{"id":655,"date":"2021-03-01T09:36:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T09:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=655"},"modified":"2021-03-01T09:36:50","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T09:36:50","slug":"history-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=655","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-1\" data-gallery_id=\"541\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-title\"><\/div> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery \" id=\"rl-gallery-1\" data-gallery_no=\"1\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-Winners-2004.jpg\" title=\"Wood Cup Winners 2004\" data-rl_title=\"Wood Cup Winners 2004\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-Winners-2004-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Wood Cup Winners 2004<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CLL-Champions-2012-e1614329910382.jpg\" title=\"CLL Champions 2012\" data-rl_title=\"CLL Champions 2012\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CLL-Champions-2012-e1614329910382-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">CLL Champions 2012<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CLL-Champions-2014-e1614329924424.jpg\" title=\"CLL Champions 2014\" data-rl_title=\"CLL Champions 2014\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CLL-Champions-2014-e1614329924424-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">CLL Champions 2014<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Floodlit-Cricket-1983.jpg\" title=\"Floodlit Cricket 1983\" data-rl_title=\"Floodlit Cricket 1983\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Floodlit-Cricket-1983-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Floodlit Cricket 1983<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Lancashire-League-Champions-2018-e1614329901527.jpg\" title=\"Lancashire League Champions 2018\" data-rl_title=\"Lancashire League Champions 2018\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Lancashire-League-Champions-2018-e1614329901527-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Lancashire League Champions 2018<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Premier-League-Champions-2016.jpg\" title=\"Premier League Champions 2016\" data-rl_title=\"Premier League Champions 2016\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Premier-League-Champions-2016-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Premier League Champions 2016<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Annual-Accounts-1963.jpg\" title=\"Annual Accounts 1963\" data-rl_title=\"Annual Accounts 1963\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Annual-Accounts-1963-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Annual Accounts 1963<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Season-1987.jpg\" title=\"Season 1987\" data-rl_title=\"Season 1987\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Season-1987-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Season 1987<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Calder-Valley-Cup-Final-1991.jpg\" title=\"Calder Valley Cup Final 1991\" data-rl_title=\"Calder Valley Cup Final 1991\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Calder-Valley-Cup-Final-1991-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Calder Valley Cup Final 1991<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Bill-Barker-Benefit-Match-1971.jpg\" title=\"Bill Barker Benefit Match 1971\" data-rl_title=\"Bill Barker Benefit Match 1971\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Bill-Barker-Benefit-Match-1971-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Bill Barker Benefit Match 1971<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Bill-Barker-Benefit-1971.jpg\" title=\"Bill Barker Benefit 1971\" data-rl_title=\"Bill Barker Benefit 1971\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Bill-Barker-Benefit-1971-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Bill Barker Benefit 1971<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Jack-Couple-Lenny-Moss-Benefit-Match-e1614330216348.jpg\" title=\"Jack Couple &#038; Lenny Moss Benefit Match\" data-rl_title=\"Jack Couple &#038; Lenny Moss Benefit Match\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Jack-Couple-Lenny-Moss-Benefit-Match-e1614330216348-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Jack Couple &#038; Lenny Moss Benefit Match<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Season-1964.jpg\" title=\"Season 1964\" data-rl_title=\"Season 1964\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Season-1964-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Season 1964<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-Final-1975.jpg\" title=\"Wood Cup Final 1975\" data-rl_title=\"Wood Cup Final 1975\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-Final-1975-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Wood Cup Final 1975<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CLL-Champions-2013.jpg\" title=\"CLL Champions 2013\" data-rl_title=\"CLL Champions 2013\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CLL-Champions-2013-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">CLL Champions 2013<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/scott-barker-connection.jpg\" title=\"Scott\/Barker Connection\" data-rl_title=\"Scott\/Barker Connection\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/scott-barker-connection-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Scott\/Barker