In both 1920 and 1921 in the Manchester and District League the 1^st X1 won the Championship. The players in the 1920 league Championship team were – A. Ashton, N. Wild, J. Chadderton, H. Andrew, F. Cooper, J. Southern, A. Simister, H. Lowe, R. Lucas, W. Maycock, J. Clare (Capt.), A. Chadderton, W. Davies, B. Boardman and E. Lawton.

Back Row:        S. Dawes, A. Belfield, J. Davies, C. Perfect, W. Cunliffe

Middle Row:   A T Chadderton R. Robertson, W. Mannion, J. Davies, W. Mottram, E. Blake W. Maycock                         

Bottom Row:  H. Bardsley, A. Chadderton, W. Davies (Capt.), W. Dawes and V. Chadderton.

The 1934 1^st Division Champions South Lancashire League

Back Row:  H. Threlfall, F. Carter, F. Elliot, W. Mannion, A. Ashton, E. Whitehead, J. Bradbury,

Front Row: S. Whitehead, T. Royle, J. Riley, W. Cunliffe (Capt.), J. Royle  J. Chapman

Back in the 1930s there was always a Whit Walks Sports Day between The British School and Woodhouses Church and there was plenty of local rivalry because the Church were envious the British School played on a proper cricket pitch!

In 1937 the Club changed Leagues to play in the Saddleworth and District Cricket  League and the 2^nd X1 won 3 consecutive Championships in 1937, 1938 and 1939 (Dr. Buzard Shield) prior to the outbreak of World War 2.

During the war a ‘scratch’ team played friendly fixtures. There are no records to indicate that any of the Club’s players were killed during the First or Second World Wars.

In the 1945 season with some players still to return from active service the 1^st X1 finished 9^th in the Saddleworth and District League having played 24, won 8, lost 12 and drawn 4 with 28 points achieved.

An interesting snippet from the days around the First Word War showed a record in the Club accounts stating “To hire of half an horse for pulling roller, 7s 6d”. This was followed by a comparable item in the 1927 accounts when among the income was another 7s 6d – “half share in the sale of a horse”. The half horse, of course, was used to pull one half of the roller from halfway down the wicket.

Horses are not the only animals that have entered the hallowed turf on the ground. Woodhouses was once best known for its pig farming community. Pro rata for its size it had the largest density of pig farmers in Europe and the piggery walls in one of the corners of the ground are testament to one of them at Meadowcroft Farm.

There was one famous match many years ago when the pigs got on the ground and stopped play while they were herded up and returned to their pig styes. This same farm used to have geese which when they escaped on to the ground were quite violent. They would roam and patrol around the edge of the ground attempting to nip the behinds of any players on the boundary edge. Cattle have also on occasions escaped on to the ground doing untold damage to the surface of the outfield and square. The feeding of pigs was always a ritual at about 4.00pm each day so at weekends when games were on there was always a massive cacophony of sound emanating from the pigsties when their swill arrived.  It sounded quite literally as though the pigs were being fed razor blades. One other very unwelcome bi-product of pig farming was the brewing of pig swill in the village. For those than can remember, the smell this caused hung over the village for hours and was very nauseous. Fortunately now for all residents, players and spectators the pig farms have ceased their operations.

The club’s first brick built score box was erected in 1950 in memory of Jesse Clare who had passed away in 1948 at the age of 73. This has since been replaced and relocated to the corner of the ground by the piggery walls. The original scorebox was demolished in the late 70s to make way for an extension to the ground which needed to include the land on the original site of the scorebox. 

The Official Opening of New Scorebox in 1950

The Club owes a great debt of gratitude to Jesse for initiating and developing cricket in the village. He also had a long and active association with the British School at Woodhouses where he had been superintendent. In business he was Managing Director of the Patent Knitting Company in Droylsden, with which he had been connected practically all his working life, having risen from a junior position with the firm. If any promising cricketer came along looking for a job at Patent Knitting he would offer them a job so long as they played for Woodhouses.

A picture of Jesse Clare with a suitably inscribed plaque is on display in the club’s tea room. He was well known for his social work on behalf of the youth of Woodhouses and Failsworth.

Jesse Claire

YEARS 1947 -1972

1947 was a very significant year for the club for 2 reasons. 

Firstly, the Club by means of a Trust Deed bought the freehold title to its ground on Medlock Road on 21^st October 1947 for £3000. The 4 Trustees for the Club at that time were Jesse Davies, John Jinks, Nathan Speakman and Wallace Davies 

Secondly, it joined the North Western Cricket League in which it remained for many enjoyable years until the end of the 1972 season and during which time it achieved considerable success. Below are two extracts from the very first North Western League Handbook at the start of the club’s journey in the League. These set into context at the time the popularity of the game with the number of clubs taking part across the County and the spirit in which the game was played.

“In  The  Beginning………..

“Why is this new cricket league formed? There is hardly a league of standing in the area which for year after year has not displayed a “Full House Notice” and indeed it is rare that any league has opened wide its gates to admit all who desire to enter. Thus, Clubs of enterprise, who believe competitive cricket is vital to their well-being, have been for many a year left high and dry. Again some clubs for geographical reasons and   other pursuits have longingly yearned for a new competition to turn to. It is no secret that for quite some time then there have been mootings for a new league to be formed.

Accordingly on an evening in late October 1946 several gentlemen assembled in the office of a city merchant in Manchester to deliberate this project and in less than 30 minutes the North Western Cricket League was formed. Woodhouses CC was fully represented at the meeting and was instrumental in bringing about the new league.

It is also worth recording for lovers of the  game an entry in the first handbook of the League with the sentiments expressed in the Foreword by the League’s first Secretary, T.W. Makin.

“Cricket is more than a great game, more than a combat between gladiators in white flannels, more than a scientific art. It is a scared trust, an inimitable and glorious heritage handed down by our forefathers, which we in turn, when the eyes dim and fresh droops weary, pass on in safe custody of those who succeed us.

Cricket bodes no boundaries, holds no barrier to creed and colour, is superior to personalities, sensations, international strife and jealousies. The very term “It is’nt cricket” is the symbol that breeds men, creates virility, is the standard for everything correct and dignified in the ideals of the people of these Fair Isles, and the peoples of our great Dominions and Colonies.

Cricket welds us into a great Brotherhood, the finest fellowship in the world. From the playing fields of our youth, from the green sward of the village, through club, association, league and county, from the day we reverently apply the final drop of oil to a faithful willow to stake our place with the greybeards of the pavilion side now to live and walk in memory’s garden until the closing phase when He gently calls us Out, till that day we are all part and parcel of this great Brotherhood”.

The introductory entry about Woodhouses CC in the League’s first handbook read as follows:-

“Woodhouses is by no means a vastly populated place but as far as cricket is concerned it ranks with the best of them. At any rate since gaining their first Championship in 1913, five years after being formed, honours under the auspices of various leagues have gone Woodhouses way with unfailing regularity. In 13 seasons under the banner of the South Lancashire League, they were leading lights on no fewer than six occasions and have also claimed awards in the South-East Manchester League and the Manchester League. If perchance their senior eleven does happen to have a void year in the trophies line then their Second string is on the job for in 1937, 1938 and 1939 Woodhouses Second registered a hat trick of Championship successes as members of the Saddleworth League. Enthusiasm at Medlock Road is as ever at a high tone and thee club has another valuable asset in Mr. J. Clare, not only an indefatigable Secretary but a true guide and mentor.

 Suffice to say that Woodhouses and Clare are synonymous. With Mr. Clare’s judicious blending of tested campaigners like the Davies and George Milligan, together with an array of younger talent, Woodhouses may well prove to the ‘dark horse’ of the competition.

This did not prove to the case in the first few years but it was not too long before the club started to make its mark with silverware in the League and culminated in 4 successive League Championships in the late 1950’s

Not only was George Milligan an excellent cricketer but he was also a professional footballer having played for Everton FC in the 1938/1939 season. He was an all-rounder who captained the side before the war. In 1947 he scored 412 League runs and 504 in 1948 almost winning the League Batting Award.

A summary of the key honours it achieved in the League is set out below.

1952 2^nd X1 Champions

When the Club won the 2nd X1 title in 1952 at Fieldhouse Walter Darlington was on the 2^nd X1. He used to work for the Failsworth Hats company, recognised worldwide for its hats, as did some other members of the club. He lived in the house at the entrance to the club’s ground and was later to become Groundsman and Steward of the Club. As a hobby he kept pigeons and he took one to the match so he could message the club about the outcome to the final game which would decide who won the Championship that year. After the game his pigeon took off high into the sky with the good news message they had won but it was never to be seen again!  A photo of the 1952 team is on display in the lounge in the clubhouse.

In the 1950s the most notable bowlers were Jack Moss, Asa Robinson, Derek Piggott and Alan Jackson who all regularly took 50 wickets or more in a season - all averaging about 10/11 runs per wicket.  At that time Woodhouses was regarded  as a bowler friendly wicket with runs hard to come by.

The opening bowlers during the Club’ spell of dominance in the late 50’s were Alan Jackson and Derek Piggott. Alan had a classical action similar to Brian Statham. Both were extremely competitive but yet different characters. Derek was a typical no nonsense player. In a match against Thornham Norman Stannidge was joined at the crease by his son. Whilst batting Norman was over zealous in his backing up and was leaving the his crease at the bowler’s end whilst Derek was running in to bowl. This was just a little too much for Derek’s liking and he gave him a stern warning about this. A couple of overs later Norman’s son tried to do the same thing. This time Derek took the bails off and his son was given run out. Derek promptly said “only one warning per family!” That’s how Derek played his cricket.

Another example of his serious and competitive nature was when he was bowling one day and kept bowling, very unusually for him, half volleys which were being hit through cover for four. Indeed it was not unusual for Derek, even at the start of a season without any pre-season practice, to start with a number of consecutive maidens. He was clearly not at all happy as he could not understand why he was not bowling his usual line and length. He finally determined the wicket cut was not the right length. He asked the umpire to check it and low and behold it was a yard short! A sure sign of his professionalism and how he hated to concede runs.

‘Deadly’ Derek was always accurate, economical and invariably right on the spot throughout his overs. He would bowl long spells and he never liked to be taken off so much so that a spanner was needed to prise the ball out of his hand. Derek won numerous Club and League bowling awards as he was a prolific wicket taker over the years.



