Greatest Moment

Admission to the Halifax League in 2000.

Local Hero

Keith Hudson – player, groundsman, club official: ‘Mr Bridgeholme’.

Bizarre Fact

There is no place called Bridgeholme. The club originated directly from local industry. The cricket teams from J.J.Tatham Ltd., Nanholme Mills, and Moss Brothers, Bridgeroyd Mills joined forces to form one club in 1950. The name ‘Bridgeholme’ was invented by combining ‘Nanholme’ and ‘Bridgeroyd’. These two mills still exist today, although Nanholme is now renamed Springholme and is owned by PickwellArnold

Ground Priorities

Preparation of the Station House ground had been underway since the summer of 1952.

Drainage, levelling and the laying of the square had been the priorities.

First Match

The first match, against Hebden Bridge Salem in the first division of the Hebden Bridge and District League, was scheduled for 9 May 1953 but the ground was not quite ready and the game was switched to Salem Field.

Bridgeholme captain John Martin hit 125 of his side’s 222 all out that afternoon, the first century by a Bridgeholme batsman and the first time the team had scored 200.

Beating Slack

The ground was opened ten days later on the evening of Tuesday 19 May, just a fortnight before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The 1st XI beat Heptonstall Slack seconds by eight wickets in the Hebden Bridge League’s 20 overs-a-side knockout cup, Jack Kaye taking 7 for 20 with his off-spinners as the visitors were all out for 40.

League Debut

The first league match on the ground was played the following Saturday when the 2nd XI beat Old Town seconds by 54 runs.

The first eleven made their home league debut on 30 May and suffered one of only three defeats that season, replying to Birchcliffe’s 174 with 99 all out. 

Post-Match Entertainment

Bridgeholme’s cricketers have traditionally frequented local hostelries for their post-match entertainment.

For many years they diplomatically supported their landlords at the nearby Station House Hotel.

This has now closed and more recently the players have held their celebrations and post-mortems at the Rose and Crown, the Swan With Two Necks and the Shannon and Chesapeake.

New Pavilion

With the construction of the new pavilion has come the opportunity to provide post-match hospitality, thereby earning much needed funds, at the ground.

It is a condition of the Lottery grant which funded the building that it is used by the community, and local groups and private individuals are taking advantage of Eastwood’s first community building for decades.

'Cinderella' Nickname

Bridgeholme Cricket Club does not have an official nickname but is often referred to as ‘Todmorden’s
Cinderella Club’.

The last of the town’s many all-amateur clubs, Bridgeholme is somewhat dwarfed by the town’s
other two clubs, Todmorden and Walsden.

Todmorden, founded in 1835, is the town’s oldest surviving institution after the church and National
School and has played in the high profile Lancashire League since 1897.

Walsden first played around 1856, has been in continuous existence since 1870 and has played in the Central Lancashire League since 1893.

Both these clubs have employed professionals, who include some of
the world’s most famous players.

'Sporting' Philosophy

Bridgeholme’s Keith Hudson explains the pros and cons of the local competition: ‘If we develop a
player who becomes particularly good, we’re going to lose them, probably as an amateur to Todmorden or Walsden, although some have been offered money to play in Halifax.

‘On the other hand, we are still developing our youth set-up and have been grateful to acquire
players from the Todmorden and Walsden junior teams who probably aren’t going to make the first
team there, or who just prefer our set up.

‘We know our place but we’re a friendly club. We may not be the best cricketers around but we can play the game as sportingly as anyone else. Some clubs find it strange when we applaud the opposition but we are proud to play the game that
way. Maybe it’s less cut throat here than at clubs where you play against professionals and some people prefer that.’