Connection<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1949-season-it-pays-to-ask-first.jpg\" title=\"1949 Season It Pays to Ask First\" data-rl_title=\"1949 Season It Pays to Ask First\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1949-season-it-pays-to-ask-first-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1949 Season It Pays to Ask First<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/old-drainage-map.jpg\" title=\"Old Drainage Map\" data-rl_title=\"Old Drainage Map\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/old-drainage-map-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Old Drainage Map<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/season-2018.jpg\" title=\"2018 Season\" data-rl_title=\"2018 Season\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/season-2018-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">2018 Season<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/the-scott-barker-connection.jpg\" title=\"Scott\/Barker Connection\" data-rl_title=\"Scott\/Barker Connection\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/the-scott-barker-connection-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Scott\/Barker Connection<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/season-2017.jpg\" title=\"2017 Season\" data-rl_title=\"2017 Season\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/season-2017-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">2017 Season<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league.jpg\" title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" data-rl_title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league-page-2.jpg\" title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" data-rl_title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league-page-2-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league-page-3.jpg\" title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" data-rl_title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league-page-3-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league-page-4.jpg\" title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" data-rl_title=\"1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1962-season-when-nought-not-out-won-the-league-page-4-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1962 Season When Nought Not Out Won the League<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1964-season-walsden-are-CLL-champions.jpg\" title=\"1964 Season &#8211; Walsden are CLL Champions\" data-rl_title=\"1964 Season &#8211; Walsden are CLL Champions\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1964-season-walsden-are-CLL-champions-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1964 Season &#8211; Walsden are CLL Champions<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1964-season-walsden-are-CLL-champions-page-2.jpg\" title=\"1964 Season &#8211; Walsden are CLL Champions\" data-rl_title=\"1964 Season &#8211; Walsden are CLL Champions\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/1964-season-walsden-are-CLL-champions-page-2-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1964 Season &#8211; Walsden are CLL Champions<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971.jpg\" title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" data-rl_title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971-page-2.jpg\" title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" data-rl_title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971-page-2-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971-page-3.jpg\" title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" data-rl_title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971-page-3-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971-page-4.jpg\" title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" data-rl_title=\"Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-on-30-year-history-by-w.barker-1971-page-4-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article on 30 year History by W.Barker 1971<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-jon-green-chairman-in-march-2014.jpg\" title=\"Article by Jon Green March 2014\" data-rl_title=\"Article by Jon Green March 2014\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-jon-green-chairman-in-march-2014-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article by Jon Green March 2014<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-jon-green-chairman-in-march-2014-page-2.jpg\" title=\"Article by Jon Green March 2014\" data-rl_title=\"Article by Jon Green March 2014\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-jon-green-chairman-in-march-2014-page-2-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article by Jon Green March 2014<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-donald-rigg-in-1991.jpg\" title=\"Article by Donald Rigg 1991\" data-rl_title=\"Article by Donald Rigg 1991\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-donald-rigg-in-1991-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article by Donald Rigg 1991<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-donald-rigg-in-1991-page-2.jpg\" title=\"Article by Donald Rigg 1991\" data-rl_title=\"Article by Donald Rigg 1991\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copy-of-an-article-written-by-donald-rigg-in-1991-page-2-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Article by Donald Rigg 1991<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-1975-2.jpg\" title=\"Wood