Chairmans Column Part 2

by Adam Hope | 18 Aug, 2017

Some more results from Stan:

Haslingden u15 65 all out Lowerhouse u15 Sharks 67-3

Oliver Wheatcroft 2-8 Tom Halstead 32   

Anthony Barrett 2-10   

Alfie Dawson 2-10 

Ibrahim Rehman 2-12                              

LCB U15 CUP

Lowerhouse u15 Sharks 84-2 Haslingden u15 56-5

James Bridge 36

Jamie Stinton 16

Aden Aurangzeb 11*

Egerton u15 107 -5 LHCC U15 Sharks 88-all out  

 Oliver Wheatcroft 3-20 Jack Simm 35                                        

                                                     Anthony Barrett 10

LJL U15 Cup

LHCC u15 Sharks 90-9 Bacup 79 all out                               

Yousaf Nadeem 19 Alfie Dawson 2-5 

Thomas Halstead 14 Yousaf Nadeem 2-7

Ibrahim Rehman 12 Ibrahim Rehman 2-10

Aden Aurangzeb 12 Oliver Wheatcroft 2-16                                            

LHCC U15 Dolphins 91-4 Haslingden u15 83-7

Aman Singh 46 Alfie Dawson 2- 13                  

Kheiro Chir 13                                                                                 

LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 103-6 Clitheroe u13 Full 105-5

Rory Cormack 21* Oliver William 3-13

Dec Metcalfe 19

George Durkin 17

Oliver Spendlove 13

Joel Sharpe 10

 LHCC Molly Rigby Bears 250- 2 Rishton u11 243-2

Joseph Edgar 21*

Myles Carr – Oddie 10              

LHCC u11 Molly Rigby Bears 241- 3 Darwen u11 247-2

Myles Carr – Oddie 11 George Everitt – McVay 2-11

LHCC u11 Molly Rigby Bears 229- 3 Darwen u11 (1) 229-5

Callum Hughes 10* George Everitt – McVay 2-9

                                                   Callum Hughes 2-13

LCB U11 Cup Round 4

LHCC U11 Molly Rigby Bears 293-0 Greenmount u11 250-5

Tom Yorke – Robinson 19* Elliott Johnstone 2-2

Elliott Johnstone 17*

Grace Johnson 14*

Harvey Elliott 11*

Harrison Durkin 11*

Haslingden u11 228-4 LHCC u11 Cubs 186-7 
                                                             Eliza Cottam 8  

LHCC u11 Cubs 230 – 6 Church u11 245-3  

George Everitt-McVay 10

2017 photos part 2 by Bob Sandiford

by Adam Hope | 18 Aug, 2017

2nd part of Bobs cracking photos are now online here 

Stans Chairmans Column

by Adam Hope | 17 Aug, 2017

LOWERHOUSE CC NEWS SPONSORED BY H.RIGG PROPERTIES

Members and spectators have made many positive comments about the new Tannoy system at the club. The system which was installed by Opus was financed by club benefactor and president Harry Brooks and we thank Harry for that investment in the club.   

Those present at the first match in which it was used will have noticed that there was an announcing error as the opening batsmen walked to the crease involving a misidentification of a batsman. I can reassure members that this was no book being run on how long it would take for an announcing error and scorer Whispering Graham Martin has been cleared of any involvement in a betting scam.

HARRY BROOKS FOUNDATION JUNIORS

I can only apologise for the lack of coverage this season but I will catch up.

Cup competitions

The under 9s have reached The Lancashire Junior League final and will play the winners of the Longridge / East Lancs semi-final which I have to say is taking an eternity to be played

The u11s have reached the LCB finals day which will take place at Highfield CC on Sunday September 10^th. Our semi-final is against Brooklands CC and starts at 12.45.

The u13s reached the LCB quarter final where they lost to the ever strong Longridge CC. They will also be our opponents in the Lancashire Junior League final to be played at the turn of the month.

