Greatest Moment

2004 - the club celebrated its 100th birthday and also produced a wonderful centenary book.

Local Hero

Jack Carson - ex-player, club stalwart and top Huddersfield Central League official.

Bizarre Fact

In 1978 the club made an official complaint when Calder Grove included West Indian Test star Collis King in their line-up!

'Hard Work and Sacrifice'

In their first season - 1905 - Upper Hopton made it through to the final of the Dewsbury & District Shield Competition. However, the final had to be halted due to bad weather conditions with Upper Hopton 78-5.

When the match resumed, Upper Hopton proceeded to score 105 and then dismissed Savile Town Wesleyans for 71.

The Dewsbury Reporter remarked: ‘At this time last year they were nonexistent and it was only by hard work and sacrifice of leisure that they were able to provide themselves with a proper playing field’. The newspaper went on to say that, ‘For a new club to beat all comers in the first season is something to be proud of.’

Great War Stopped Play

With the outbreak of the First World War, Upper Hopton - like a lot of clubs - found it difficult to survive, and disbanded in 1915.

The club switched grounds in 1962: from the Travellers Rest to Jackroyd Lane, where they currently reside. The committee accepted a £1,850 quote for a pavilion from S. Johnson’s & Sons.

The new pavilion was ready in 1963, and the opening was performed by Mrs T.R. Sutcliffe (part of the Sutcliffe family, that had done so much for the village via Charles, a key benefactor, and Reggie), Howard Walker J.P., chairman of Mirfield Urban District Council, and Canon H.N. Myers, club president at the time.

Winning Ways

The 1st XI brought the first piece of silverware to the new pavilion in 1965 when they triumphed over Birstall Carpets in the final of the Sheard Cup.

After losing to Mirfield Parish in the semi-final of the 1974 Sheard Cup, Upper Hopton were given a second chance when it was discovered that one of Mirfield’s players had not been registered with the League. Upper Hopton won the replay!

The final of the Sheard Cup that ensued, between Upper Hopton and Howden Clough, resulted in an ‘easy victory for Upper Hopton’, according to the Dewsbury Reporter.

Collis Controversy!

Controversy reigned when Upper Hopton played Calder Grove in the 1978 Sheard Cup. The West Indian test cricketer Collis King was a surprise addition to the Calder Grove side!

By 1982 the club felt it was time to move on from the Dewsbury & District League. An application was made to join the Huddersfield Central League and the club was accepted for the following season. So the final match of the 1982 proved to be Upper Hopton’s last appearance in the Dewsbury & District League.

Upper Hopton’s first year in the new League saw both 1st and 2nd XI win their respective sections.

Making Money

As all cricket clubs know, money is always in short supply. Upper Hopton, however, have devised a variety of different fundraising ideas to try and generate money. These are just some of the ways that the club fund raisers.

In 1995 the club received a grant from the Foundation for Sports and Arts to help with the cost of repairing the terracing

In 1985 the 2nd XI won the Tinker Cup, beating Hoylandswaine by 29 runs in the final.

Upper Hopton ended the 1987 season as Champions of Section ‘B’, thus claiming a place in the top flight the following year.

1990 saw the 2nd XI achieve a record score of 309 for 1 in their Central League fixture against Clayton West.

100 Not Out!

Like every other local cricket club, Upper Hopton have relied upon the commitment of its female members to provide both cricket teas and to help with fundraising. To this end, the club minute book records that a Ladies Committee was established in 1990.

The club’s committee minute books throw up one novel idea that the club came up with to help with the constant repairs and refurbishment that a cricket pavilion needs. This was to apply to one of the TV makeover programmes, DIY SOS.

To celebrate their Centenary in 2004, Upper Hopton published a history of the club. The club also commissioned a special painting of the Sutcliffe Memorial Ground.