1952 2^nd X1 Champions

From 1957 to 1964 the Club had a wealth of talented cricketers for both senior sides and this is reflected in their joint achievements. The most notable players in the 1^st X1 for this period were Geoff Edge, Jack Moss, Walter Cottrill, Alan Jackson, Derek Piggott, Peter Rushworth, Alan Heald, Bill Gregory and Harvey Wright who captained the 1st X1 to 3 successive League Titles.

1957 1^st X1 Champions 

Back row- K. Robinson, N. Speakman (Vice Presisdent), J. Buckley, D. Whitehead, R. Buckley,R. Belfield, E. Speakman, A.C. Hughes, C. Pownall (Secretary).

Middle row- W. Davies (Treasurer), J. Davies, F.N. Taylor, J. Bartley, E.Prince ,A.Jackson, J. Moss (President), G.D. Edge, W. Gregory, J. Moss, W.S. Weavill, L. Hacket.

Front Row – D Piggot, A Heald, P.Rushworth, A. Robinson, R. Bolton (2^nd X1 Captain, H. Wright (1^st X1 Captain), G. Latham, W.H. Cottrill, K.Kay, A.Horrocks, N. Brook.New paragraph

Back row- K. Robinson, N. Speakman (Vice Presisdent), J. Buckley, D. Whitehead, R. Buckley,R. Belfield, E. Speakman, A.C. Hughes, C. Pownall (Secretary).

Middle row- W. Davies (Treasurer), J. Davies, F.N. Taylor, J. Bartley, E.Prince ,A.Jackson, J. Moss (President), G.D. Edge, W. Gregory, J. Moss, W.S. Weavill, L. Hacket.

Front Row – D Piggot, A Heald, P.Rushworth, A. Robinson, R. Bolton (2^nd X1 Captain, H. Wright (1^st X1 Captain), G. Latham, W.H. Cottrill, K.Kay, A.Horrocks, N. Brook.

Back Row: M. Bradbury (Scorer) A. Robinson, R. Buckley, R. Belfield, G.D. Edge, A. Jackson, P.R. Rushworth, N. Gleave, B. Smith (Scorer)

Front Row: A. Heald, W. Gregory (Vice Capt.), W.H. Cottrill (Capt.) J. Moss, D. Piggott

Back Row: A. Bolton, D. Whitehead, P. Sutton, J. Bartley, K. Kay, K. Robinson, E. Speakman

Centre Row: J. Moss (Selector), W. Davies (Treasurer), F.N. Taylor, M. Bradbury (Scorer), R. Buckley. R. Belfield, G.D.Edge, A. Robinson, A. Jackson, E. Prince, P.R. Rushworth, J. Davies (Selector), B. Smith (Scorer), N. Speakman (Vice President)

Front Row: J. Moss, A. Heald, W. Gregory, W.H. Cottrill (1^st X1 Capt), C. Pownall (President), R. Bolton (2^nd X1 Capt.), S. Chadderton, D. Piggott, N.Gleave

Players shown in the above image D. Tuson, P. Sutton, J. Bartley, A. Jackson, R. Buckley, S. Chadderton, J. Kershaw, D. Piggott, J. Moss, P. Rushworth (Capt) K. Mawman, W. Joyce -1^st X1 and 2^nd X1 players I. Lowe, B. Barlow, J. Gaskarth, K. Robinson, K. Potts, N. Brooks, D. O’Connor, N. Howard

Richard Belfield was also starting to emerge at that time as a more than useful young bowler. Richard used to bowl medium pace leg cutters and he consistently hit line and length making it at times extremely difficult with the movement he achieved to get the ball away. He always featured strongly in the averages winning the club bowling prize on numerous occasions over many years. He also won League bowling prizes. He was the go to bowler to winkle out any dangerous batsman and he was invariably successful claiming many prized wickets over the years.  

Besides being a leading bowler over many years he was also a true stalwart of the club off the field of play putting in a huge amount of voluntary work wherever it was needed. The following section about Richard John Belfield is written by his good friend Alan Atherton:-

Take a look at the photographs on the wall of the Clubhouse. One taken in 1958 shows the team that won the 1^st Division of the North Western League. On the back row is a young Richard Belfield. Richard’s involvement  with the club started some 6 years before when he acted as ‘tin boy’ and later, as scorer for the first team. He started playing for senior teams as a 17/18 year old and continued playing well into his sixties.

During his long association with the club Richard was “Mr. Woodhouses”. It is fitting and appropriate that the ground today is  now called “Belfields”. This is recognition of the work and effort Richard put into the club. He held many positions on the Committee but was particularly active as Treasurer for many years. Above all, his work as groundsman was immense. Former players Alan Heald and Eric Prince had been responsible for the upkeep of the ground, but Richard took over as a young man and continued to carry out that task for almost the rest of his life. He used to say that cutting the square was therapeutic for and a relief from the stress of work demands.

Richard’s early involvement with Woodhouses was cemented when he married Gillian Davies. Woodhouses CC had been founded by members of the British School and in particular by Jesse Clare who acted as the first Secretary.

It was Jesse and his brothers Wallace and Jacob who played and ran the club for many years. Jesse and his wife Mary had no children but took Jesse Davies in to live with them as a four year old. Jesse had a daughter Gillian, who later married Richard. Gillian Belfield recalls the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s as a period when families were totally involved in the club. Girlfriends and wives attended games home and away and were responsible for teas on a rota basis and holidays were arranged around the fixture list.

Richard’s enthusiasm for the club was immense. He was responsible for organising the building of the present clubhouse. The present tea room was another of Richard’s projects. He drew up the drawings and played a prominent part in its building.

There are so many aspects to Richard’s involvement in the club that one tends to forget the main one; he was a canny bowler. He would run up off ten yards and, at first glance, would look rather innocuous. But his clever changes of pace and ability to take the ball away from the right hander gained him many wickets and much success.

When I joined the club in 1972 it was Richard who invited me to join the Committee and over the following years a deep friendship developed between the two of us. We went on many holidays with Richard and Gill and we dined out regularly. I feel therefore, that I am in a good position to confirm that Richard liked a drink. His exploits in that department, like his involvement with Woodhouses CC, is legend. Sadly, Richard died in 2010. This was the year before the Club won through to the Final of the Village Cup and won the trophy at Lord’s. I am sure that nobody played a bigger part in the lead up to that success than Richard John Belfield did.”

Special mention must be made of Geoff Edge and Jack Moss who were two exceptional talents.

Geoff Edge only played for a couple of seasons in the early 1960’s before moving out of the area. A classical and very accomplished batsman even on the difficult batting surface at Woodhouses. In 1960 he scored an incredible 969 runs at an average of 46.14 but still did not win the league batting prize! He came second to none other than Jack Moss. Geoff had played cricket at Cambridge University in the company of Ted Dexter no less. In 1961 despite scoring fewer runs he did win the League batting award with a total of 627 at an average of 48.23. The number of runs he scored on the Woodhouses tracks was unheard of and were significantly more than anyone had ever achieved previously. This demonstrated just how good a batsman he was. In those days the square and the outfield had no drainage systems so wickets were slow, with a low bounce and very responsive to seam bowling. If Woodhouses batted first and scored 120 it was always regarded as a  winning  total and ninety nine times out of a hundred this proved to be the case.

In Jack Moss the club had without doubt the best amateur all-rounder it had ever had since it was founded. He played at the club in the 1^st X1  between 1948 and 1964 and in that period of time there was only one season when he did not feature in one capacity or other in the League’s individual performances. He featured as one of the top ten leading batsman in the League records on no fewer than 9 occasions. In 1960 when he topped the batting with 429 runs at an average of 47.67 he was for good measure also the League’s premier bowler with 47 wickets at an average of 10.06. He featured in the top ten leading bowlers in the League on 8 occasions and also won the League bowling prize on 2 other occasions. In the field he had a very good pair of hands in the slips winning the league catching prize on 2 occasions and runner up on another occasion.

Many umpires have enjoyed the cricket at Woodhouses and one enthusiast in the 1950’s was always reluctant to give out his favourite left hand batter Jack Moss. In one particular match a bowler appealed for lbw against him…….. “Not Out” said the umpire “I like to watch this lad bat!”

The North Western League produced a number of embryo test players who played at Woodhouses as very young men such as Brian Statham, Bob Berry and Tommy Greenhough.

In the summer of 1963 the Club opened for the first time a bar in the wooden pavilion and the bar takings that  year  amounted to the princely sum of £246.00.

Woodhouses won the Championship in 1964, the title being clinched in the last but one match at Thornham. “We needed a point that day to at least share the Championship” recalled Peter Rushworth who was Captain. They got about 150 and I got a bit concerned when we lost quite a few quick wickets for 30 or 40. When I went in at No. 10 Jack Moss was the other batsman and I decided to settle for a point. “Jack had gone in at No. 4 and been dropped first ball. I said we should put up the shutters and get the point.” He said “Fair enough” and we both pushed back a couple of overs. Then he hit the ball right out of the ground and followed it with a four next ball and another off the last ball.” I went down the wicket to him. “They were nice shots” I said “but we are playing for a draw”. “I know you said that” he said “but I have a feeling I can do it”. So he carried on for the whole innings smashing the ball to the boundary and he  finished  up with 70 not out while I stuck around with him for about 30 and we won the match and the championship. Peter was one of the star batters in the late 50’s and throughout the 60’s.

In 1964 Ken Mawman joined the club and brought with him Walter Joyce a professional footballer who in his career played for Blackburn, Burnley and Oldham Athletic. Walter later went on to coach the youngsters at Manchester United. Walter was a very decent all-rounder who strengthened the 1^st X1 but his availability was unfortunately limited due to football commitments. In the years 1964-1969 Ken was the leading batsman at the club. He won the Club batting award on no fewer than 5 occasions in this period. Ken was a dogged and determined opening batsman who never gave his wicket away easily. He was not the sort of attractive batsman who crowds would flock to see but he was very effective and a thorn in many bowlers’ sides. He procured most of his runs on the leg side where he was particularly strong especially through mid-wicket. In one particular match he was playing  against  local  rivals Werneth and he was batting against Malcolm Hilton, an excellent left arm spinner. Malcolm had played successfully at the County for many years. He even had the distinction of having dismissed Sir Donald Bradman at Old Trafford for a duck in an Australian Tour match against Lancashire. This counted for nothing to Ken who continually punched him through mid-wicket for 4 after 4. Upon reaching his 50 with the same shot Hilton remarked to Ken in less than complimentary terms that he had never seen a 50 scored with just one shot. Ken riposted to Hilton he only had one ball in his repertoire and if he kept on bowling it he would be more than happy to keep putting it away! Ken was an abrasive cricketer who had learned his cricket the hard way in the traditional cut and thrust of league cricket around Lancashire and Yorkshire. Despite his many years’   experience   in the game, running between the wickets was not one of Ken’s strengths and there were few of his playing colleagues in that era whose scalps were not on his belt. Ken was far too canny ever to be run out and was renowned for running out his partner at the other end! He captained the team over a number of seasons. Diplomacy was not his middle name. Very few escaped  his harsh tongue or withering criticism on the field of play whenever he was unhappy with a player.