The under 15s lost to Nelson in the LJL semi final.   

The u19 Wrenegades finished 3^rd in their group and we await further news as to whether we have progressed or not

LCB  CUP

Great Harwood u13 78 -3                        LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 81-0

Henri Cottam 31*

Declan Metcalfe 21*

LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 128-3   Earby u13 Full 75-3

Jack Spence 33*

Henri Cottam 31*

Dec Metcalfe 27

Egerton u13 83-6                        LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 84- 5     

Jack Spence 2-8                           Rory Cormack 27*

Aden Aurangzeb 15

Dec Metcalfe 14

LJL CUP

Great Harwood u13 48 all out   LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 49- 1

Joel Sharpe 2-1                         Liberty Heap 28*

Henri Cottam 2-10                    Oliver Spendlove 16*

LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 102-5   Bacup u13 Full 50-9

George Durkin 27                    Aden Aurangzeb 3-4

Henri Cottam 25                      Oliver Spendlove 2-0

Aden Aurangzeb 19

There is no greater prize…

by Adam Hope | 16 Aug, 2017

Individuals will argue and we may disagree however this weekend is probably one the most important in the 155 year history of Lowerhouse Cricket Club.

Saturday

1st Eleven continue in Phase 2 of Division A with the short trip to Seedhill Nelson for a 1.00pm start. Nelson sit 5th on 123 points with House on 111 in 7th but with a game in hand.

House 2nd Eleven are at home versus Colne 2nds with full bar & tea room facilities from 12.30 pm again 1.00pm start

Sunday

History beckons as either Lowerhouse or Burnley will walk out into the LCB Knock Out Final at Old Trafford on Sunday 3rd September 2017.

The competition started in 1972 as yet no Lancashire League side has been in the final. The original draw was announced on Monday 11th October 2016 with 68 teams from 10 leagues competing, 10 months later it throws their Derby rivals together.

The other tie throws our Lancashire League friends Ramsbottom at home to Ormskirk of the Liverpool Comp.

First the clubs clash for the honour at Turf Moor on Sunday 1.00pm start – Please make every effort to get down and support the boys

#UTH #Daretodream
Frank Entwistle

Fixtures Update!

by Adam Hope | 15 Aug, 2017

Saturday’s LCB progression by the 1st eleven sets up a mouth-watering Semi-Final derby clash at The My Protein Turf Moor Sunday 20/8/17 play is schedule to start 1.00pm 45 overs a side.

The winners progress to play either Ramsbottom or Ormskirk @ Old Trafford on Sunday 3^rd September 12.30pm start.

This means the original scheduled derby clash at The Harry Brooks Foundation Ground on Sunday 3/9/17 has now been re-scheduled to take place on the day before Saturday 2/9/17 – 12.30pm start.

House and Burnley have requested and been granted permission to play the 2ndx1 derby at Turf Moor on Saturday 2/9/17 again 12.30pm start so that clubs give every opportunity to allow their players and supporters, volunteers etc. to follow their 1st eleven at Old Trafford

Recent rained off games for our 3rdx1 at Great Harwood & Enfield have been arranged as follows:  Saturday 26/8/17 Great Harwood 1.00pm – Sunday 16/9/17 Enfield 12.30pm

First semi of the year for Lowerhouse! 

by Adam Hope | 13 Aug, 2017

On the third time of trying, the umpires declared the pitch unfit at Clitheroe and a bowl out was called. House were victorious 4-3 and go on to the Semi Final of the Lancashire Cup versus local rivals Burnley! 

Lowerhouse will play Burnley at the MyProtein Turf Moor on Sunday August 20th for a place in the LCB Cup Final which for the finalists will be played at Old Trafford.

This result means that the League match between us both will be brought forward to Saturday September 2nd from Sunday September 3rd which is the date for the final.

