Greatest Moment

Winning the Priestley Cup in 1936.

Local Hero

Harry Hoyle - ex-player and dedicated stalwart.

Bizarre Fact

In the early days the club was known as Cleckheaton Victoria CC in homage to the monarch of the time.

Quote Unquote

'People always say Yorkshire are prejudiced, but there has been a change of policy for some time. Now Yorkshire are helping. They're organising coaching for Asians, all paid for. Personally, I think Yorkshire has gone out of its way to give players a chance who I didn't think were good enough for Yorkshire . They gave the players one or two matches for the second team and they didn't perform and went back to the leagues in despair.'

Solly Adam, ex-Spen captain

Wesleyan Heritage

Although 1862 is often cited as a ‘birth date’, the club was formally established in 1865, by six men: George Wright, George Hardwick, Sam Haley, Alfred Starkey, James Strafford and Robert Corry.

Valuable assistance was received from James Woodcock of Marsh Rolling Mills. These founding fathers were all members of the Cleckheaton Wesleyan Sunday School. 

All members of that first inaugural team had to attend chapel regularly to play and this meant they often struggled to find a full side.

One of the club’s earliest fixtures was against Hunsworth Mills, now known as Cleckheaton.

Moving Moment

In 1865 the club moved from Whitcliffe Road – its first home – to Spen Lane, where it has resided ever since. It also became known as Cleckheaton – later, Spen – Victoria (rather than Cleckheaton Wesleyans). 

The field at Spen Lane was sub-let to the Club for 1/- per week by Charles Mortimer. Soon after, a set of rules were drawn up.

By 1867 the club had 17 members, and in 1872 the it hired its first professional, Mr B. Doughty.

There were several important events at HQ during the last years of the nineteenth century:

1888 – 3,000 square yards of turf were added to the playing area.

1890 - £120 was spent on erecting first cricket pavilion.

1893 – Ground improvement plans were given the green light by the committee.

Heavy Woollen Ups and Downs

The bowling green was opened in 1894 – hence the formal emergence of Spen Victoria Cricket & Bowling Club.

In this part of West Yorkshire – and beyond – it has been quite common for sports to ‘amalgamate’ within the same club organisation, with Spen Victoria a prime example (along with Brighouse Sports Club, Slaithwaite Cricket & Bowling Club, and many more).

In 1887 Spen scored 472 in a 2nd Round Heavy Woollen Cup match against Dewsbury Clerks. This remains the second highest-ever score in the competition. In the final they lost to Dewsbury & Savile by a record runs margin for a final of 271 runs.

The 1895 final which Spen lost to Batley by 12 runs remains the lowest aggregate score (100) for two completed innings in a final.

Spen finally won the trophy in 1896. Spen were defeated in the Heavy Woollen Cup finals of 1889, 1905, 1914, and 1920.

Spen played in the Yorkshire Council and won the Heavy Woollen Championship in 1914, 1927 and 1930.

The Spen Lane ground was purchased in 1902 and the club decided to build the existing pavilion and clubroom. It was officially opened in 1909.

Women on Top!

The Spen Victoria CC Ladies Committee was established in 1911, three years prior to the outbreak of the Great War.

Over the following decades, the Committee distinguished itself through its commitment to fundraising and the serving of matchday refreshments in the tea room (built originally at a cost of £500).

Bank Holiday Monday, August 1914, was the date of the first-ever opening stand between legendary Yorkshire cricketers Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe. It was achieved for Spen Victoria in a Yorkshire Council game at Spen Lane against Keighley. Spen Victoria had bowled Keighley out for 105. Holmes and Sutcliffe then knocked off the target together.

Surprisingly, only once, in 1928, has the Heavy Woollen Cup final been staged at the picturesque Spen Lane ground.

Into the Bradford League

In 1931 Spen joined the Bradford League and they finished runners up in their first season. A.C.Rhodes topped the league batting charts with an average of 46.88.

The club’s early years in the Bradford League were relatively successful. They were runners-up in 1933 when Yorkshire and England batsman Wilf Barber was a key member of the side.

The club recorded its first Priestley Cup triumph when Harold Mortimer led them to a 32-run victory over Lightcliffe in 1936.

Spen were relegated to Section ‘B’ in 1942, despite the heroics of Clifford Sykes. Interestingly, this event was a prelude to an amazing renaissance in the Club’s fortunes.

The Spen attack was led by Derbyshire and England bowler George Pope and Yorkshire spin merchant Arthur Booth. In 1942 they scooped the Division ‘B title, with the two men taking a combined total of 149 wickets.

Back in the top division, Spen enjoyed their best ever season. In the midst of the World War, they bagged the Division ‘A’ and Priestley Cup ‘Double’.