Greatest Moment

Winning four trophies in the 'Golden Year' of 1951.

Local Hero

Current player Ismail Dawood - the first Yorkshire-born Asian to play first-class cricket for the White Rose county.

Bizarre Fact

Possible forerunner club Hanging Heaton New Star once entertained a team of cricket clowns in the late nineteenth century!

Mysterious Origins

The origins of Hanging Heaton Cricket Club, and of cricket in Hanging Heaton more generally, are shrouded in mystery.

We know that in 1874 there were no Hanging Heaton teams featuring in the local press. However, around 1876 – the generally-accepted date of formation of Hanging Heaton CC – there are a number of village teams fulfilling fixtures that gain the attention of local papers.

Britannia and New Star

In 1876 we come across Hanging Heaton Young Britannia. In 1877 we encounter a team called Hanging Heaton Mutual Improvement.

A third team (there may well have been others), and certainly the team that seems to be the most established (with a regular, expanding fixture list from 1876 onwards, and also two teams – a 1st and 2nd XI), is Hanging Heaton New Star.

Hanging Heaton New Star’s affiliation is unclear. Was it a group of friends? A team linked to a local public house? Or even connected to the local Ebenezer Methodist Church?

Heavy Woollen Bow

Hanging Heaton CC made their bow in the prestigious Heavy Woollen Cup in 1889. They joined the Heavy Woollen League in 1898.

A minor sensation occurred in 1899 when Hanging Heaton – until this date, relatively unsuccessful in the Heavy Woollen Cup - reached the final.

They encountered the all-powerful Dewsbury & Savile side, and were dismissed for 28 in 9 overs. This score remains the lowest ever in a Heavy Woollen Cup final!

And, in 1926 – the year of the General Strike - L. Carris of Drighlington C.C. took NINE wickets in a Heavy Woollen Cup encounter with Hanging Heaton!

Wartime Success

In the summer of 1939 – with world war looming again – Hanging Heaton decided to join the Leeds League.

In their first year in the Central Yorkshire League, Hanging Heaton topped the Division 2 table – and also ended up Yorkshire Council champions.

It was front-page news!

During the last summer of war, Hanging Heaton pulled off a unique hat-trick – scooping the Central Yorkshire League title, the Yorkshire Council championship, and the Wheatley Cup.

Up for the Cup

Hanging Heaton contested 15 of the 29 Heavy Woollen Cup finals between 1946 and 1974, winning six of them.

In the six-year period 1957-1962 Hanging Heaton featured in five Heavy Woollen Cup finals and lost all of them, the closest being a 7-run defeat at the hands of Dewsbury in 1957.

Although there were further failures at the final hurdle, cup success was achieved in 1967, 1969 and, most notably, in 1974 against Kirkburton.

Hanging Heaton totally dominated the competition in the period 1946-1974, with 15 final appearances (10 ahead of the next team).

Special Competition

Between 1979 and 1995 the club were absent from the competition.

Since re-joining, normal service has been resumed - with victory in 2000, and finishing runners-up on three occasions and being beaten semi-finalists in 1995 and 1996.

Only in 1999 was there real failure with a shock 3rd round defeat at the hands of Woodlands.

Overall, Hanging Heaton are the sixth most successful club in the history of the Cup: seven-times winners and 14-times runners-up.

It is clearly a very special competition for the men from Bennett Lane.

In the same year as their first Heavy Woollen Cup trophy, Hanging Heaton’s Supporters Association appointed a new set of officials – and the club also rewarded its stalwarts.

Fundraising and Fireplaces

A landmark in the history of Hanging Heaton Cricket Club occurred in 1956 – when a Ladies Section was formed.

In 1957 a ‘new Ladies room’ received the go-ahead. The centrepiece would be a ‘grey/red’ fireplace.

The Ladies Section also involved themselves in fundraising – and having a good time!

Welcome to Tewitland!

The village of Hanging Heaton – and the area surrounding the cricket ground - is famous for its bird life.

The lapwing tewit, in particular, is a common sight – so much so that the club crest now features a small tewit.

Lapwings are highly distinctive in appearance.

The adult bird is about 30 cm long with glossy green upperparts, white underparts and black markings under the wings, below the throat and on the head.

A long, thin, black crest of feathers sweeps back from the top of the head.

The name 'lapwing' evokes the bird's jerky, flapping flight, while its upper plumage has caused it to be called the 'green plover'.

Other Names

Other characteristics have led to further alternative names. For example, its loud two-note ‘pee-wit’ call has led to the bird being called 'peewit' in some areas.

In Pennine country, it has commonly been known as the 'tewit' for the same reason.

Lapwings nest on bare ground or where vegetation is short.

Ronnie Hudson

Ronnie Hudson was a fearsome batting force for Hanging Heaton in the 1970s and 1980s, when his feats became legendary in local cricket circles.

Perhaps the greatest of these came in the 1986 Priestley Cup final when he scored a brilliant 152 not out against Eccleshill, which included 8 sixes and 20 fours, and earned him the Man of the Match trophy.

In 1980 his return of 1210 runs, which included an innings of 201 not out against Keighley, was the the highest 1st XI run aggregate in the Bradford League, and in 1982 he won the Bradford League batting trophy.

Ronnie Robinson

All-rounder Ronnie Robinson came from East Leeds to play for Hanging Heaton in 1941. His arrival at the Club signalled the beginning of a glorious 10-year period which saw a stream of trophies arrive at Bennett Lane.

This triumphant decade reached its climax in 1951 when, after two Yorkshire Council Championship victories, two Heavy Woollen Cup successes and a Central Yorkshire League title had been won, the Club was successful in four competitions.

Ronnie Robinson skippered the side as it won the Yorkshire Council Championship, Heavy Woollen Cup, Central Yorkshire League title and the Wheatley Cup.

After his retirement from playing, Ronnie became a member of the Club committee, Club Chairman and, from 1981 to 1983, Club President.