July & July Lowerhouse Draw Winners

by Adam Hope | 13 Aug, 2017

June winners

£100 42 Keith Fairclough 

£60 72 Justin Stockdale 

£50 78 Henry Bithell 

£30 89 Chris Bleazard 

£25 5 Lisa Hulme

£20 83 Dave Johnson 

£15 128 Donnie Doran

July winners

£130 23 Jez Hope 

£100 150 Jackie Gardner 

£80 144 Adam Hope 

£60 119 Neil McSweeny 

£50 116 Alec Laraway 

£35 145 George Bennett

£25 170 Dennis Daley 

£20 76 Dave Waddington

If anybody is interested in joining, message us on Social Media

Liberty captains National Team!

by Adam Hope | 11 Aug, 2017

Liberty Heap captained the national team yesterday against Leinster (Ireland) at Malvern College in Great Malvern. She bowled 4 overs took 2 wickets went for 5 runs scored 14 with the bat.

She also Captained a t10 game on Wednesday against Berkshire. Bowled 1 over took 1 wicket, went for no runs and scored 16!
Well done Liberty!

1993 – Paul Stansfields 5 wickets versus Nelson

by Adam Hope | 10 Aug, 2017

Passed on by Mauren Stansfield, paper cut outs of Lowerhouse vs Nelson in 1993. Scorecard is here

Lancashire Thunder Roadshow Success

by Adam Hope | 10 Aug, 2017

Thanks very much to the Lancashire Thunder and their roadshow which landed at Lowerhouse last night. Thunder stars Kate Cross and Laura Jackson were in attendance with a great turn out and some sharp training sessions!

Good luck on Friday in the War of the Roses – let’s have a win!

Is Paddy the best ever?

by Adam Hope | 8 Aug, 2017

Club President Harry Brooks thinks Paddy Martin’s efforts against Ramsbottom (80 not out and 7 for 26) represent the best-ever all-round performance by a Lowerhouse amateur in a Lancashire League game. Harry is so sure that he will give a bottle of good champagne to anyone who can convince him and Stan Heaton of a better performance.

Suggestions welcome 

Ocki signs for 2018!

by Adam Hope | 7 Aug, 2017

Lowerhouse Cricket Club are delighted to announce that professional Ockert Erasmus has agreed terms to return to the club in 2018.
Ockert has been Mr Consistent with the bat scoring 684 runs at 52.6 with 9 of his 15 league innings seeing scores on 50 plus.
Ockert has also scored centuries in the Worsley Cup and LCB Cup to take him over 1,000 runs in all completions to date.

With the ball he has 27 wickets at 19.8 and a beat of 4-23.
Managing Director Matthew Stansfield commented “I’m extremely pleased that we have been able to agree terms with Ocki. He has been a model pro for us and his consistency of performance, particularly with the bat is second to none. We now look forward to the rest of this season and 2018”

Der Der Der Der – Graham Martin! 60th Birthday invitation!

by Adam Hope | 7 Aug, 2017

Graham invites you to help him celebrate his 60 birthday on Friday 8th September from 7pm at Lowerhouse Cricket Club!

No presents please – donations welcome to Lowerhouse Cricket Club!

Thank you!

Paddy Runs the Show – Weekend Roundup

by Adam Hope | 7 Aug, 2017

A great all round performance from Paddy Martin saw Lowerhouse walk away with a win against Ramsbottom on Saturday at The Brooks. Ben Uttley made his Lancashire League debt Ramsbottom won the toss and stuck us in. Ben opened with Ocki and put on 50 before Ben was the first man to go, LBW to Fielding for 23. Charlie fell not long after for 1 and Paddy entered at 4. Putting on 103 for the third wicket, Ocki hit 68 of 116 balls and Paddy went onto be not out on 80 off 105. A late help of 20 from Toxy took the score to 217 for 4 off our 50.

