest - due recognition of the fact that White Castle Breweries owned the Bradshaw Lane ground in
yesteryear.

Today Bradshaw are a successful club with a beautiful ground that stands 919 feet above sea level – the highest in Calderdale.