When Ken dropped down to the 2^nd X1 he still featured very strongly as a leading batsman from 1974-78 as evidenced by the runs he scored and his prominence in the League records. His wife May was always at every match often with daughters   Helen and Deborah. Their son Graham also played at the club, mainly on the seconds, for many years. Graham was a very decent left arm bowler who played on the 1^st X1 from time to time and also captained the 2^nd X1. Ken’s real commitment to playing at the club was demonstrated by the fact that he travelled from Birch Vale, Derbyshire over many years where he ran a sub post office. He was always at the last minute arriving for games as he had to balance the books at the Post Office before he could leave for his beloved game of cricket!

In 1965 was a big turning point in the club’s history when it embarked on, at the time, its most ambitious project since forming in 1908, the building of a new pavilion. The new pavilion was to be brick built and would replace the original wooden one at a cost of £2500. The driving force behind the project was Richard Belfield. The timber pavilion was taken down in the September by the players after the end of the season and the building work was undertaken by Brian Smith, a neighbour of Richard. However very high gale force winds during November led to the walls blowing down - certainly not part of the plan! Fortunately a successful insurance claim meant that the project could continue and to the astonishment of all concerned the new pavilion albeit the shell was completed in time for the first game of the 1966 season. Funding for the construction of the pavilion came from members donations. They were each asked to loan the sum of £50.00. All the members who lent the club money were repaid within 18 months which was no mean achievement for a relatively small village cricket club. Much of the interior work needed in the clubhouse was carried out by members with Arthur Akin doing the electrics, Jim Clarke the heating, Johnny Bartley the plumbing and Jack Bartley the kitchen.

In clearing out the old wooden pavilion the following was found behind the back of a locker:-

The Last Word – This article is not directly related to the history of the club but it is about the history of bats in days gone by and will no doubt be fondly remembered by members of a certain generation reminiscing about their first cricket bats. It was found by chance in the club’s equipment lockers from many years ago. It clearly evoked happy childhood and much treasured memories for the person who cut it out and put it to one side: -

“It was a beauty that size three treble springer. It received my love and affection throughout the summer of my ninth year and I shall never forget it. It became brown with dirt and oil, the handle became spongy and the face splintered but it remains a treasured possession.

Those were the days when the treble springer was three times as good as the single, when red springs counted double and we would drop a bat handle down on concrete to confirm the rating by the number of times it bounced. We would stand new bats – and the old ones come to that, if they wouldn’t go properly – in a saucer of linseed oil overnight to allow the all powerful fluid to work its magic up the oil hole.

I don’t remember at what stage we realised the oil hole was only an indentation for one end of the lathe or when the amount of red and black strips of rubber in the handle became less important than the number of grains in the blade, but like believers in Santa Claus, solemn reality eventually won the day”.

1970 From Little Acorns……………saw the start of the Club’s Junior Section which now has teams at Under 9s, 11s, 13s, 15s and 18s. With the assistance of Arthur Robinson, Fred Halley, Roy Bolton and Ian Perks a team was entered at Under 18s level in the North Western League. It was made up of local teenagers and school friends of David Robinson and John Halley. The team reached a Cup Final in the early 70s and played Higher Blackley at Cheetham Hill. Unfortunately the team lost that day having put in an undistinguished performance with only Pip Anderson and Steve Johnson making respectable contributions. The Under 18s switched to the Denton and District junior League in 1973 when the club joined the Lancashire and Cheshire League. The side continued to be managed by Roy Bolton with his wife Dorothy taking an ever more active role over the next few years.

Roy’s son Steve recalled with fond memories the Denton and District Years: -

Junior cricket had started to take off and having played friendlies at North Western League Clubs such as Higher Blackley, Thornham and Fieldhouse the decision was taken to join the Denton and District Junior League.

The early pioneers were Fred Halley, Arthur Robinson and Roy and Dorothy Bolton and it was Roy and Dorothy who took up the mantle and managed junior affairs at the Club with support from various parents who taxied players to away games.

The link with North Manchester Grammar was still strong which resulted in players like Martin Fox and Roy Robinson joining David Robinson , Pip, Paul Brown, Martin Newey and Steve Johnson. Home grown Woodhouses talent was also present in John Halley and Ian Pickles. They were the first set of junior players that broke through in to the senior teams.

Junior cricket by its nature is cyclical and after the Robinson era came players such as Alan Starmer, Peter Morris, Steve Halley, Steve Bolton and Duncan Akin. A number of these  went on to serve the club very well over a long period of time.

The  main  competition were Denton St. Lawrence, Denton West, Denton, Stalybridge and Longsight. During the mid-seventies the club reached a number of cup finals but from memory none were won.

The Denton League was highly competitive and not only produced some great players for Woodhouses but also for the then Lancashire and Cheshire League.

Looking back at that time I remember it with a lot of affection, the summers were definitely hotter, the smell of Woodhouses was stronger and in some ways it was a time of innocence.

Although as well as learning the fine arts of the game of cricket a number of players also learnt the fine arts of alcohol. You knew you had made it when Walter Darlington served you an underage pint of bitter.

The heroes were parents and Managers who made it possible and special mention must go to the Halley, Robinson and Bolton regime. They served the club well and laid the foundation for the thriving junior section that exists today.”

Not only did this era produce some excellent cricketers but it also provided future and very valued members of the Management Committee such as Steve Bolton, Ian Pickles and Duncan Akin. All these became Chairman at some stage or other and all remained on the Committee for many years making important contributions to the running and management of the Club.

Other vivid memories of Steve Bolton and his many years at the club:

• · The old pavilion with its wooden floor with spike marks and disgusting toilets

• ·  The old scorebox with the numbers on runners that always broke and Sid had to repair (Chris Atherton does a brilliant impression of changing the score on the runners )

• · The first game in the Lancashire and Cheshire League I think it may have been Stockport Georgians away with Stan Fletcher making his debut ( It could have been Poynton )

• · The smell of the pig farms and Len the Farmer with his cap leaning over the fence at brew time. I do remember one game when I was scoring where a pig got onto the pitch

• The nets at the Pig Farm where the ball used to end up over the wall and in the pig sties

• The first Junior Teams run by my Mum and Dad along with Fred Halley. I was the youngest and played in a side with Dave Robinson , John Halley , Ian Pickles , Pip , Steve Johnson , Eddie ? and Martin Newey. Then moved through the age groups to be in a very successful side with Alan Starmer , Duncan , Martin Fox , Roy Robinson , Pete Morris and the Hough twins

• Reed at home The first big crowd I can remember and Richard winning the game ( with the bat ) I also remember the piss up after

• · In my senior playing days stand outs are : the Village cup run that ended at Forge Valley with Mike Atherton in the side : Our first game at Warkworth with the Dibble story about coming round the wicket : Murphy Sua’s debut at Bollington where we started with 8 men and Duncan had to open the bowling : winning the cup at Denton : winning the league to get promotion with AA as Captain

·        Stories to be censored : Tyrell ( numerous ) , Gary Martin / Paul Hague the sun screen & the Bollington score box

And as a final point. Woodhouses Cricket Club is unique It has a sense of humour all on its own and has a very special place in my heart and in the heart of all my family. My Grandfather played for the club before the war and was Groundsman for a while : My Father was second team Captain and met my Mother through the club : I played there for over 30 years and when I go back I am going home.

In 1970 Arthur Akin and Walter Cottrill smashed all club records when they hammered Woodhouses 2^nd X1 to victory over Thornham in the first round of the Eastham Shield. Arthur hit an unbeaten 142, which included 14 fours, in his second wicket partnership with Walter, who hit an unbeaten 99. The total of 268 for one was a league record as was the second wicket partnership. Thornham, who must have been shell shocked, were quickly bowled out for 63, a young John Halley taking 4 wickets.

In 1972 the 1^st X1 finished runners up in what turned out to be the final year of the North Western league. During the club’s period in the North Western league it had 8 players who achieved centuries. For the First X1 - G.D. Edge (1960) W Joyce (1965) and K Mawman (1968) and Second X1 - J Lumley (1947) A Horrocks (1952) J Bartley (1960) D Hardman (1968) and A Akin (1970). Details of club centurions can be found in the later section of the club’s history “Records”. This also contains information about overseas and professional players at the club, averages, captains and players who went on to represent their countries in test matches.

The leading players, batting wise, at that time for the First X1 were Peter Rushworth, Ken Mawman and Dave Hardman. Dave during his long playing career at  Woodhouses  later  went on to become the  leading run scorer for the club with over 20000 runs achieved in both senior teams. On the bowling front Messrs Dewhurst and Belfield were the leading wicket takers. For the Second X1 the leading batters were Lionel McIntosh, Barry Toms a hard hitting left hander  and  Syd Chadderton.

Syd Chadderton played for the Club in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He was in the 2^nd X1 Championship team of 1952 and his last game for the club was in the 70’s turning out in cream flannels for a Woodhouses Village Cup X1 when due to a clash of fixtures the Club had to put out 3 teams on the day. As always he was keen to step forward and help out the club. He played mainly for the 2^nd X1  as a batsman. He has been a member at the club for longer than anyone else. He was more than a half decent batsman but in his typical self-effacing manner he would always say he was not very good. He loved the game and the Club where he had grown up and had many friends. He used to work, along with his great friend Richard Belfield, at Ferranti’s of Hollinwood where he was employed as a draughtsman. He served on the Management Committee for many years and he was also President of the Club for a lengthy spell. He employed his draughtsman’s skills to co- design with Richard the tea room and would  when it was under construction undertake the more complicated pieces of joinery work. He also used to create promotional posters for club events such as the Sportman’s Dinners and they were brilliant in their design incorporating caricatures of members at the club all instantly recognisable so good were his artistic talents.