In reply, Dom took Captain Partons wicket with the score at 9 and opening at the other end Paddy ripped into the heart of the Ramsbottom batting line up. At one point, Ramsbottom being 49 for 5 tried to fight back, but Paddy maintained control and finished with 12.2 overs, 4 maidens, 7 wickets for 26 runs. A great all round performance from the King of Spin. Ocki and Toxi chipped in with the other two wickets, Ramsbottom were bowled out for 128.

No mean feat, that the game was Paddys best ever bowling figures and batting total in his Lancashire League Career.

Full Scorecard here

In the reverse fixture the Second Team also were victorious. Batting first Lowerhouse were all out for 142 with Jack Simm hitting 53 off 73 with 3 fours and 3 sixes. In reply, some tight bowling meant that Ramsbottom only managed 136 for 9 off their allotted 45 failing just 6 runs short. Curtis and Dec took 3 wickets a piece, Jordan taking the other 2 and a run out.

Full Scorecard here

In the Lancashire Cup Knockout on Sunday at Clitheroe, we batted first again, before the rain came, AGAIN! The match will be replayed next Saturday the 12^th. If it rains again, we will play tiddlywinks in the bar. If it doesn’t we’ll have batted 3 times, to Clitheroes 1. On a serious note, we had a few questions yesterday as to why Burnley vs Lytham resulted in a bowl out and ours didn’t – we have a replay date available, where Lytham and the Liverpool Comp may not.

Stans Chairmans Column 

by Adam Hope | 3 Aug, 2017

LOWERHOUSE CC NEWS SPONSORED BY H.RIGG PROPERTIES
Congratulations to Jack Simm (u15) on his maiden senior 50 for the 2s in their win at Nelson and which secured the team’s position in the Second Eleven First Division

Similarly to Max Ingham ( u16) on his maiden senior 5 wickets for 2 runs in the 3XI victory over Ramsbottom.

Accrington u17 122-8 LHCC Xercise4less u17s 123-4

Yanis Chir 2-20 Charlie Bithell 42

 Max Ingham 2-25 Harry Wheatcroft 35*

 Yousaf Nadeem 2-30 Ben Woodall 25

Clitheroe u17 132-2 LHCC Xercise4less u17s 120-6                                                                     Sam Harrison 33      

                                                                   Yousaf Nadeem 27

                                                                   Tom Halstead 12 

                                                                   Emily Gibbins 11

Burnley u15 113-8 Lowerhouse u15 Sharks 112-8

Tom Halstead 3-8 Jack Simm 49

Anthony Barrett 2-1 Tom Halstead 25

                                                                    James Bridge 20                                         

Ramsbottom u15 131 -5 LHCC u15 Sharks 109-6

Ibrahim Rehman 2-13 Thomas Halstead 50*

Salesbury u15 77-9 LHCC U15 Dolphins 79-4 

Aden Aurangzeb 2-12 Kheiro Chir 25                                                                                 

Kerry Gibbins 2-14 Aden Aurangzeb 19* Annabelle Uttley 14*

                                                                                Jack Simm 10 

LHCC u15 Barracudas 114-2 Gt Harwood u15 (8) 115-3    

Aman Singh 37*                                                                          

Jamie Stinton 19                      

Kheiro Chir 14

LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 93-1 Bacup u13 Full 25-5 

Henri Cottam 32* Aden Aurangzeb 3-4                  

Keagan de Vries 15* Rory Cormack 2-1

Joel Sharpe 13*

Dec Metcalfe 11

LHCC U13 A1 Motorstore Panthers 174- 3 Burnley u13 Full 76-2

George Durkin 33*

Henri Cottam 30*                                   

Rory Cormack 30*

Jack Spence 26*

Liberty Heap 13

LJL U9 Cup Round 2

LHCC Fagan and Whalley u9 Hornets 269 – 3 Clitheroe u9 (1) 237-3

Marcus Niell 20* Aveen Dalugoda 2-1

Isa Nadeem 12

Zak Jackson 12*

Clitheroe u9 229-4 LHCC Fagan and Whalley u9 Hornets 223 – 6

   Isa Nadeem 7*

Weekend Teams

by Adam Hope | 3 Aug, 2017

Hawke and Hugill on holiday. Barlow and Marsden working

Keep Father Brian at Christ the King – We need your help!

by Adam Hope | 2 Aug, 2017

Father Brian has been an avid supporter of the club for many years. Unfortunately, proposals have been made to move him from his Parish of Christ the King to Darwen.