Cup 1975 2\" data-rl_title=\"Wood Cup 1975 2\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-1975-2-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Wood Cup 1975 2<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-1975-3.jpg\" title=\"Wood Cup 1975 3\" data-rl_title=\"Wood Cup 1975 3\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wood-Cup-1975-3-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Wood Cup 1975 3<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"rl-gallery-description\"><\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>THE HISTORY OF WALSDEN CRICKET &amp; BOWLING CLUB \u2013 CRICKET SECTION<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The early beginnings of&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;Cricket &amp; Bowling Club are shrouded in mystery. Although officially formed 1870 records can be found of matches played as early as 1856. It is believed that the club played at White&nbsp;Scack&nbsp;and Heights Houses prior to its move to the present ground in 1870. The addition of the&nbsp;Bowling Green&nbsp;occurred in 1895. The club joined the Central Lancashire League (C.L.L.) in 1892 despite the ground actually being situated in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Prior to playing league cricket the team played matches on both sides of the border travelling to clubs such as&nbsp;Padiham,&nbsp;Whalley, Elland, Fieldhouse,&nbsp;Littleborough,&nbsp;Bacup,&nbsp;Haslingden,&nbsp;Hebden&nbsp;Bridge and Newton Heath. The railway was then the main mode of travel. By 1883 the club was engaging professionals on a match-by-match basis but the first recorded professional on a&nbsp;seasons&nbsp;basis was in 1887 when Bracket was paid sixteen shillings per match (a princely sum!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the club joined the C.L.L. in 1892 it was guided into the league by the local vicar J R Napier who learnt his cricket at&nbsp;Marlborough&nbsp;College. Twice he played for Lancashire in 1888, taking seven wickets against&nbsp;Australia, and then at Sheffield he took four wickets for no runs against&nbsp;Yorkshire. For many years the club floundered in the lower reaches of the League, being unable to sign big name professionals, but it did produce its own crop of local heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1915 Henry Smith scored 205 runs against&nbsp;Moorside, a record for amateurs which still stands today. It is interesting to note the opposition professional was a very young Maurice Leyland, who scored 53 and took four wickets for 108, bowling 18 overs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another famous local was Frank Scott, who was the local signalman. In a long career he scored 6,175 runs and took 966 wickets: his obituary claimed. \u201cHe never bowled a wide or a no-ball\u201d. Frank Scott began a family trail (initially through the Scott and then the Barker families) which continues to the present day. His son, grandson, and great-grandson have all captained the first XI whilst his two great&nbsp;great&nbsp;grandsons have both recently made their first team debuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a small village (population 2,000), the club has always had to struggle to compete against the big town clubs like Rochdale, Middleton and Oldham because it could never afford the big name professionals, but in the past managed to keep afloat by organising bazaars, carnivals and field days. In 1910 the club purchased an old Salvation Army hut from&nbsp;Moorside&nbsp;for \u00a312.10 shillings and transported it by horse and cart to the ground and re-erected it in time for the 1911 season. In 1912 the professional&nbsp;W&nbsp;Storah&nbsp;became the first&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;player to take 100 wickets and stayed as pro up to 1914 and was reengaged again in 1919. His record for wickets stood until 1937 when J&nbsp;Hatchman&nbsp;took 123 wickets, a club record which is still intact. The club presented him with an inscribed ball which is still on display inside the clubhouse today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up until 1954 the club had no major trophy wins, although the second XI won the 2nd&nbsp;division championship in 1898 (undefeated) and again in 1915. In 1946 the club signed its first international player in Edwin St Hill (West Indies) and in 1947 despite not winning a league match the club reached the final of the Wood Cup but unfortunately lost heavily to&nbsp;Milnrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1950&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;signed a West Indian test player of Chinese descent, Ellis&nbsp;Achong&nbsp;whose previous clubs were Rochdale, Heywood and&nbsp;Burnley.