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		The Ground
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Behind the New Inn

East Bierley Cricket Club was formed in 1865 – as is commemorated on the clubhouse walls today.

It played its early games on a plot of land known as The Shay behind the New Inn.

Leasing Land

The club then leased some land on South View Road – owned by Lord Savile.

Some early leveling worked created the embankment that is still the main feature of the ground today.

Early Fixtures

One of the club’s earliest fixtures was at home to Morley Britannia (many clubs in this period took suffixes such as ‘Britannia’ or ‘Victoria’).

In 1875, they met Windhill away. ‘Day match’ could have denoted a fixture that took place during the day rather than at teatime or in the early evening.

In 1885, the press mentioned an away game at Dudley Hill.

Silverware Success

The club won the Bradford & District League in 1895 – and this included an away victory over Laisterdyke.

The club claimed the Bradford & District League in 1898 and 1899.

East Bierley entertained Birstall in an ordinary – ‘friendly’ – match in 1905.

League Sabbatical

In 1925, East Bierley took a three-year sabbatical from the Bradford League.

This included 1926, the year of the General Strike.

In 1933, a clubroom was added to the existing facilities at the ground: scoreboard, dressing-room block and tea pavilion.

Beer Edict!

In April 1976, with an eye on increasing bar sales, the secretary wrote to the club steward encouraging him to be ‘agreeable, courteous and friendly’ in his dealings with all customers.

In November 1977, the club steward was asked to ensure ‘sufficient beer should be available for re-sale’!

Lord's Triumph

In 1979 the club became National Village champions after triumphing in the Lord's final.

Ronnie Ellis remembers:

'The trip to Lord’s in 1979 was a turning-point. We beat a team from
Cambridgeshire in the semi-final.

Over 2,000 people were packed inside our ground for this match – they were on the embankment and
everywhere.

I was sat in the pavilion helping the PA man, who was making announcements for the crowd’s benefit.

We took coaches down to Lord’s for the final. The whole village was
there! It was a historic day and I think we made the highest ever total in
the final: 216-4.

Our Welsh opponents got 100-odd and we were victorious.

We’ve still got lots of photos of the day in the club pavilion, including a
photo of the two East Bierley batsmen coming off unbeaten at the end of our innings.'

South Walian Opponents

John Bleazard recalls:

'I’ve been at the club for about 23 years.

I suppose the outstanding event in our recent history was the trip to Lord’s for the village championship final.

We played Ynysygerwn from South Wales in 1979. It put us on the map
and after that we started winning things.

It was a small competition but we got some national coverage and it felt good.

The 1980s were the start of things. And I think that in retrospect the
Lord’s trip set us on the road to fame.'

Landmark Date

1981 was the club’s first year of major Bradford League success:

The committee meeting of 6 January 1986 announced the launch of a wallpapering campaign!

In 1988, the Cockspur Cup competition was launched at East Bierley CC.

In 1999, the club balance sheet referred to the ladies committee, pool table takings and tea pavilion rents.

In and amongst, the club has captured more than its fair share of Bradford League silverware.