Lionel McIntosh known not  surprisingly known as ‘Mac’ or ‘The Blue Haze’ (because he never had a cigarette out of his mouth) was another of the many characters who played their cricket at Woodhouses. There are a couple of stories that spring to mind involving Mac. The first relates to a game against the Anglo West Indians. Mac was batting and received a number of short pitched deliveries, even in those days West Indians liked to use the short ball. Mac’s patience began to wear thin so after hitting another short pitched ball straight back over the bowler’s head tennis fashion for four, shouted to the bowler to ‘pitch the bugger up’. Next ball he was promptly bowled middle stump by a rather quick yorker. You can’t say he didn’t ask for it! On another occasion he was opening the batting for the 2^nd X1 at Irlam. He hit, no, slogged the first ball for 4, repeated the shot second ball in similar fashion and proceeded to hit 14 off the first 5 balls before getting  out off the last ball of the over. He then ran from the field. When asked about his flamboyant and rather reckless batting he declared he was dying for the toilet so had to have a slog. That was Mac, never predictable but always entertaining.

Another larger than life character in the club then was Peter Rushworth who was a great asset to the club for over 20 years before he  moved to play at Uppermill CC which was near to his home in Diggle. Full on would best describe his total commitment and involvement with the Club as Chairman over a number of years and similarly so as 1^st X1 Captain. He was a swashbuckling opening bat and wicket-keeper who always featured strongly in the averages. There was never a dull moment with Peter around as he had a great sense of humour and he was a brilliant raconteur of jokes and stories. He was always  entertaining and great company both on and off the field of play. None more so than at the Club’s Xmas Social Events where he doubled up with former player Noel Taylor aka  Al Read to provide a rich  evening’s  entertainment.

In 1965 Dave Hardman joined his best friend Steve Dewhurst to play at the Club and so started a lifetime affair with the club that has lasted to this day. Dave’s batting experience prior to joining the club was on firm wickets with good consistent speed and bounce. In his early years at the Club he found it difficult adjusting to the typical Woodhouses tracks that were the exact opposite – slow, with no pace and a significant variation in bounce that  always tended to be on the low side or even lower! In those days the tracks were always referred to as ‘Woodhouses Puddings.’ The quality and nature of wickets was to change in 1970 when the club at Richard Belfield’s instigation decided to introduce loam to the square. Coupled with this, it also invested at  the same time in a motorised heavy roller which it had never had before. From that defining moment in time cricket wickets changed quite radically for the better at the club.

Steve Dewhurst was an opening quick bowler and he was affectionately nicknamed ‘Whizz Bang’ by Peter Rushworth for a variety of reasons, some of which cannot possibly be printed! He liked to steam in and bowl as quickly as he possibly could. On firm tracks he could be quite a handful. The bouncier the wicket the more Steve loved it but his desire to intimidate the batsman caused him on occasions to  lose  control  of length and pitch the ball too short. In later years when he slowed down his pace and focused more on line and length he became a much better bowler as he learnt the art of a genuine seam bowler and developed the skill of being able to move the ball both ways off the wicket.

In the late 60s and 70’s David Tuson captained the 1^st X1 on no fewer than 6 occasions. David Tuson was a middle order batsman and the best short leg fielder the club has ever produced. He was absolutely fearless, stayed down unflinchingly and took many first class catches as well as numerous blows about his body but this never deterred him.

During the summer of 1972 the Club became aware that the Lancashire and Cheshire League was expanding into 2 Divisions. Woodhouses, along with several other clubs, including Thornham, Woodbank and Denton West from the North Western League decided to apply. Fortunately for us, but not the North Western League our application together with the other clubs from our League was accepted and so began a new era for the club. The challenge of playing in a better standard of cricket facing many new teams had been a temptation it could not resist.

In 1972 the club introduced a new club cap with its emblem of the Griffin taking prominence. The image below shows Arthur Robinson sporting the cap.

 YEARS 1973 -2008

The Lancashire and Cheshire League was the first Professional League that the club had entered and it would present far stiffer challenges and opportunities than it had previously experienced.

Not only did the Club start in 1973 in a new League but it also entered the National Village Knockout Competition for the first time. There is a separate section covering this marvellous competition later in the history of the club.

In preparation for the start of the 1973 season and the new League it employed a professional for the first time in the club’s history. His name was Stan Fletcher and he came from the village of Hollingworth near Glossop. In 1972 in his last season for Hollinworth  Stan scored 1200 runs. What Stan lacked in feet and inches, or should that be metres and centimetres he more than made up for in personality. Stan could never be described as a shrinking violet. He was a larger than life character who lived life to the full and was probably best summed up by the Mark 10 Jag he used to drive with the aid of a cushion on his seat to prop him up!

It was certainly big enough for him to live in and some members thought he did, especially when he was often seen taking his clothes from the boot which was more like a wardrobe, as there would be several suits hung up in it. He certainly did however take his cricket seriously forming  a  formidable opening partnership with Dave Hardman. As Ian Pickles recalls one particular game against Moorside. “At that time Colin Heap was their professional and considered pretty quick for our standard but this did not deter Stan and Dave peppering the pavilion roof with anything dropped short!” He was a very popular member of the club and like any good club professional spent nearly all his earnings over the bar.

Stan was also a hit with the juniors and quickly built up a rapport with Roy and Dorothy Bolton who at the time were running the juniors. He regularly attended junior practice and it is no coincidence that the Under 18’s went on to win their League in 1975 and several of those players went on to play first X1 cricket.

After parting company after 2 seasons Stan went on to play at Denton in the same league before moving to  Holland where  he played and coached for a number of years. He returned for one season in 1985 but he was unable to match his previous performances with the bat for the club. He tragically died of cancer when he was only in his forties. He will always be remembered for living life to the full.

A CLUB NIGHT OUT FONDLY REMEMBERED

In 1974 the club’s social committee decided they wanted a special night out at Worsley Old Hall for a Jacobean Banquet Feast. There were some 80+ members wanting to go so David Hardman organised the transport, a double decker bus! About 5 minutes into the journey to everyone’s surprise the bus pulled up at some shops. Why are we stopping so soon the cry went up? The group was clearly eager to get to the venue to start the evening. Richard Belfield had asked the driver to stop at the nearest off licence for some beer for the journey there. He and Alan Jackson, club Treasurer at the time, returned with several crates containing brown ale and some Hamlet cigars, a favourite of Richard’s on a night out. By the time the bus pulled in to the car park of Worsley Old Hall the crates only contained a few full bottles and everybody was in a jovial mood! In fact during the journey Richard somehow managed to bang and cut his forehead in the bus.

When our party took their seats at the dining tables the waitresses, dressed in period costume as Jacobean wenches, served mead from large pitchers and our goblets were continually replenished throughout the evening.  It was not long before the very strong mead got everybody in a party mood and several members soon became a little unsteady on their feet!

Part of the evening’s entertainment should have included a turn from a comedian but the proprietor of Worsley Old Hall announced quite matter of fact that it was not happening as the comedian for some reason could not make it there that evening. Hardly a great start to the night so the club asked Peter Rushworth, our very own ‘comedian’, if he would substitute and do a quarter of an hour on stage. He was more than happy to do so but when the manager was asked if that was okay, he flatly refused and was quite rude and off hand in doing so. He would have cause to regret this decision. This raised the hackles of everyone who overheard him, in particular Ken Mawman. The Manager sensing some disquiet beat a hasty retreat to the kitchen. As he had just got through the swing door to the kitchen it swung back invitingly to the bar side where Ken Mawman was stood. Ken delivered a hefty kick to the door to send it back at considerable extra gusto in the direction of the Manager. It  caught  the manager full square on the back of his head and sent him reeling. By the time he  gathered himself up and dusted himself down Ken and others had beat a speedy retreat and mingled with others in the main banquet hall. They were nowhere to be seen by a very irate manager who was trying to single out and identify the culprits. He was not a happy ‘bunny’. This was not to be the last amusing episode during the night.

The  evening  proceeded without any further incident until after the meal and late on towards the end of the night. Several members had retired from the banquet hall to outside bars adjoining the hall. Alf Sloan with his wife and a few friends had taken up residence in one such bar in which he had ordered a couple of rounds of drinks, the same order each time. The second time he ordered the same round he was being charged a higher amount. This was the final straw for Alf who asked the bar maid to itemise the cost of each drink. She refused and Alf picked up the tray of drinks and hurled it back over the bar spilling the drinks and breaking all the glasses in the process. The Manager was called and a furore ensued. He called the police.

Not long after a single police officer in his ‘bobby’s helmet arrived and The Manager mistakenly pointed out Richard Belfield as the troublemaker. The policeman confronted Richard and tried to escort him from the premises. By this time most members of the party had gathered in the bar to see what all the fuss was about.

In the furore that ensued the policeman was surrounded and his helmet was knocked off as members sprang to Richard’s defence. Hemmed in by club members and unable to move the policeman managed to extricate his walky-talky from his pocket and summoned other police assistance. At this point in time members decided that it was the right time to leave so made their way to the bus for the journey home. It was a pretty raucous journey back to Woodhouses!

The image below shows some of the Woodhouses Party enjoying themselves on the evening with their goblets of mead!

(Left to Right Nearest Row) – Mr and Mrs George Houghton, Mr and Mrs Roy Bolton and Mr and Mrs A Starmer

(Left To Right Back Row) – Mr and Mrs Fred Halley, Mr and Mrs Dougie Sloan and Mr and Mrs Alf Sloan

Two incidents are also recalled with amusement by Ian involving Gary Martin a real ‘cheeky’ character at the club. Gary was never short of an annoying word or two even when still a junior but an incident springs to mind of an occasion when even Gary had to keep his mouth firmly shut. He was keeping for the 2^nd X1 whilst still a junior and the ‘senior pro’ Derek Piggott was bowling. A batsman skied a ball more or less straight up in the air and Gary immediately called ‘mine’. It was further away from him than he thought and after running about 15 yards down the wicket he realised that he was not going to reach it without a dive. He dived  full length with outstretched arms and gloves but the ball dropped just out of reach brushing the fingertips of his gloves. In between time Derek had started to walk down the wicket to take the catch but had stopped when Gary called for it. Gary’s gloves finished in between Derek’s boots. He looked up apologetically to Derek who was looking down glaring at him. He received such a verbal tirade from Derek that he did not dare to open his mouth. He was even quiet after the match!