&nbsp;Achong\u2019s&nbsp;slow left arm bowling is accredited with inventing the \u201cChinaman\u201d, a ball still feared today. He stayed at the club for three years taking 266 wickets but success still evaded the club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walsden&nbsp;professionals up to 1952 has been mainly bowling professionals and it is amazing fact that the first time a pro scored over 500 runs was S W Hunt in 1952, who scored 542 in his only season at&nbsp;Walsden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1954 the club won their first major trophy, the Wood Cup. The professional Ronnie Wood was called up to play for&nbsp;Yorkshire&nbsp;and in his place the club signed the legendary Everton Weekes. The story of this final is so amazing that it is recorded on a separate web site page. [click&nbsp;here for&nbsp;\u201cthe Weekes Final\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1955, struggling for success and still struggling to survive, economies at the club had to be made. As a result the club turned the clock back and resigned&nbsp;Hatchman&nbsp;for three seasons despite his advancing years. In 1960 things began to look up. A young Australian, Alan Preen, arrived on the scene and made an immediate impact taking 100 wickets with the club achieving a place in the top half of the table. In 1961 the signing of Bob Bartels was a major turning point. The arrival of this all rounder from&nbsp;Ceylon&nbsp;combined with an array of local talent including Len Moss, Jack Coupe, Will Barker, Peter Green and the Connor bothers formed a side to be feared. The club still faced financial problems but a local businessman, Wilfred Kingsbury, initiated a football lottery which helped the club to get out of financial trouble and enabled the building of new dressing rooms above the current club house which included, for the first time in the clubs history, a bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These off the field changes inspired the team and in 1962 the Wood Cup was back in&nbsp;Walsden. A dramatic last league match which was drawn and the League Championship&nbsp;was&nbsp;shared with&nbsp;Stockport. Bartels who scored over 900 runs and took 93 wickets then left for big money in the Staffordshire League but success at the club continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1964 the arrival of former Middlesex and Nottinghamshire batsman John&nbsp;Springhall&nbsp;combined with&nbsp;Walsden\u2019s&nbsp;local talent saw the club finally win the league title outright, followed in 1965 by a losing Wood Cup final appearance. In 1968 aided by West Indian Keith Barker,&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;again reached the Wood Cup final but lost out yet again, this time to Heywood. 1969 saw the club sign West Indian&nbsp;Cec&nbsp;Wright who stayed at the club for five seasons taking over 500 wickets and taking the club in 1970 to, yet another losing Wood Cup Final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1975 still unable to sign big names because of their higher wage demands&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;signed the then unknown Trevor Chappell who became the first player in&nbsp;Walsden\u2019s&nbsp;history to do \u201cthe double\u201d scoring 1,264 runs and taking 106 wickets. The Wood Cup returned to&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;after defeating&nbsp;Werneth&nbsp;in the final at&nbsp;Littleborough&nbsp;with Chappell scoring 124 not out, and taking 5 for 32. He too moved on for bigger money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1978&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;engaged Queenslander Rod Lawrence who brought fellow Queenslander Alec Parker with him. The side enjoyed a lot of success and amateur David Lord took a club record 93 wickets. The team eventually finished third in the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The late 70\u2019s saw the introduction by the league of the controversial \u201coverseas amateur\u201d. This has led over the years to the batting talents of Parker,&nbsp;Toshack, Walsh,&nbsp;Skuse&nbsp;and Blake from&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;and&nbsp;Austin&nbsp;from the&nbsp;West Indies&nbsp;to name but a few, all visiting&nbsp;Walsden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1981 yet another Cup Final defeat occurred at Middleton, this time to&nbsp;Werneth. West Indian all rounder, Neil Phillips, was&nbsp;Walsden\u2019s&nbsp;professional. 1983 saw&nbsp;Walsden\u2019s&nbsp;biggest capture when they signed&nbsp;Pakistans&nbsp;opening bat&nbsp;Moshin&nbsp;Khan shortly after his historic double century at Lords. He graced the crease at&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;for four seasons breaking the club batting record by scoring 1,378 runs in 1984, and helped the club to the Wood Cup final in 1986 only to lose out yet again, this time to&nbsp;Littleborough&nbsp;and the legendary Ezra Moseley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lean spell for honours on the playing front followed in the late 80\u2019s. However in the 1990\u2019s the astute signing of economically priced professionals and hard work from the home players kept the club to the forefront of the&nbsp;league .&nbsp;Over the years the club gained a reputation for signing up and coming talented young players such as Andrew Dykes (Tasmania), Brad White (South Africa), Andy&nbsp;Bichel&nbsp;an established test player with&nbsp;Australia, Rohan Larkin (Victoria) and Paul Hutchison (Queensland), all of whom served the club well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1995 was a celebration of the clubs 125th&nbsp;year, and what a year. The sun shone, and a relatively unknown Victorian Jason Bakker broke the club batting record, scoring 1,596 runs and also taking 85 wickets. Two amateurs Richard Eastwood (1154 runs which previously was the club amateur record) and Mark&nbsp;Hoosen&nbsp;(1,067 runs) also made hay. The season culminated in a memorable Wood Cup final victory over Ashton at&nbsp;Milnrow&nbsp;and a fourth position in the league, a great season! 