Father Brian has been an integral part of the community at Christ the King for over 14 years.

He has been instrumental in building not only a much-loved and needed religious community but also a social community that is inclusive of people from different cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

He works tirelessly to ensure that there is a place for all and to help those in need – arranging and participating in charity, inter-faith and social events. As a result, we are proud to have a vibrant Parish where services are well attended by young and old , and where Parishioners are motivated and encouraged to play an active Christian role in society. However, we also acknowledge that there is further room for growth, improvement and to spread the word within the wider community of Burnley. Father Brian is well known and much loved, not only in his own Parish but across the town – an approachable and relatable Priest who has, and who continues to work to bring people back into the fold, and to unite the wider community – a skill that is ever more required to ensure the Church thrives in today’s secular society.

Father Brian is being moved to Darwen as part of a restructure within the Diocese – we are urging the Diocese to reconsider this decision. As part of the communication of the planned changes, the Bishop stated “Adjustment and change is required to meet the continuing needs and challenges of a changing world.” Father Brian has spent 14 years ensuring that his Parish adjusts and changes in often challenging circumstances – but we believe there is more to be done, and that his continuing support and guidance is still needed within the Parish of Christ the King.

Please can you sign the petition here, so we can do our part in trying to stop this happening.

Division A – Phase 2 Fixtures

by Adam Hope | 31 Jul, 2017

1951 – More Photos!

by Adam Hope | 31 Jul, 2017

Thanks again to Jack Foster who provided more photos from 1951 over the weekend. You can see looking out towards the old pavillion with photos of Jack himself.

Women’s Cricket Part 4: Betty who?

by Adam Hope | 28 Jul, 2017

So, who has heard of Betty Snowball?  I certainly hadn’t until I started reading about Women’s cricket locally in the 1930s, when her name cropped up and made me smile.  What a lovely name for a cricketer, though perhaps an even better one for an umpire.

At the meeting when Burnley CC joined the Lancashire Women’s Cricket Federation in 1933, it was noted sadly that “Miss Snowball only came to  Burnley during her vacations, otherwise she would have been a great asset”.

In the summer of 1986, an elderly exiled Rose Grover,  Mrs. Clara Fisher nee Wheadon, was listening to Radio 2 and heard Betty Snowball, then aged 78, being interviewed.  In 1935 Betty hit a test match record score against New Zealand of 189, and that record had just been broken by India’s Sandyha Aggarwal. It remains the highest individual Test score by an English woman.  Betty told the listeners that  during her school holidays she had been coached by Learie Constantine, who was the professional at Nelson.

Mrs. Fisher was moved to write to the Burnley Express reminiscing about watching Lowerhouse stalwarts such as Helm Spencer, Billy Wade, Roger Smalley, Ted Drabble, the Tranter brothers, and Matt Walker, grandfather of (then) current player Stan Heaton, and pointed out that Betty had been born in Burnley.

So who was Betty Snowball?

Elizabeth Alexandra Snowball was born in Burnley to Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Annie Snowball in 1908.  Dr. Snowball was a very eminent Scottish eye doctor, who had his surgery at 83 Bank Parade.    To be honest that is more or less her only connection to Burnley.

She was educated in Scotland at St. Leonard’s a pioneering girls’ school, where she played cricket, encouraged by her father, who was a keen cricketer.  She then trained as a PE teacher, and taught in Winchester, playing cricket for Hampshire ladies’ teams.