The other incident was at an away ground where the away dressing room was on the ground floor of the pavilion. In the corner of the dressing room was a cupboard under the stairs leading to the home changing rooms. Having had enough of Gary’s lip and his perpetual chirping all afternoon Messrs. Muff, Robinson and Thompson decided to teach him a lesson and bundled him into this cupboard locking the door. Gary’s retort was a gem shouting “You three are a right pair of b……..…s”.

Limited overs cricket these days has meant the standard and athleticism of fielding has moved on and progressed significantly over the years but Woodhouses 2nds were not behind the door when this incident in the 1980s took place. It caused much controversy and discussion at the time. It was perhaps the forerunner of an excellent fielding practice demonstrated more and more these days by professional players fielding on the boundary edge. Woodhouses were fielding with Alan Atherton and David Robinson fielding at long on and long off respectively. The batter hit the ball over the bowler’s head towards the sightscreen. Alan ran round to take the catch, however as he caught the ball he felt with his momentum he was going to carry it over the boundary edge. Alan quickly threw the ball to David crying catch it. To everyone’s surprise David managed to hang on to it! The team appealed and ran to congratulate them for their quick thinking. However the euphoria was short lived as the Umpire signalled six. The Umpire’s name was Mistri and it remains a mystery  as to why he did not give the batsman out.

In 1977 and 1978 the Club had the benefit of two Indian players at the Club. See the section on this later in the History of the Club – The Indian Summers of 1977 and 1978.

1977 saw the Club hold a celebratory event to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Part of the celebrations included a Ladies members match against the men. The image below shows the Ladies who featured in the team.

Back Row :Sheila Jackson, Gill Belfield, Marlene Sloan, Fred Halley, Wendy Atherton, Marilyn Clee, Helen Mawman (the shy and retiring one who does not want to look at the camera) Lorraine Halley & Steve Halley

Front Row (L to R): Jennifer Tuson, Sue Robinson, Anne Thompson, Angela Sloan, Debbie Mawman & Dianne Mawman

The early 80s saw a number of experienced players either retire or move to other clubs leaving a huge void the club struggled to fill. This led to the 1^st X1 struggling to make an impression in what was a very competitive First Division of the Lancashire and Cheshire League.

The First Team lost its wicketkeeper, Arnold Parker, who decided to hang up his gloves. Shortly after David Hardman moved to Dobcross and left to play at Marsden CC in the Huddersfield League where Norman Clee, a former player at Woodhouses, was Captain. John Andrew retired and Professional Ian Gemmill returned to his old club. This left a large hole to fill so it is not surprising the side struggled for the first half of the decade. That is not to say the Club was full of doom and  gloom or that the cricket was always dull and without highlights, in fact the opposite was the case.

In 1983 a young enthusiastic captain was appointed in Mike Heppell. The  club  also  recruited a new young professional from Cheshire, Steve Yates, who brought with him his best mate Phil Thompson. Both were tremendous characters and whilst the Club had a difficult season, through their efforts and those of a very young team’s efforts, the club managed to avoid relegation.

The  club  enjoyed  some  good  times along the way in a difficult season and Mike must be congratulated for his leadership and captaincy in adverse circumstances. Mike was from Yorkshire and he liked to play his cricket hard.  Mike continued to make a significant contribution to cricket at the club for many more years on both the 1^st and 2^nd X1’s. He could never be described as an orthodox batsman but did he have a good eye and trusty piece of willow. Some would say a very hard hitting batsman, others that he would club the bowling unmercifully. His intention after he had had a good look at the first ball he received was to get on top of the bowler and score his runs quickly. He succeeded on many occasions and holds many Club and League records for fastest 50’s or 100’s. Nicknames such as ‘Hagar’ or ‘the Viking’ were often used as he was likened to swinging the bat like an axe. Vintage Mike was an awesome sight particularly for the bowlers on the end of his withering assaults.

Steve was an accomplished opening batsman, playing not only for Cheshire but also for Minor Counties. His bowling was not up to much and he took the least enviable record from Ian Pickles of having the biggest six hit off their bowling by being smitten well over the paper mill at East Lancashire. His fielding however was exceptional either at slip or in the covers. In the first game of the season he was fielding in the covers, their opener called for a single. Against most of our fielders, indeed against most in the League, it would have been a relative stroll but not against Steve. He moved panther like and in one motion picked the ball up and threw it uprooting the middle stump with the batsman yards out looking on with astonishment, along with all the Woodhouses fielders. He went on to run two more out in his first game proving it was no fluke. His reputation on the grapevine went before him as teams were soon very reluctant to take him on.

He was called up to play for Cheshire Minor Counties who at that time were playing in the Benson and Hedges Cup. They had been drawn to play against Hampshire who just happened to have Malcolm Marshall as their overseas player. At the time Marshall was just beginning to make a name for  himself  as one of the world’s leading opening bowlers. Steve was keen to test himself against the world’s best. Whilst Steve was an accomplished batsman he was the first to admit that he wasn’t the best on his legs, more often than not scoring by way of leg-byes when the ball was on leg stump. The first ball he received from Marshall he barely saw and it was full on middle and leg. Steve managed  to  get his pad in the way and the ball ran down safely to fine leg. His opening partner called for what should have been an easy leg bye but for one thing. Steve was in such pain from the ball hitting him that he could not move. He  was  stuck in forward mode with his left leg numb from the knee down. He did not trouble the scorer much that day. Many years later in 1995 Malcolm Marshall was to play for Denton against Woodhouses in the Lancashire County League in a game that Doug Sloan has good cause to remember.

Phil Thompson could only be persuaded to play for one season. He was a smart performer, an away swing bowler and more than useful lower order batsman. In one of his betting innings and the most important partnerships of the season with Ian Pickles they knocked off the runs against fellow strugglers East Lancashire Paper Mills. This was instrumental in the 1^st X1 remaining in the First Division. Phil came from Northwich and ran a successful recruitment agency. He found the travelling too much so he could not be persuaded to stay for a second year. It can be no coincidence the 1st X1 was relegated the following season. Tragically shortly after leaving the club Phil was killed in a paragliding accident whilst on holiday with his family in Cyprus.

In the mid 80’s a young player was beginning to cause a stir, his name was Michael Atherton. Michael was at Manchester Grammar School and breaking all their batting records. He made his first team debut for the club at 13. Surprisingly as he is now over 6 foot tall he was only very small for his age and despite some derisory comments by the opposing opening bowlers and crowding of the bat he soon had them eating their words with his very accomplished technique. Sadly he was too talented to play regularly for Woodhouses due to his cricketing commitments at Manchester Grammar School and the Lancashire County Age Group squads. Ian Pickles remembers talking to him shortly before he made his debut for England. He said that whilst he enjoyed playing for Woodhouses  strangely he felt the pressure more as he was expected to make a big score. At that stage in his career he was also a highly accomplished leg spinner. His last match for Woodhouses was against Newton Heath. After scoring 80 odd and putting on a mammoth stand with Gary Garner who went on to reach his century, Newton Heath batted.

They were soon in trouble when Michael came on to bowl. At that time Roy Cumberbatch, one of their star players, facing Michael didn’t so much as edge one but literally ran the ball down the bat into Colin Whitehead’s gloves behind the wicket, everyone appealed. Roy stood his ground and was given not out. Mike couldn’t believe it and after challenging Roy’s parenthood bowled a rather quick bouncer. Unfortunately he had not told Colin what he was about to bowl. Roy ducked under the ball. Colin ‘copped’ for it right in the face breaking  his nose,  quite funny for everyone except Colin. Even Colin sees the funny side of the incident now. A few days later Mike was called up for his first cap with England. He was also awarded his first class cap by Lancashire at one and the same time. This meant he was no longer to play for Woodhouses again and the rest is history in terms of his career at the highest possible level.

A separate section about Mike also appears on the website and there is a special montage display of Mike’s cricketing achievements on display in the lounge in the clubhouse.

To compound the previously mentioned  loss of players, just a few weeks away from the beginning of the 1986 season Alan Starmer decided to move to pastures new and test himself in the Central Lancashire League with Heywood. Alan was one of the best amateurs to play for Woodhouses making his first team debut at 16. He was  also  a more than  competent wicket keeper. Unfortunately for his keeping he was also a decent bowler, probably the best net bowler in the world or so he thought after several pints of Carlsberg! He was an integral part of the First Team but he chose the hairdressing profession which limited his chances of playing regular cricket on Saturdays. By the time he left for Heywood he had discontinued his apprenticeship as a hairdresser and he went on to become one of Heywood’s leading amateur run scorers before returning to Woodhouses in 1999. From the early 80s through to 2007 he successfully captained the 1^st X1 on 8 occasions whilst continuing to demonstrate his batting skills by scoring many runs as an opening batsman.

In 1986 Alan Atherton was persuaded to become 1^st X1 Captain as the club embarked upon its quest to return to Division One. During the winter Alan managed to persuade Dave Hardman to return and he also recruited David Leighton who he had taught at Wright Robinson, both top class batsmen. It was decided the 1^st X1 needed another opening bowler to support Darrell Sloan who at the time was amongst the best amateur bowlers in either Division of the League. The club recruited Wayne Goldstein an Australian opening bowler. On first meeting Wayne he did not appear to your typical brash Aussie as he was quite quiet and polite. A view that was backed up on the field of play, certainly during   the  first  few  overs at Sale Moor. One of their opening bats was less than orthodox in the way he acquired his runs, some would call it very streaky.

When Wayne got him out, to the surprise of the  team  he  gave  him  a  very resounding send-off of “on your effing way cowboy”. To be fair their opening batsman had enjoyed a very charmed life and scored his runs in a rather unconventional manner!  That was the first of 97 wickets for Wayne who along with Darrell, who took 80 wickets, saw us on our way to the League Title and promotion. Our last match of the season was at Swinton with Wayne needing 3 wickets to reach 100 for the season. In his opening spell Wayne had no luck whatsoever including a few dropped catches before he was taken off to give him a rest before coming back on to see off the tail. Swinton were 7 down so Alan brought Mark Akin on at one end to arrest the flow of wickets and give Wayne some further time to recharge his batteries. Mark was only a part time bowler and unlikely to threaten the batsmen or so Alan the skipper thought. How wrong could he have been with Mark quickly  knocking  over  the   last  3  wickets without conceding a single run! If ever a bowler deserved 100 wickets in a season it was Wayne but fate ruled it was not to be.

The image below shows the team that achieved 1^st X1 League Championship success in the 2^nd Division in 1986.

