Greatest Moment
The 1926 Huddersfield League and Sykes Cup 'Double'.
Local Hero
Toss-up between George Herbert Hirst and Wilfred Rhodes - both of whom were Yorkshire and England giants in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Bizarre Fact
In 1923 Kirkheaton CC loaned some 'horse shoes' to the Bradley club.
Perched on a Hill
Kirkheaton's ground is perched on Nab Hill. On the horizon is Emley Mast; in the foreground - just - is the Lascelles Hall cricket ground. Hills, houses, trees, a football pitch, a road and several telegraph poles form the immediate environs. All in all, it is quite an exposed, isolated and windy venue.
In 1959 A.A. Thomson wrote of the Kirkheaton ground: 'The playing surface is shallow; between the level, green turf and the hard rock underneath there is no more than a foot of earth. There are two pavilions: the old one with its high scoring-box has something of the air of a compressed Noah's ark; the other has a magic name, for it is called the "Hirst and Rhodes". It was built with the stones from a disused chapel…'
Today, the playing area is flat. The turf is slightly raised and 'circle' patterns on the outfield enhance the overall effect. There are no sightscreens - just two whitewashed dry stone walls. And you're very high up when you're at the ground; in fact when you look out over Huddersfield, Castle Hill seems to be perched on the same altitude level.
Homage to Hirst and Rhodes
The clubhouse, whose foundations were laid on 26 August 1950, is a glorified bungalow, which pays due homage to Hirst and Rhodes on its walls. It looks out over the bowling green and a 'cake rota' is pinned to the noticeboard near the main entrance. The trophy cabinet is pretty full and also displays a copy of 100 Years at Bankfield, the club's centenary history.
The changing-room bloc is separate, a rather cute two-storey construction, with chairs in front. A low, curved white wall - an excellent wind-break - runs between the two buildings, and there are red and blue benches around the ground perimeter. The scorebox was donated by Mr. M.E. Broadbent, club president, in 1980.
The club was founded in 1860, although this is a matter of debate (some commentators put it slightly later). Originally, it played on Horse Field at Whitley Hall. Then it moved to Kirkheaton Moor - stayed until 1870 - and from there it was on to Hole Bottom. By 1883 the club had moved into its present ground at Bankfield (known originally as Fletcher's Croft), and in 1921 it was able to purchase the land outright. In 1900 it is estimated that membership stood at around 70.
Pub Connection
Originally the club was called Kirkheaton Beaumonts (in honour of a nearby hostelry, the Beaumont Arms), but in 1880 they became Kirkheaton. In 1888 they signed their first professional: Allen Hill, formerly of Yorkshire. According to Genders, 'He was paid in those days the very useful sum of 5s a night to coach the youths of Kirkheaton.'
The year after, Kirkheaton won the Lumb Cup; in this era they also competed in the Heavy Woollen Cup. By 1893 they had joined the Huddersfield & District League (in the previous year their application had been mysteriously turned down), and their debut game was against Meltham Mills at home (Kirkheaton scored 61; their opponents were all out for 41). We are told that in this period subs were 2d per week (summer) and 1d per week (winter).
Mowing the Ground
The early minute books reveal some interesting and bizarre details:
On 3 December 1873 it was 'resolved that the challenge of Meltham CC be left over until Dr. Douglas enquires what kind of club it is.'
On 5 July 1876 it was decided 'that Henry Moseley mows the ground when required at fourpence a time.'
On 18 June 1883 it was 'resolved that one 18-gallon barrel of beer to be in the field. Price 14 pence per gallon. Mr. Martin to have the key for it and Mr Alf. Wortley to have charge of the beer. Mr. J.K. Armitage has kindly consented to stand drinks round for the second team - if they win.'
On 1 January 1923 it was decided 'we loan horse shoes to Bradley Club to be returned before 1 March.'
On 16 February 1925, 'L. Tolson to look for a horse.'
On 27 July 1930, 'Purchase hen manure at 1/- per load.'
Century Up!
Kirkheaton CC - one arm of Kirkheaton Cricket and Bowling Club - is a rather distinguished cricketing venue, and it remains 'a pleasant outing for an afternoon's cricket', as one league handbook put it a few decades ago. And even now, when the talk turns to G.H. and W.R., there is mention of the village and the club.
For example, on 8 May 1998, cricket writer David Warner reported on a special anniversary: 'It will be exactly 100 years next Tuesday since Wilfred Rhodes, Yorkshire's greatest all-rounder, made his debut for the county against MCC at Lord's…To mark this special centenary Yorkshire are holding a lunch at Headingley…to which relatives of Rhodes have been invited, along with relatives of two other Yorkshire greats of that golden era, George Hirst and Schofield Haigh. It is quite remarkable…Rhodes and Hirst should both be born and brought up at Kirkheaton. Officials of Kirkheaton CC have also been invited.'
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