Greatest Moment

The club's 125th anniversary in 2005.

Local Hero

Gilbert Porter - devoted groundsman who (literally) lives next door to his beloved square.

Bizarre Fact

In 1972 Mirfield Parish players started eating tripe to help their on-field performances!

Titles and Rules

The origins of Mirfield Parish CC are hazy, but 1880 is generally viewed as their date of formation.

In 1912 they won the Dewsbury & District Junior League Shield outright and in 1919 took part in the Heavy Woollen Cup for the first time.

In the early and middle decades of the twentieth century, Mirfield Parish won their fair share of Dewsbury League titles at both junior and senior level.

A set of rules issued by the old Mirfield Parish Cricket Club included Rule 2: ‘That the Vicar of Mirfield (if willing) be President of the Club, and the Assistant-Clergy Vice-Presidents’.

This confirms the club-church link, but also gives the vicar an ‘opt-out’ if he so desires!

Money, Money, Money

Parish were busy in 1959. They paid out £1 10s for a pianist – to play at their annual dinner - and the same amount for some French polish!

They also gained two unexpected items of income: a donation of 4s and a payment of 10s from Wormalds & Walkers as compensation for a missed fixture.

Towels and Trophies

In 1967 Mirfield Parish won the Dewsbury & District League title for the third time in a row under the captaincy of K.Blackburn.

What is interesting is the array of clubs in Section 'A' with Mirfield Parish: works teams (Birstall Carpets, Wormalds & Walker), a team representing early Asian immigrants (Muslim CC), and another church team (Dewsbury Salem CC).

In 1967 the club gained more money from donations. They also seemed to host a West Riding cricket coaching session, which made them £14.

‘Cleaning’ was a new item of expenditure in 1967, and they were also forced to invest in a ‘towel’ for 5s 6d.

1967 was a good year for Mirfield Parish: they won Section ‘A’ of the Dewsbury & District League, and also scooped the prize for ‘best performance in last seven League matches’. They also reached the final of the Crowther Cup.

Parish People

John Balmforth has been secretary of the club since the early 1970s, when the first extensions to club premises were made.

Brian Tattersfield, the current club treasurer, also took office in the early 1970s and has held the position for over 20 years.

Gilbert Porter has been club groundsman for 12 years and lives at least 15 yards away from his beloved turf!

Alan Barker was groundsman for 28 years, trustee for 29 years (still serving) and also played for many years.

Barry Wooller played for the club for many years, and is a past chairman.

Colin Fretwell played for the club until the ripe age of 60. He has also captained both the 1st and 2nd teams, served on the cricket committee for many years and is currently both secretary and treasurer of the club.