W. Goldstein (Professional) M.D.W. Heppell, S. Tyrrell, Do. Sloan, S.J. Bolton, J. Cassidy, D.A. Robinson, M. Akin, Da. Sloan, A. Atherton (Capt.), D.A. Hardman, I.A. Pickles, D. Leighton

It had been a marvellous season which also saw the Club reach the last 8 of the National Village Knockout Cup losing to a team of ‘ringers’ at Forge Valley near Scarborough!

Mike Atherton had featured in this game but his involvement was very much short lived as he unfortunately suffered a broken finger when batting to one of the first few balls he received. He could take no further part in the game and this materially affected the team’s chances of winning the game.

Mentioning Mike, Dave Hardman was approached by Stuart Flinders of BBC TV North West on the day news broke of his selection as England Captain. They wanted to do an interview at the club about Mike and when he was first selected as a youngster to make his 1^st X1 debut at Woodhouses. All the media and tabloids were on the story like a rash and the BBC who did not want to miss out were insistent they wanted to do the feature on their programme that same evening so Dave had to take time out from work in the morning to meet up at the club and do the interview in the 1^st X1 dressing room.

 The video of this interview can be viewed in the medis clip section of the website.

Mike’s younger brother Chris was also a very talented cricketer – an all-rounder who played at the club from being a junior for over 30 years before he left to go down to Brighton. He was an opening batsman who would score his runs quickly and seize on and punish any loose deliveries. He always kept the scoreboard ticking over at a healthy rate. He was strong on both sides of the wickets  but he lacked a little of his brother’s patience and his eagerness to score runs quickly and dominate bowlers led to his premature dismissal on several occasions. Nevertheless he always featured strongly in the League and Club batting averages.  During his career at the club he often topped the club batting averages and scored many runs including 3 centuries. His all-round talents were well recognised by the League as he was picked to play for the League X1 in representative matches on numerous occasions.

He was also an excellent medium pace bowler who bowled a consistent line and length and always bowled wicket to wicket. His movement off the seam resulted in him rapping batsmen on the pad frequently and Chris always appealed to the umpires vociferously with exhorted arms in the air for lbw. He always thought batsmen were out so he was always disappointed when he did not get a decision in his favour. He took many wickets for the club and always at an economical rate. He was a significant loss to the 1^st X1 when he moved down south to Brighton.

In 1990 the  club  secured  its  first  ever major sponsorship deal with the Broker Division of the Royal and Sun Alliance. This lasted for several years until an internal restructuring of their services in the company led to them to move away from the area. In exchange for use of the club’s facilities for social and cricket events the club benefited annually with some £2500 to spend on facility development. The company also guaranteed employment for the summer of any overseas cricketer the club brought over to strengthen the 1^st X1. It was at this point in time that the club decided to go for the recruitment of overseas amateurs rather than the employment of club professionals. Secure employment with Royal and Sun Alliance for the overseas amateur was too good an opportunity to miss. From 1991 – 1997 the club had overseas amateurs from Australia and New Zealand – Ian Steele, Murphy Su’a*, Chris Brown, Chris Martin* Scott Davies and Jeremy Epis.

*Both the above overseas players from New Zealand went on to play for their country.

Murphy Su’a was a tall, athletic and genuinely quick left arm over opening bowler but only when he decided to bend his back for the club! Unfortunately he did this on far too few occasions during his season with the club. He was a somewhat complicated and introverted individual who seemed to prefer his own company rather than mix with his fellow players on the team. He was difficult to motivate to bowl flat out and the occasions when he did were generally brought about by an opposition batsman annoying him for whatever reason. When he did bend his back on hard tracks he caused the opposition no end of problems with the speed, angle of delivery and height of  bounce. He was a real handful on these occasions. In one particular match against Roe Green a middle order batsman had annoyed him and he put on a good yard or two in pace. He hit the batsman on his back leg behind his thigh pad causing him excruciating pain and it took him several minutes to recover before he could receive the next ball.

The next ball he did  exactly  the same and when it happened for a third consecutive time the batsman had to retire hurt because he could no longer stand up to take his stance at the wicket. He had to be helped from the wicket to the dressing room. In his season with the club he scored 607 runs at an average of 30.35 and he took 64 wickets at an average of 12.97. Everybody at the club was convinced that had he  bowled  genuinely  quick all season he would have achieved 100 wickets. When he returned home he was selected to  play  for a Select New Zealand X1  against England in a warm up game prior to the start of the Test Series and he had the distinction of taking the wickets of Gooch, Gower and Lamb in the match. He impressed the New Zealand selectors so much that he was picked to play in the first Test Match against England.

Murphy was also an extremely good rugby union player and he had to decide early on in his life whether he wished to pursue rugby with the All Blacks or concentrate on his cricket. He was that good at rugby that the All Blacks pursuit was a distinct possibility playing at centre.

His performances in Test Matches for New Zealand are covered elsewhere on the website in the History Section on Records

Chris Martin played for the club in 1995. He had come to England to gain some experience of English conditions. He was a tall lean young man and in those days he sported dreadlock hair. It would be fair to say on first impressions he did not give the appearance of being an opening bowler. He struggled   to  take wickets in the first half of the season only achieving some 14 victims but once he had settled in fully and adjusted to English wickets he had a great second half of the season taking some 54 wickets. He could not bat and had no aspirations to score be one! He took 68 wickets for the club at an average of 15.6. Despite his achievements in the second half of the season nobody at the Club would have put money on how he progressed and the great career he had over many years with the New Zealand Test team! A full list of professionals and overseas players since 1973 can be found in a later section of the club’s history.

The sponsorship  money  at  that time from Royal and Sun Alliance was wisely invested in a much needed new roof and windows for the clubhouse. Without this money the club would have found it extremely difficult to find the money to replace the roof and windows. The club’s coffers were also enhanced from the late 1980’s through to 2005 with very successful annual Sportsman’s Dinners and there were many evenings of great entertainment from celebrity sporting personalities and comedians.

The next few years were rather quiet on the honours front though we did win the Walkden Cup in 1990 which was rather surprising given our finish in the League, third from bottom and we only managed to avoid relegation due to one of the finest innings seen at Woodhouses from Gary Garner.

Gary of blond hair and good looks (according to his Mum) was a hard hitting top order batsman who could bowl a bit. That season his batting was instrumental in keeping the team up as he scored over a 1000 runs. On the last Saturday of the season the match was against Stand in a winner take all game, as whoever lost would be relegated. After losing early wickets Stand got away and posted a score of well over 200 on a bowler friendly wicket. Things looked gloomy for Woodhouses as was the weather on the day. Stand also had two of the quickest bowlers in the League at the time in Franny Daly, who played for Lancashire  2^nd X1 and Hugh Millen. They would be a real handful on the bowler friendly wicket. Gary was in imperious form scoring a magnificent 140 not out to take us over the finish line and stay up. The game finished in semi darkness with both of Stand’s quickies bowling flat out.

Neither was shy of letting Gary have the odd bouncer which he dispatched in an assured manner to the relief of the next Woodhouse batsman in. Gary set the  club  record for the highest number of runs in a season that year which still holds good today. He had 27 innings, 6*’s, highest score of 142 and an average of 69.76. He had 6 hundreds for the club and just for good measure he scored another 100 that year (105*) when representing the League.

C. Atherton, P. Johnston, Do. Sloan, Da. Sloan, J. Cassidy, G. Garner, D.A. Hardman,

D. Kingham, M.Akin, M.D.W. Heppell (Captain), C. Whitehead.

1992 saw the 2^nd X1 win the Hulme Cup, the team being

I.A. Pickles, P. Hague, S. Tyrrell, A. Turner, G. Chapman, P. Bailey, D.A. Hardman, R.J. Belfield, D. Akin (Capt.), A. Atherton

During the late 1980s and early 90s there were rumblings throughout the League concerning promotion   and   relegation issues which had led to several clubs leaving the League. Matters came to a head in 1993. A number of clubs had been struggling administratively for some years and it was decided  to form a new league of 14 from within the existing clubs in the Lancashire and Cheshire League. Woodhouses were discretely invited to take part in a new League to be called the Lancashire County League. That winter was full of acrimonious meetings once those clubs who had not been asked to join found out about the plan. It was not a decision taken lightly and whilst our club had sympathy with those clubs left out it clearly felt it was in the best interests of the club to become members of the new League starting in 1994. This decision was well founded as the new League went from strength to strength and was viewed outside as one of the top leagues in the North West.

In 1993 the First X1 lost the Walkden Cup Final against Denton West in a game that was as good as won and then lost off the final ball of the match. The scores were tied and all Paul Shaw had to do was avoid being out off the last ball but he thought, due to his lack of knowledge about the rules, he needed to score at least one run and he got out trying to hit a single. Both teams  had been all out with the scores level but Denton West prevailed based on a quicker run rate in the first 15 overs!

1993 also saw the 2^nd X1 become 2^nd X1 1^st Division League Champions

Front Row: D.A.Hardman, I.A. Pickles, J. Patterson, K. Collier, S. Tyrrell, J. Bate (Scorer)

Back Row:  M. Bamber, D.A. Robinson, D.Akin (Capt.) R.J. Belfield, M. Cassidy, G. Roberts

Prior to the start of the 1993 season BBC North West TV asked if they could visit the club to do a feature on the typical pre-season work that went on at an amateur club to get the ground ready for the season compared to how Lancashire CCC went about their pre-season preparations at the County ground, Old Trafford. It makes for interesting viewing.

The video of this interview can be viewed in the media clip section of the website.

The 2^nd X1 was first to make its mark in the new League in 1995. It was an exceptional side, arguably the best second team ever. It won the League and Cup double losing only one match all season. It had a blend of youth and experience and blessed with several players who would not have let the 1^St X1 down. Dave Hardman finished the season 12 runs short of a 1000 and was not best pleased at being run out in the last game of the season with the milestone clearly in site.

1995 second division champions and Hulme Trophy winners

S.R. Thompson, S. Tyrrell, R.J. Belfield, J. Cassidy, M. Hamnett, S.J. Bolton, P. Bailey, M. Bamber, P. Smith, M.D.W. Heppell (Capt.), K. Collier, D.A. Hardman.