In 1926, a group of keen cricketing ladies, who had been playing cricket in Colwall, Herefordshire, decided it was time to get the game organised properly, and the Women’s Cricket Association was formed.  The WCA was run by women for women, and players were predominantly educated, middle class women in the southern counties.  There followed an upsurge in interest in women’s cricket in England in the 1930s.

In the winter of 1934/5, when the first women’s test team toured Australia and New Zealand, Betty was stumper and opening bat.  England Women  cricketers had to pay their own way, so only ladies who could afford the £80 cost of travel etc. for that Australia/New Zealand tour, were eligible for selection.

Even allowing for the New Zealand opposition not being the strongest, Betty’s knock of 189 in 222 minutes in Christchurch in February 1935 is impressive, and her cricket career was long and distinguished.  She kept wicket and opened the batting for England from 1934 to 1949 and even though she was only 5 foot tall, was considered a fine stumper.  According to The Guardian (20^th June 2017), Betty and her opening bat partner Myrtle McClagan were considered the female equivalent of Hobbes and Sutcliffe, the greatest male opening pair in Test history.

There is a lot of information readily available on-line on Betty’s career, and some fabulous images of her and her team mates, so go check her out!

They may have been privileged ladies, in a time when the women’s game was in its infancy, but they were very formidable sportswomen.  Betty also payed Lacrosse and Squash internationally for Scotland.

When she finished playing cricket, Betty taught cricket and maths at The Elms prep school in Colwall, the village known as the cradle of the women’s game, where, in 1926, that group of cricketing ladies decided to get the game organised properly.  It may be a stretch, but  this could be seen as culminating in that fine World Cup Victory on Sunday, 23^rd July 2017 at Lords.

You might imagine Betty’s ghost looking down and smiling at that win, but in fact, there was a remarkable living connection to those pioneers of the women’s game. Eileen Ash (nee Whelan), aged nearly 106, who rang the bell at Lords before the start of the Women’s World Cup Final , played at the same time as Betty Snowball, making her own test debut in 1937.

Betty died in Colwall on 13^th December 1988, aged 80.

She was, as the website Alloutcricket rightly states, a pioneer and legend of the women’s game, so let’s celebrate her and rather cheekily, claim her for Burnley.

Acknowlegements:

thanks to Ken Spencer for providing the article on Mrs. Fisher’s letter, all other information quoted is freely available online, the Alloutcricket website is interesting as is the Guardian article https://www.theguardian.com/cricket-has-no-boundaries/2017/jun/20/wicket-maidens-the-surprising-history-of-womens-cricket.

The image shown was seen  on the Australian National Library website.

Women’s Cricket in the Past Part Three: Lancashire Women’s Federation cricket in the 1930s

by Adam Hope | 28 Jul, 2017

In 1926 the Women’s Cricket Association was formed by a group of women cricketers, in Colwall, in Herefordshire.  The WCA was run by women for women, and players were predominantly educated, middle class women in the southern counties.  There then followed an upsurge in organised women’s cricket in England in the 1930s.

When the Yorkshire Women’s Cricket Federation was formed, it was organised by the men’s clubs, and run by men.  By the early 1930s, women’s cricket had become popular in Yorkshire, and club games attracted good crowds.  The Yorkshire Federation encouraged Lancashire men’s clubs to form a similar Federation and the  Lancashire Women’s Cricket  Federation was established  comprising Crompton,  Rochdale, Todmorden, Heywood, Littleborough, Facit and Milnrow and Middleton.  Clubs were interested in womens’ cricket primarily as a means of promoting the men’s game and as a source of additional income.  Federation cricket was however played by more working class women.

Burnley CC joined the Lancashire Federation in time for the 1933 season, taking the place of Middleton who had withdrawn.  The Burnley Express reported on this event on 1^st April 1933, under the headline “King Willow’s Fair Followers” .

