Greatest Moment

1988 – celebrating their 125th anniversary.

Local Hero

In 1899 a Rastrick bowler called Shaw took 10-2 in one match!

Bizarre Fact

In 1891 the club fell out with the Huddersfield League and joined the Spen Valley League in protest.

By the Motorway

Rastrick's home ground is located only a couple of dozen yards away from the Calderdale-Kirklees frontier and is dominated by the sight and sound of cars and lorries pounding the nearby M62.

When you are out in the middle, Rastrick's ground definitely has its appeal: the rather distinguished brick scorebox (20ft tall and erected in 1996 at a cost of £26,000), the spectacular views out over Brighouse and Halifax, and the large spherical mound located directly opposite the pavilion (think of a West Yorkshire version of the Sydney Hill)

Walls and Ox-Roastings

Many years ago, Round Hill used to witness ox-roastings on special occasions. Today, seven benches are perched halfway up, making it an excellent vantage point from which to watch Rastrick go about their business in the Huddersfield League (they also have a team in the Halifax Sunday League).

There is a neat white perimeter fence, a pair of modern sightscreens and three advertising boards (one of which proclaims: BRIGHOUSE ECHO: BEST FOR LOCAL SPORT). To the right, you see a white wall behind the bowler's arm, two seats for watchers of the game and the double-decker pavilion.

In April 1905, the Halifax Evening Courier reported the opening of a new pavilion at club HQ. And it is significant that the club could attract two cricketers of the stature of Wilfred Rhodes and George Herbert Hirst to the opening ceremony.

Rebuilding the Clubhouse

Today, when you inspect the brickwork on the front of the building, an inscription jumps out: DONATED AND BUILT BY RCAC MEMBERS 1974-1975.

So, the clubhouse has been built and rebuilt. (Incidentally, the zig-zag iron steps up to the changing rooms are amazing and no doubt faze some opposition batsmen as they climb down from high altitude into the middle).

Round Hill is also interesting on account of the row of houses that back on to it - thus forming a natural boundary fence - and the strange, defunct white brick building at the M62 end (on its front one can just make out the words: THE CALDER & HEBBLE CAR PARK - PATRONS ONLY). Apparently, this construction originated in Victorian times.

And a note to all cricketers and cricket-watchers: the Roundhill Inn, situated just behind the pavilion on the main road into Rastrick and Brighouse, serves a very decent pint of Black Sheep.

Roman Heritage

Rastrick - perched on a hill three miles south-east of Halifax - can trace its history back to Roman times, when it was a key settlement on the York-Chester Roman road. It is also the site of rare church ruins from the tenth or eleventh centuries and was the name of a pre-1842 parish township.

As a town, it is most famous for Richard Blakey (who attended the local grammar school), quarrying, coat-hangers, and in tandem with Brighouse, its brass band. Among its now-defunct sporting organisations is Rastrick New Road CC.

The club celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1988 - producing some lovely commemorative plates - and is still going strong.