Also in 1995 Denton CC had recruited Malcolm Marshall as their professional and in the match at Denton Doug Sloan ran into a little local difficulty! When bowling against Malcolm he unfortunately let one slip out of his hand. It finished up as a very good head high bumper that made Marshall take evasive action and he ended up on the seat of his pants. Not a wise move with a former West Indies opening fast bowler. Doug immediately ran down the wicket to check Marshall was okay but in truth he was more concerned about pay back time later on when Woodhouses batted. The tension  was eased a little when Malcolm noticed Doug was wearing a pair of boots he had endorsed. Nevertheless Malcolm gave him a wry smile and the odd verbal riposte about what he would do to him when he came into bat. This concerned Doug for the rest of the game and when it was time for him to bat Malcolm who else was on bowling. Never has a player gone out to bat with so much protective gear on, he looked like the Michelin Tyre Man. Needless to say his stay at the wicket was very short lived. The whole incident had caused much amusement amongst all the players with the exception  of  course to Doug who had genuinely feared for his personal well-being! For the record Marshall had smashed 70 runs when Joe Cassidy came on to bowl. He thundered Joe’s first ball straight back at him and Joe hung on to a screamer and followed this up immediately with 2 more wickets to give him a hat trick”! However Marshall, not surprisingly, prevailed with the ball to give Denton a comfortable win.

In  1996  Dave  Hardman  organised a charity cricket match at the club  in aid of ex M.C.F.C.’s favourite Paul Lake who was having a testimonial year. Paul had his very promising football career with Manchester City and England cut far too short with a serious cruciate ligament injury to his knee. In those days such an injury meant the end of a playing career for footballers. Mike Atherton’s brother Chris guested for Paul Lake’s team against a Francis Lee X1. Top footballing names that turned out included Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, Dennis Tueart, Alan Ball, Jason Beckford, Colin Barlow, Michael Brown, Richard Edghill, Alan Kernaghan with local celebrities such as Kevin ‘Curly Watts’ Kennedy from Coronation Street and radio presenter James H Reeve. The weather was glorious on the day and a full house on the ground meant the club had an excellent day on the bar. It raised some £3500 for Paul Lake and M.C.F.C were that pleased with the organisation and outcome that 2 further games were organised in the next two years with the proceeds going to the Manchester City Youth Academy.

In the late 90’s the players decided on holding pre-season team bonding activities that also focused very much on attracting sponsorship to generate money to help offset the ever increasing overheads of cricket and running the club. The brainchild behind the fund-raisers was Steve Tyrrell. The first major and ambitious pre-season event took place took place on 6^th- 7th March 1999 and involved a sponsored run from Lord’s by players and other club volunteers who would carry a cricket ball back from the Grace Gates at Lord’s to the Club over a single weekend.

After the event Steve, never short of a word or two, produced an amusing summary of the weekend and this is reproduced below.

“The scene was set, the die cast, jock straps were twanged and we were ready for the ultimate fund-raising challenge – 200 miles give or take the occasional wrong turn.

The idea was brainstormed back in November 1998 as a means of supporting the Club’s Lottery application bid. The senior players were enthusiastic about the run even though those in the hierarchy were initially dubious of the lad’s ability to convert talk into action. In the end the sceptics were won round by the collective determination of the boys.

Here then immortalised in print are the ‘foolhardy’ few who left Failsworth in a westerly direction at 5.15am on Saturday 6^th March:-

Duncan Akin, Mark Akin, Alan Atherton, Mark Bamber, John Bate, Steve Bolton, Joe Cassidy, Dave Hardman, Mike Heppell, Paul Higgins, Dave Kingham, Ian Pickles, Geoff Roberts, Dougie Sloan, Phil Smith, Phil Sutcliffe, Gareth Tuson, Steve Tyrrell , Colin Whitehead & Graham Whitehead

The journey to Lord’s was uneventful until we passed through the outskirts of Vladivostock and killed two huskies for warmth.

Alan Atherton (AA) had insisted on the direct route to London; round Cape Horn and into the teeth of the ‘roaring forties’. This plan was flawed and we went ahead regardless and in spite of the overwhelming evidence i.e. The Japanese Whaling Fleet in the distance and Scott’s tattered tent remains on the horizon.

Base Camp was reached 10 miles from the capital for a careful analysis of our progress. Plans for this had to be abandoned as the party proceeded to fill their faces with a high cholesterol low carbohydrate diet from the local Greasy Spoon. Amazingly ‘Jocky, and ‘Akky’ stuck with the Special K – no doubt highly recommended by Clive Cosgrove, their personal fitness trainer.

The final leg to Lord’s was as quick as AA said it would be (if AA doesn’t know his way to Lord’s after all the freebies he’s been on over the years, then no-one does). Gareth Tuson woke up at this point and commented on how good it was that Smokies Park were laying on free taxis on a Saturday morning. Phill Sutcliffe tied to persuade us the best route was through Soho but we didn’t fall for that one. Sooty’s groin twanging session with an oriental Unit would have to go on ice.

At Lord’s the traditional tour party photos were taken when Ross Belfield moved into view, two hours after the arranged meeting time, having sold most of his Big Issue allocation. The entrepreneurial side to Ross (picked up from RJB Senior) supplemented his nomadic existence in and around the human flotsam of London. He had been questioned by the Police for looking dodgy - that happens on a daily basis to the lad in Manchester – and he was made to empty his rucksack on the pavement, an offer he couldn’t refuse.

At this point the ran began and the Tour Party split up. The young “twenty something’s” tackling London to Nuneation whilst the “thirty something BACK FLANGES” tackled the Nuneaton to Burton-On-Trent leg.

The pre-arranged rendezvous point at Burton-On-Trent was reached by both groups but at staggeringly different times. The more mature group of runners had beaten the athletes by at least 3 hours!! The second group were amazed and we weren’t reluctant to express our scepticism at how they managed it. To make matters worse they formed a gauntlet of mockery and abuse whist we forlornly entered our humble lodging house. I have to admit the mutton vindaloo stuck in my throat that night!!

The second day dawned and it was cold and overcast – this was going to be tough and it would sort out the men from the boys. The previous day’s exertions had seriously taken it out of the legs and the boys were moving around the hotel lobby like ‘Quentin Crisp’ cracking walnuts with his jacksie!

The second half would be tackled just like the first one – the group to be split into 2 and both to run separately   with us both, meeting in Woodhouses. We would not come second again. Gig talk from the  man   who’d had Douglas Baders’ tin legs transplanted during the night. It took more than 200 yards before the body could be coaxed into a run (the jump leads helped) and we steamed through the snow-capped Peak District.

The Bay Horse in Clayton Bridge was reached at 1.30pm on the Sunday and best of all we were first! Revenge was sweet, the biter bit. We were now laughing the loudest because we were laughing last.

The look on the Ian Pickles Ballroom Ensemble was a joy to behold. Time for beer at the club.

The amount pledged beforehand was £2425 with the amount actually raised over £2600.00

In the following years many more pre-season team events were organised such as the coast to coast bike ride from near Carlisle to Whitley Bay and the 3 peak climbing challenge.

Steve Tyrrell had joined the club in the 1980  when he started a PE teaching job at Failsworth School. It was not long before he made his considerable presence felt at the club both on and off the field of play. He was always loud and voluble and could never be said to be a shrinking violet – far from it. But he was a great character to have around and he always attracted an audience when he was in full flow. He would pick his victims unmercifully when taking the Michael out of individuals but it was always in good fun and good humour even though the individuals might not have fully appreciated it at the time! Few would answer him back for fear of even greater mockery. He also liked a rough and tumble in the dressing room with his team mates and they always came out the worse off even when a number would gang up on him and try to get their own back. Physically he was very strong and players just used to bounce off him licking their wounds! He was a decent cricketer who played for both senior teams and he had his fair share of success with the bat and behind the wickets. It was never quiet on the field of play with Steve on your team  but  he was always trying his utmost to motivate individuals and raise the performance of the team.

He also took on responsibility for developing junior cricket at the club and did a great job for many years with the youngsters where his total commitment and enthusiasm rubbed off across all the different age groups in the junior section. He left a great hole in the club when he stopped playing and  departed   to take over coaching of youngsters at Oldham Rugby Club. Rugby is his first love in sport  and Oldham RUFC  are very lucky to have such an outstanding volunteer. Without his services it is difficult to imagine how their club could have survived the many problems they have faced.

Steve recalls below how he first joined the Club.

“As a raw P.E. Teacher working at Failsworth School in 1980 it was apparent to me that  the  school needed  decent cricket facilities. I took a look round and discovered just a cricket ball throw away a cricket club called Failsworth Macedonia.

I went along on a Tuesday night – typical early April, freezing cold and wet and met a Committee member who was working on the ground.

I  explained that  I  was  looking  for a school club link that would benefit the school’s pupils and the youth academy at the “Massey”. His reply took me aback. “We don’t do juniors here cock!!. His next statement also lodges in my memory as he said “anyway most of the first  team are still under 50!”

Undeterred I found out about Woodhouses CC and arranged to meet the Committee on a Monday night. I met Bob Thompson and to my eternal gratitude I’m glad I did because Bob frequently supplied me with a sofa for the night and best Sunday fry-up in Failsworth. Anyway I’m straying from the point!

The rest is history because Roy Bolton and I ran the junior teams for the next couple of summers until Roy retired after several outstanding years as junior co-ordinator at the club. He had ensured a steady stream of youngsters reaching the senior teams. It’s not difficult! Enthusiasm, hard work and teaching the correct basic techniques will guarantee a successful cricketer.

When I retired from the job in 2012 it was with a sense of pride in developing a group of young players who were succeeding on the club’s senior teams.

It’s important to recognise the efforts of the squad of people involved with junior cricket development at Woodhouses over the years as well as pay tribute to the many unpaid hours of time they devote to youngsters. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IS THE FUTURE OF ANY CLUB LIKE WOODHOUSES!”

In and around the Millenium the club embarked upon a concerted and dedicated effort to improve its facilities beyond the boundary edge for the benefit of its members and visitors to the ground. There were numerous landscaping and environmental improvements carried out  on  the  ground. These formed part of the club’s ambitious  development plan to transform its estate and  were aimed at not only improving the appearance of the ground but also providing a value added recreational facility for the local community at large. Planter beds, footpaths, fencing, reclaiming neglected and overgrown land by the net area, picnic tables, fixed bench seating and litter bins transformed the ground  which many visitors feel is one the most picturesque grounds in the area. Funding of these projects at a cost  of  some £9000  was provided by various environmental trusts and O.M.B.C. Careful management of the financial contributions enabled other improvement work at the Club to be supported e.g. the storage container at the rear of the clubhouse, the flagged patio area in front of the clubhouse which also linked the new tea room to the clubhouse, new chairs and tables for the tea room and a wide variety of sundry items for ground maintenance.

