Greatest Moment

2001-4: the quadruple ‘double’ (winning the Halifax Association and Collinson Cup in the same year four seasons in a row).

Local Hero

Mohammad Seraj – went on to play in Bradford League and also work as a physiotherapist at Yorkshire CCC.

Bizarre Fact

The club was formed in 1974 after a group of young Asian children had been inspired by the touring Pakistani side playing Test matches in England that summer.

Undefeated and Inspiring

In June 1974 the Pakistani cricket squad landed on British shores for their fifth tour. Led by Intikhab Alam, they played three Test matches against England, and all three were drawn.

Nevertheless, the tour was a great triumph: the Pakistanis were undefeated in their 22 tour matches and won both one day internationals that were staged.

The Pakistan squad included players of great pedigree, including Imran Khan, Asif Masood, Sarfraz Nawaz, Asif Iqbal and Sadiq and Mushtaq Mohammad.

At the same time, in the back streets of Halifax, a group of young Asian kids were hanging around street corners wondering what to do with themselves.

They were watching the Test series on television and had seen in Intikhab, Imran and Co. Asian sporting idols to emulate. So they wandered down Queen’s Road and painted some wickets on an unsuspecting Walsh Street wall.

The team that would eventually be known as Queen’s Road Muslims had been born. Najabat, one of the co-founders of the team, comments: ‘The Pakistan side of 1974 were a big influence.’

In the very early days, the team was known simply as Queen’s Road. The word 'Muslims' was only added later to enhance the identity of the side. But even so, it should not be assumed that the team is an overtly religious one. 'No,' says Naj, 'we are not linked to any mosque or any other organisation, though most of us are practising Muslims.'

He also explains that the 'extra' identity that was required in 1974 is not very relevant now: 'The team has established itself and the name has just stuck. But really, the philosophy of the side is simple: we just want to give local Asian guys an opportunity to play.’

In one season in the late 1970s, QRM played Exley, another local cricket team, 25 times – and won 22 of these encounters!

They also played against school sides; they would simply ring up a school, or a teacher, or a contact they had, and spontaneously arrange a fixture. Other teams provided opposition as well: George Lumb, Kashmir, United Biscuits and a team from Elland.

Mainly, it was mill and factory sides who gave QRM a game, and on occasions they would have to travel by bus to Dewsbury, Elland, Huddersfield or Bradford.

At the start, any patch of green land was a potential cricketing location. Some of these early games were played on wasteland, on old recreation grounds, and at Savile Park.

Najabat Hussain, who played many cameo knocks for the infant side, says: ‘Yes, we would play anywhere. We were all young, free and single, and we were so inventive in the way we fixed up grounds and venues. There were no pre-bookings – we’d never heard of this. Usually, the neighbours didn’t mind, just so long as we weren’t up to mischief.’

Najabat comments on the significance of those difficult early days. ‘In 2004 young Asians in Halifax have extended families and an infrastructure of youth groups and community centres to fall back on. In 1974 we had neither. That’s what makes the story of QRM even more significant and remarkable.’

QRM joined the Halifax Association – or as it is formally known, the Halifax & District Amateur Cricket Association – in 1979. This was a landmark year in the history of the embryonic club.

In 1979, QRM’s debut season in the Association, they scooped two significant awards: Mohammed Seraj carried off the young player of the year award and Safdar Hussain shared the Sportsfax Shield, awarded for on-field sportsmanship.

This development was made possible by the club obtaining a ground at Roils Head.

QRM moved ground to the new Brackenbed Park in 1982. Najabat explains, ‘Brackenbed was the best opportunity for us, But it was an old tip where we discovered methane and it was constantly waterlogged, so really it was no use to anyone.’

On 6 September 1982 QRM took on a Halifax Police XI in a special challenge fixture. Calderdale’s Racial Equality Council (REC) had done the arranging, and this ‘Community Shield’ was the result. Najabat recalls: ‘This event was about goodwill and enhancing the profile of the local police in the community. It was a very memorable event.’

On 26 June 1984 QRM took part in one of the most amazing matches ever recorded. The opposition was Halifax Salem, and the competition was the Collinson Cup. QRM reached a respectable 144-7 in their 40 overs, and then Salem were skittled for just 12!