Introducing the North Manchester Cricket League

The Site Electrical North Manchester Cricket League is unusual in the spread of constituent clubs. Stretching geographically from Leigh and Chorley right across Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham to Greenfield the League includes clubs with a diverse range of backgrounds. These include many former church clubs, many ex- works clubs some small town and village clubs and many major old clubs.

Over the history of the League there have been many clubs who have joined and left, clubs that were small have grown and moved on to higher leagues. Most of the major clubs in the Bury area and many from outside have been associated with the League at some time and many have a long history with the League.

At the present time one of the major strengths of the League has been the provision of good well-organised cricket both to clubs who are solely in the NMCL and to the third elevens of many large clubs. The latter is particularly pleasing in that the League provides valuable experience for many young, developing players and their mentors, the older players reaching the end of their career.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE

In 1955 a group of cricket clubs mainly from the Bolton Association decided that they wished to breakaway and form their own League which was to become the North Manchester Cricket League.

The clubs were a mixture of company sponsored, church sports clubs and towns:

• Bibby and Baron from the company of that name playing at Dumers Lane, Bury
• Rawtenstall, playing on Haslingden Old Road
• Howe Bridge Welfare associated with Combined English Mills at Wigan Road, Atherton
• Tottington St Annes at South Royds Street, Tottington
• D Macphersons (Paint Manufacturers) Warth Road, Bury
• Transparent Paper at Bridge Hall Lane, Bury
• East Lancs Paper Mill of Wellington Street, Radcliffe
• Heymain the sports club of 35 Maintenance Unit of the RAF based at Pilsworth

After a number of meetings in 1955 to establish the League and its Rules, matches commenced in 1956. There were two divisions comprising first and second elevens of the clubs. The League was played for the trophies donated by the clubs and officials:

• 1st Division trophy was the Foochow cup donated by the President of D.Macphersons C.C. Mr R. P. Chester and named after the range of paints manufactured by the company
• 1st Division Runners up received the C G Seddon trophy presented by the President of East Lancs Paper Mill C C
• 2nd Division winners trophy was presented by the President of Bibby and Baron C C. Mr H C Wild
• 2nd Division runners-up received the Major E C Puttock cup from the President of Transparent Paper C C

The League Champions for 1956 were East Lancs Paper Mill.

An Umpires Association was set up with 15 members registered in 1958 and clubs were expected to use umpires without any connection to the club.

It would appear that the League was quickly successful as two clubs joined for the 1958 season:

• ICI Blackley Recreation in Crumpsall
• Tottington St Johns playing at Beryl Avenue, Tottington

Expansion continued in 1959:

• Metal Box Sports and Social Club playing at Chew Moor Lane

In 1961:

• Brooksbottoms playing at Rowlands Road, Summerseat

The J R Calverley Cup was presented for the 2nd Division supplementary competition

In 1962:

• Heap Bridge CC playing at Waterfold Lane

In 1963 The J R Calverley Cup was re-assigned to the 1st Division supplementary competition.

The 1965 Season saw major changes with several clubs joining but others leaving:

• All Saints (Elton) at Leigh Lane, Bury
• Moulding Methodists near Jericho, Bury
• Ramsbottom at Acre Bottom
• Old Rossendalians at Newall Hey Rawtenstall
• Bury at Radcliffe Road

The Clayton Trophy for most promising young player presented.

In 1966 the R T Hodson cup was presented for the 2nd Division Supplementary competition:

• Walshaw at Old Doctors Street, Tottington
• Walmsleys at Woodhill Road, Bury

In 1967:

• Bolton Road at Bolton Road

In 1969:

• Edenfield at Gincroft Lane, Edenfield

In 1970:

• Darcy Lever at Hacken Lane
• High View at Sharples Avenue, Bolton

In 1971:

• Greenmount at Greenmount

In 1975 the Trophy for Captain of the year presented by Murray Birnie

• Woodbank at Brandlesham Road

1976:

• Robinsons Recs. At Belfield Rochdale

In 1977:

• Unsworth at Parr Lane
• Cheetham Hill at Catherine Road, Manchester
• Radcliffe at The Racecourse, Radcliffe
• Stand at Hamilton Road, Whitefield

In 1978 there was a major re-organisation into effectively three divisions 1st and 2nd groups A and B because of a large intake of clubs:

• Prestwich at the Heys, Prestwich
• Rochdale at Dane Street
• Rochdalians at Rakewood
• Swinton Methodists at Moorside Park, Swinton
• Thornham at Slattocks
• Waterbarn at Stacksteads

This required some re-organisation of the cups. Group 2B were presented with a cup by Peter Stokes and two shields were bought and named after prominent Lancashire players David Lloyd (2A runners-up) and Farokh Engineer (2B runners-up).

In 1981:

• British Steel at Liverpool Road, Irlam

In 1982 Peter Robinson presented a trophy for the Division 1 Player of the Year.

• Rochdale Catholic Club at Bishop Henshaw School

In 1983:

• TBA (Turner Brothers Asbestos) at The Hollows, Rochdale

In 1985:

• Littleborough at Hare Hill
• Newton Heath at Daisy Bank, Newton Heath

The G Peter Clarke trophy was presented for the Division 1 Cup runners-up. The League was sponsored by Whitbread.

In 1986 there was another re-organisation into Division 1 and Groups A,B and C.

• Glodwick at Swansea Street, Oldham

By 1990 the League had stabilised at four divisions and trophies had become:

• 1st Division Champions - Foochow
• Runners-up - C G Seddon
• Cup - J R Calverley
• Runners-up - Peter Clarke
• 2nd Division Champions - H C Wild
• Runners-up - David Lloyd Shield
• Cup - R T Hodson
• Runners-up - G F Oldroyd
• 3rd Division Champions - E C Puttock
• Runners-up - Farokh Engineer
• Cup - Peter Stokes
• Runners-up - John Murray
• 4th Division - Mick Orrell
• Runners-up - John Greenhalgh
• Cup - Stanley Hunter
• Runners-up - C Fletcher
• Umpire of the Year - Melvin Walton
• Captain of the Year - Murray Birnie
• Most Promising Young Player - Clayton
• 1st Division Wicket Keeper - Ken Mason
• Players Player - Peter Robinson

Clubs now include, Roe Green, Bardsley, Fothergill and Harvey, Springhead, and West Leigh Methodists.

EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES IN 1957

The subscription for one team was £2 10 shillings and for two Teams £4. Clubs had to provide a deposit of 10 shillings or £1.

The Umpire’s Fee was 10 shillings.

Matches were timed with the match ending if necessary in the middle of an over if time was reached. The length of each match was four and a half hours with the team batting first being allowed up to two and a half hours.

Overs consisted of 8 balls.

Points were awarded with 3 for a win 2 for a tie and 1 for a draw.

Boundaries were scored four only.

It was necessary to establish a code of Fines.

The system of "starring players" was set up.