The tea room and umpires changing facility replaced the old wooden storage shed which had stood for many years and was long past its sell be date. Major  expenditure  was incurred on refurbishing the club’s lounge and it was important to provide an alternative area for players to take their teas. Richard Belfield drew up plans for the new tea room. It was felt that the quality of the build should be such that it was worthy of dedication to the memory and lifelong support of Jesse and Gladys Davies and Gladys Belfield who had been very loyal and dedicated members of the club for many decades. Richard and David Hardman decided to try and fund the majority of the costs for the new build by donations from members. Pledges of support were readily obtained with almost £4000 raised towards the cost of materials.

A start on the project was made in the middle of 2000 by dismantling the old wooden storage shed and players dug out the foundations for the new tea room. The site was shuttered with plywood and well strutted in readiness for the 20 ton of hard core and 6 cubic metres of concrete. Many remarked that the foundations were such that they would have easily passed Building Control for the erection of a 2 storey brick building. Once the foundations had been laid Richard took centre stage in building the framework and support for the sides and roof. He was ably assisted by our overseas amateur that year, Brett Bastow, who turned up frequently during the week to give Richard invaluable help in making the required timber sections. Sydney Chadderton , Club President at the time, skilled in joinery work also provided Richard with invaluable technical advice on the framework and he also took care of all architrave, beading, windows, doors and difficult joints. Bob Thompson fitted the metal cladding roof. Little progress was made from January 2001 to March while Richard took one of his shorter holidays! On his return he completed the wooden cladding on the front, sides and rear. The internal walls, ceiling and skirting boards were completed and favours were called in by Dave Hardman to get the kitchen, wall and floor tiling completed at no cost to the club. The facility became operational in July 2001 some 12 months from start to finish. The final costs amounted to circa £6000 with donations in one form or another accounting for the whole of this sum. The club had saved some £25000 on the project. All members were very pleased with and justifiably proud of the outcome. Syd composed a ‘Roman’ Ode to mark the successful completion of the project:-

Being of this time about the turn of

New Millennium, during the reign of

Empero Hardicus for the CC Empire, it

Was decreed that a Bistro be erected under

The stewardship of Architectus Primas

Ricardo of the House of Beline with

Consultant Architectus Sidonius Chadius

And during this time of plenty the servile

Ones were put to work under the leadership

Of a hired slave from distant Antipodae,

Brettus Barstoe

And the Bistro rose in Splendour and

Greatness so that past Emperor Jessus

And Gladonia Davisus and others of the

Belini Line were much pleased

And it came to pass that many Ceremonies

Were enacted and much food was bought

From the House of Belini, so that there were

Many Feasts and much Joy in the Empire

New light  oak plastic cladding, windows and doors were fitted in 2017 thanks to the sterling efforts of club members Jason Cooper, Rob Preston, Doug Sloan and Bob Thompson over several weekends. The cost of the materials was funded by a grant from the Trustees of the Lancaster Club.]

The budget set for a major refurbishment of the club lounge was £20000. David Hardman acted as Project Manager and the firm 2K Management Services was appointed to do the work which commenced late October 2000. No major work of any kind or facelifts had been carried out in the lounge since it was first built in 1965 so it was badly in need of modernisation and bringing it into the 21^st century. Major works involved relocation of radiators, bricking up existing fire door and creation of new fire doors, plastering, creation of a new window unit in the entrance lobby, suspended ceiling with new lighting, a new bar, new bench seating, recovering of existing stools and the addition of some new ones, refurbishment of existing club tables, oak dance floor, carpet and curtains. The refurbishment was total and comprehensive. It exceeded all the expectations of members. The final outcome was very impressive and it was all completed early in December 2001.

The 2^nd X1 were certainly amongst the honours just before and during the first few years of the new Millenium when it had a very good squad of players. In 1998 2^nd X1 had a good all round season with a mix of experienced and seasoned players and a number of very promising juniors. The team were Lancashire County League 2^nd Division Winners of the last 6 Competition, Runners-Up in the League and Hulme Cup Finalists.

Players Left to Right) – Back Row – R. Thompson, S. Bolton, R. Belfield, L. Whalley, M. Hamnett, D. Hardman

Front Row: J. Clarke, S. Clarke, J. Bate, M. Heppell. J. Wolfenden and C. Whitehead.

In 2001 the 2^nd X1 were Lancashire County League 2^nd Division Champions and in conjunction with the 1^st X1 T Savile Whittle Memorial Bowl Winners.

2001 2^nd X1 League Winners

Players (Left to Right) in the 2^nd X1 who won the League were:-

Back Row:- D Akin, C. Belfield, J. Bate, S. Worsley, P. Smith, M. Worsley, J. Clarke, R. Thompson

Front Row:- C Reeves, S. Clarke, D. Shaw, M. Heppell, C. Whitehead, J. Wolfenden, M. Akin and G. Roberts.

Players of 2^nd X1 and 1^st X1 who won the T. Savile Whittle Memorial Bowl were:-

(Left To Right) Back Row:- D. Sloan, D. Akin, J. Clarke, J. Cassidy, P. Sutcliffe, M. Cassidy, A. Starmer

Middle Row:- C. Belfield, M. Bamber, M. Worsley, P. Smith, S. Worsley, P. Smith, S. Worsley, J. larke, R. Thompson

Bottom Row:- C. Reeves, J. Clarke D. Shaw, M. Heppell, C. Whitehead, J. Wolfenden, M. Akin, G. Roberts

In 2002 the 2^nd X1 followed up their success from the previous year by winning the Last 6 Competition.

The 2002 2nd X1



Players in the 2002 2^nd X1 were:-

(Left To Right) Back Row :-  L. Phelan M. Worsley, J. Thorpe, J. Wolfenden, J. Cassidy, D. Shaw, J. Clarke

Back Row:- D. Akin, C. Reeves, M. Heppell. M. Akin, G. Roberts J. Blood B Cresswell (Scorer)

In 2003 the 2^nd X1 were not to be denied and regained the 2^nd X1 League Championship with an excellent season.



Players in the 2^nd X1 2003 Team featured above were:-.

(Left To Right) Back Row :- M. Shenton (Scorer) T Griffin J. Cassidy, L. Phelan, M. Worsley, M. Bamber

Bottom Row :- D. Akin, P. Jones, C. Reeves, C. Whitehead, M. Heppell, G. Roberts D. Keogh

To reinforce the strength of the 2^nd X1 at that time, it retained the 2^nd X1 League Championship in 2004.

Players in the above image of the 2004 Team were:-

(Left to Right) Back Row:- C. Worsley (Scorer) K. Quinn S. Mayall, M. Heppell, M. Akin, C. Whitehead, M. Worsley (A. Crook Chairman Lancashire County League)

Bottom Row:- P. Jones, M. Worsley, G. Roberts, J. Cassidy (Captain), P Griffin D. Akin

In the first decade of the 21^st Century the Club won the Walkden Cup on 3 occasions with the 1^st X1 also being runners up twice in the league Championship, narrowly missing out on the double in 2006. The club 1^st X1   also in that period were consistently in the top 4 of the League thanks to some talented cricketers notably Alan Starmer, Mike Cassidy, Chris Atherton and Dougie Sloan. The club also had the benefit of some good overseas players such as Alan Badenhorst, Matt Hawking and John Seery.

Mike  Cassidy  is the younger brother of Joe who was also a decent cricketer for the club over a good number of years. Mike was a very talented player with both bat and ball as illustrated in the player records and averages. He too, like Dave Hardman, was an opening batsman, scored many  centuries and  accumulated over the years many thousands of runs for the club. He also had a lot of success bowling off breaks and became one  of  the  leading all-rounders in the history of the club. He was also privileged to be the Captain of the team that won the National Village Cup at Lord’s in 2011 so his status as a legend along with the whole team will never be forgotten for what was probably the proudest day in the club’s history. The club’s journey to Lord’s that year is well chronicled in the Historical Sectional on the National Village Cup.

This final was also a swan song for Dougie Sloan to bring a long and successful career with the club’s 1^st X1 to the very best of conclusions. Both Dougie and his brother Darrell had been successful front line bowlers for the club over many years. In fact so successful was Darrell, that at one point in his cricketing career he moved to join Newton Heath as their professional for several years before returning to Woodhouses. And just to keep it in the family their father, Doug,  was groundsman at the club for several years before retirement. ‘Green fingers’ Doug  looked  after  the square in exactly the same way as his own garden, with tender loving care. Coupled with this   he  always  adorned the front of the clubhouse with magnificent displays of flowers in the club’s planters.

2007 The Club was quality assured through its nationally recognised Governing Body ECB Clubmark accreditation status. The scheme is licensed from Sport England as part of their wider Clubmark scheme covering all the major sports. Chris Gawler, who was the Club’s Junior Cricket Coordinator at the time, played a huge part in ensuring the Club fully met all the required criteria and standards.

ECB Clubmark shows that a club is well run and provides the right environment for its members. Clubmark accreditation also means your club is recognised as a safe, rewarding and fulfilling place for participants of all ages, as well as assuring parents and carers that they are choosing the right option for their young people.

In the same year the club was also awarded Community Amateur Sports Status by H.M.R.C. The Scheme allowed local amateur sports clubs to register with HM Revenue and Customs and benefit from a range of tax reliefs including Gift Aid where they meet the required qualifying conditions.

In 2008 the Club celebrated its centenary year with a variety of special events. These included a Question and Answer session in the Club with Mike Atherton and David Lloyd, A Day at The Races, Golf Days, a Ladies Day and special Cricket Matches. The year’s  celebrations concluded  with a Grand Gala Ball including a  four course dinner and swing band entertainment at Hotel Smokies Park, Bardsley.



In 2010 The Club won the Walkden Cup. A special montage display of this success is on display in the lounge in the clubhouse a copy of which is displayed below.

In 2011 saw the club at long last win National Village Cup at Lord’s. A special montage display of the day is on display in the clubhouse and comprehensive details of the Road to Lord’s are featured in a separate section of The Club’s History.

Some of the Club’s longest serving members and former players met up for a very pleasant reunion in 2014 to celebrate a special birthday for Ken Mawman who had been a prominent player at the club in the 1960s and 1970s.  The image below shows the gathering in a pub near Hayfield.

Clip from BBC Northwest tonight of WCC pre season ground preparation 1994