27 ladies, who had expressed interest in playing cricket, were present at the meeting plus a lot of committee men.  Mr. Whittaker, from Littleborough, the Secretary of the Lancashire Women’s Federation told the meeting that the Littleborough Ladies’ team was started in 1931 as he could see that “there was something in women’s cricket to help along the  men’s cricket and to help maintain interest in the winter months”  (?) although some  “believed women should be doing something other than play cricket.”  He read from a letter written by a former professional at Littleborough who advised that the following were essential in organising a Ladies Cricket Team;

1. Insistence upon proper shoes being worn
2. That batting gloves and two pads must be worn
3. The time allotted to bowlers was noted
4. That each should learn to play cricket or stay away
5. That a suitable chaperone was present at each practice.

Mr. Whittaker said, that as the ladies were new to the game and they would have to ask the men for advice, it was not necessary to form a ladies committee and the present sub- committee would continue to operate, but might co-opt one or two ladies  after the first practice.

There was no dress code but “a bowler must wear a white pullover, sleeveless if preferred, if the players are not in all white costumes.”

Miss Wilding, who had played cricket in London where there were a lot of ladies’ teams emphasised the need for serious practice as some ladies “rather took it as a joke”.

Betty Snowball, the Burnley lady who had already represented England, was mentioned as an example of what can be achieved, although unfortunately “she only came to  Burnley during her vacations, otherwise she would have been a great asset”.

Miss Davies was unanimously appointed chaperone as “no lady knew more about the game than she did through her father’s connection with the club.”

The Express published these photos of “The Fair Sex on the cricket field”. Most of the women have sensibly opted for trousers and look very modern. Apologies for the poor quality of the reprint from the newspaper.

In their 1934 centenary brochure Burnley CC reported on the Ladies’ Section.  “They have made good progress in the various departments of the game. The members of the team, most of whom had practically no knowledge of the game, improved wonderfully under the tuition of the coach” and Miss A.A. Walsh played for Lancashire against Yorkshire in 1933 and in 1934 Miss E. Sparks, “an exceptional hard hitter and quick scorer, who is also considered to be the fastest lady bowler in the League”, also played against Yorkshire. Such County games attracted large crowds and were very profitable for the host clubs.

Littleborough was the strongest team in the league at the time and in 1934 Burnley tied with them for the championship, but Littleborough won the trophy in a playoff.

Sadly the women’s game did not sustain this period of growth, not helped of course by the outbreak of WW2 but even at this time of popularity, cricket was only ever played by a small number of women.

A lot more could, and probably should, be written about working class women in cricket, not just as players but primarily as financially significant club supporters, and perhaps someone out there would like to do it!  Dissertation anyone?

Acknowledgement::

Peter J Davies of Huddersfield University has written a great deal about the history of cricket and his work is freely available on-line via the Huddersfield University Repository, http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/

In particular “Bowling maidens over: 1931 and the beginnings of women’s cricket in a Yorkshire town” was a valuable source of information for the above but errors and omissions are entirely my own.

Junior and Senior Match Reports

by Adam Hope | 27 Jul, 2017

Longridge u17 133-6 LHCC Xercise4less u17s 111-9

Yanis Chir 3-12 Aman Singh 22
Caleb Greenhalgh 15
Ross Birchall 12
James Wearden 12

Todmorden u17 113-2 LHCC Xercise4less u17s 114-3

Yanis Chir 34
Charlie Bithell 23*
Jack Simm 19

Burnley u15 86-9 Lowerhouse u15 Sharks 78-7

James Bridge 3-1 Tom Halstead 29
Alfie Dawson 3-13 Yousaf Nadeem 15

Rishton u15 59-4 LHCC U15 Dolphins 60-3

Aden Aurangzeb 2-7 Jack Simm 28
Annabelle Uttley 14*

LHCC u15 Dolphins 71-9 Darwen u15 72-5

(more…)