Greatest Moment

1939 - reaching the Heavy Woollen Cup final.

Local Hero

Dr Clive Raynor - inspirational batsman and captain during the 1980s.

Bizarre Fact

The club constantly receive important letters for Indian Test star Wasim Jaffer through the post...even though he plays for the 'other Scholes' in Holmfirth!

Origins and Early Years

In the 1860s and 1870s cricket was extremely popular in Scholes.

David Wilding tells us that a cricket team attached to the local Victoria Institute was founded in 1869. The Institute was akin to a local community centre and in many ways the centre of village life.

But the cricket team that eventually came to be known as Scholes CC was formed as Scholes Albert Mills CC around 1870.

In 1882 Scholes Albert Mills were drawn against Roberttown All Saints in the first round of the inaugural Heavy Woollen Cup – staged in 1883.

Then, in 1886 the Scholes club merited an entry in the Athletic News Cricket Supplement and Club Directory.

Picks, Shovels & Wheelbarrows

It is probable that Scholes Albert Mills CC played all their home games at New Popplewell Lane, on a patch of land that was once a quarry.

The land came into being as a cricket ground when between 20 and 30 workers filled and levelled the ground using nothing but picks, shovels and wheelbarrows.

In 1894 Scholes joined the Spen and Calder Valley League – one of the many localised cricket competitions that were in existence in this era.

Heckmondwike Controversy

In Scholes’ third round Heavy Woollen Cup tie against Heckmondwike in 1897, there was amazing controversy surrounding the climax to the game.

Scholes defeated Heckmondwike. However, the losers protested because the Scholes players had left the field of play before the final batsman had had chance to appear.

The result stood, as the umpires agreed that at least two minutes had passed. Heckmondwike still needed 17 runs to win!

In 1906 the club was a founder member of another local competition - the Spen Valley & District League. They finished the season in 7th place.

Scholes Cricket Club have only ever played at New Popplewell Lane. From three-quarters of the way through the nineteenth century up until 1914, they did so as tenants.

But in 1914 they were able to purchase the ground from Low Moor Co. Ltd by means of donations from villagers and local business people.

County-Wide Competition

Scholes Cricket Club displayed its ambition and aspirations when, in 1916 - as war raged across the globe - it was accepted as a member of the prestigious county-wide cricket competition, the Yorkshire Council.

On 26 August, after only their third victory of the season, Scholes occupied 5th place in Section ‘E’. In this league they would face local heavyweights such as Heckmondwike CC.

According to David Wilding, there is evidence to suggest that knur and spell - an early form of golf - was played in the village in this period: 'In May 1916 Dan Smith, landlord of the Rising Sun, was granted permission, by the Bradford Justices, to sell intoxicating liquour provided he undertook not to have any rabbit coursing or Knur and Spell matches. He must have found this difficult as he was well known as an expert at rabbit coursing, and a referee for knur and spell. In addition locals engaged in illegal cock fighting, arrow throwing, pigeon shooting, dog racing, and ‘pitch and toss’. Nearly all these sports being occasions for heavy betting.'

In 1919 the fields in the village that were used for sport, and two adjoining fields, were put up for sale.

It was decided that the local community would purchase the land in order to use it for cricket and other games.

A former playing member, Thompson Jowett, was generous enough to donate £550 towards the total cost of the land (£1,050).

Tennis and Football

In 1921 two tennis courts were erected adjacent to the cricket field. The year after a football pitch was created – thereafter used by Scholes Old Boys AFC.

In 1922, a pavilion was built at an estimated cost of £850. Viscount Cowdray presented the trustees with a cheque for £3,400, which enabled the work to be started.

1937 witnessed the formation of the Central Yorkshire Cricket League. The following season, 1938, ten clubs took part in the new competition, leaving only six in the rival Heavy Woollen League…including Scholes.

These mass ‘defections’ proved to be a blessing in disguise, as Scholes came out on top, with fewer clubs to contend with.

Floods and Raincoats

In 1939 Scholes played Batley in a Heavy Woollen Cup semi-final tie.

Frustratingly, the playing area was partially flooded by rain with Scholes needing only 16 runs still to win. The Batley captain, J.S. Barritt, did not wish to return on another evening, instead opting to put on a raincoat and continue the match!

Scholes were eventually defeated by Cleckheaton in the final.

In 1944 the Club joined the Central Yorkshire Cricket League, six years after it was formed in 1938. This was the year in which Drighlington, Gomersal, Hartshead Moor, and Thornhill from the Heavy Woollen League, as well as Chickenley, Hanging Heaton, and Gildersome from the Leeds Central League, also signed up to the new competition.