1998 saw the club again let slip from their grasp the Wood Cup in a high scoring final defeat against&nbsp;Littleborough&nbsp;at&nbsp;Werneth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast bowling South African, Deon&nbsp;Kruis, arrived on&nbsp;he&nbsp;scene in 1999 and became the second player in the history of the club to do the \u201cdouble\u201d. Amazingly scoring exactly 1,000 runs and taking 100 wickets, but the club again only managed to finish mid table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Professionals and overseas amateurs apart, most of the players representing the club over the years have been brought up in the village. In the 1960\u2019s there were several occasions when four brothers of the Connor family were playing members and in the 1970\u2019s four brothers of the Bailey family were in the first team. There are numerous occasions of father and son representing the club. Young sons will practise in the intervals and after the game and then eventually follow in their father\u2019s footsteps through the clubs teams. Wives and other family members have turned out regularly to assist with fund raising and providing teas. This ongoing tradition with whole generations and families involved has been one of the major strengths of the club and is still very evident today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the clubs 1st&nbsp;and 2nd&nbsp;XI\u2019s play their senior cricket in&nbsp;he&nbsp;C.L.L. mention must be made of the contribution of the 3rd&nbsp;XI which was formed in 1978. The team started as an outlet for older retiring players and grooming younger players, but has created great benefits for the club as some players who took up cricket later in life have progressed into 1st&nbsp;and 2nd&nbsp;XI cricket and became active within the club off the field as well. The 3rd&nbsp;XI joined the Halifax Cricket Association and won promotion to the first division at the first attempt. They spent the next twenty four years in and out of the first division. Their best season was in 1991 when they ended runners up in division one and also won he Calder Valley Cup. The team played its first few years at&nbsp;Dobroyd&nbsp;Castle&nbsp;and then&nbsp;Calder&nbsp;High School&nbsp;before settling back at&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;for their home matches. The team joined the C.L.L. 3rd&nbsp;XI league in 2002 and won the knock out trophy at the first attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Millennium Suite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The club made a decision in the year 2000 despite having been turned down twice for lottery funding to demolish the old wooden pavilion, which was originally built in 1911. A great fund raising effort, club support and generous donations and loans from the late Allen Marshall and the club president Gordon&nbsp;Rigg, resulted in sufficient funds being raised to demolish the old pavilion in April 2000. The pavilion had served the club so well for over 80 years as dance hall, tearoom,&nbsp;cinema&nbsp;and as a venue for many other varied events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new function room (The Millennium Suite) opened on New Year\u2019s Eve 2000 to herald a new era for the club and was officially opened by the club president, Gordon&nbsp;Rigg, at&nbsp;the&nbsp;&nbsp;A.G.M. in January 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walsden&nbsp;had a good season in 2003 when a very useful pace bowler and late order batsman, Paul Hitchcock who played ODIs for&nbsp;New Zealand&nbsp;was engaged and Mark Hooson in particular had a brilliant season with the bat winning the Sir Frank Worrell trophy for most runs in the league with 807 runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2004 the club signed the young Australian batting star Shaun Marsh (son of Geoff Marsh).&nbsp;&nbsp;His all-round ability coupled with talents of some very good senior players including Hooson, Blake and Hanson, and some emerging young players resulted in&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;winning the Wood Cup final by beating Heywood at&nbsp;Milnrow\u2019s&nbsp;Lady House ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;Heywood batted first on a poor wicket and scored a modest 116 runs with wickets being shared by Blake, Marsh, Hooson, Plane and a young Stevie Barker.&nbsp;&nbsp;Walden\u2019s run chase faltered with the loss of early wickets including Marsh, but the resolute Hooson and Nick Barker batted&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;to victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark Hooson was named player of the tournament and saw his emergence as a real quality all-round cricketer, arguably the best the club has produced along with the late Lenny Moss.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hooson also won the best all-round cricketer award for the league in 2004.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2006 with South African swing bowler&nbsp;Jandre&nbsp;Coetzee as professional the club became a real force in the league and achieved second place, the best since 1978.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the same season skipper Dave Blake had a prolific season with the bat winning the Sir Frank Worrell trophy for the most runs in the league, 1206 runs which at the time was also a record for a&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;amateur.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sadly Heywood narrowly pipped&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;to the&nbsp;title,&nbsp;however a very strong second team meant that the club won the aggregate trophy for the first time in their history.&nbsp;&nbsp;This feat was also achieved in 2008 when the club engaged in the services of the all-rounder&nbsp;Janaka&nbsp;Gunerathne&nbsp;from&nbsp;Sri Lanka&nbsp;along with Matt Thomson (son of Jeff) as overseas amateur.&nbsp;Matt came over from the&nbsp;Toombul&nbsp;club in Brisbane, a club that has provided a long list of distinguished overseas amateur players for&nbsp;Walsden.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2010 local batsman James Rawlinson achieved a major feat by breaking the club batting record held by Blake (1210 runs) by scoring 1376 runs which was the most runs in the league thereby winning the Sir Frank Worrell trophy, following in the footsteps of&nbsp;Toshack&nbsp;(1987), Hooson (2003) and Blake (2006).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After another mid table finish in 2011 expectations for 2012 were high with the return of several players and the recruitment of an exciting left arm spinning all rounder. The expectations were fulfilled and&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;won the League for the first time in 48 years.&nbsp;For the full story of season 2012, please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=120\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2013 the Club had the most successful season in its history when the First team won the League again &amp; reached the Wood Cup&nbsp;final,&nbsp;the Second team won the League and reached the Burton Cup Final. The club also won the Aggregate Trophy for the fourth time in seven years. For the full story of season 2013, please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=121\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2014 Was anticipated to be another good season with the same Team as 2013 plus Sri Lankan Spinner Batsman&nbsp;Umesh&nbsp;Karunaratne&nbsp;as Pro. Unfortunately&nbsp;Norden&nbsp;CC had strengthened their Team significantly as well. They ran out as League Champions with&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;&nbsp;First&nbsp;&amp; Second Teams being League Runners-up.&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;also reached the Semi Final of the LCB Trophy whilst the Second Team&nbsp;were&nbsp;&nbsp;again&nbsp;Runners-up in the Burton Cup Final. A successful season but no Trophies!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2015 Was the final season of the CLL with the CLL joining the&nbsp;Saddleworth&nbsp;League to form the Pennine League from&nbsp;2016.&nbsp;The 2015 season was a near mirror image of the 2014 season, with&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;again being runners-up in the Premier League and again LCB Cup semi finalists. The Second Team were again runners-up&nbsp;&nbsp;in&nbsp;the 2nd&nbsp;Eleven Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2016 Was the first year of the newly formed Pennine Cricket League (PCL) which was an amalgamation of the Central Lancashire League and&nbsp;Saddleworth&nbsp;League, comprising 2 divisions of 12&nbsp;Teams.&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;First Team, again with&nbsp;Umesh&nbsp;as Pro had the most successful season in the Clubs history, winning both the Premier League (outright), and the Wood Cup in a thrilling final verses Rochdale at&nbsp;Redbrook. The Second Team also had another successful year to become runners-up in the Second Eleven Premiership. The combined success of both Teams meant that the Club won the Aggregate Trophy for the fifth time in the last eleven seasons. A very successful year! For the full story of season 2016, please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=122\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2017 Was another very successful year for the first team (with the second team finishing 4th). Despite early Cup exits (2 due to Bowl outs) the First Team lost only 1 League game all Season and won the Final PCL Premiership by 7 points. Professional&nbsp;Umesh&nbsp;had a superb Season accompanied by the very strong Amateur side.&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;CC became the only winners of the PCL Premiership before the PCL finished at the end of the 2017 Season with the majority of the PCL Clubs joining the Greater Manchester League and 7 Clubs (including&nbsp;Walsden) joining the Lancashire League for the 2018 Season onwards. For the full story of season 2017, please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=596\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>NEW ENLARGED LANCASHIRE LEAGUE<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>2018 was&nbsp;Walsden\u2019s&nbsp;first season in the new enlarged Lancashire League of 24 teams. It was a wonderful season when the sun shone for most of the season and&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;as a club lost very few games. The first team lost only one game all season to become league champions at their first attempt. Our second and third teams were also crowned league champions with the seconds also winning the Telegraph cup. This was the first time in Lancashire League history that all three teams had won their league in the same season. For the full story of the season please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/?page_id=123\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2019 Was another relatively succesful year with all 3 senior teams ending the season as runners up. The first team could count themselves a little unlucky having 4 games rained off against the champions Burnley CC only leaving 2 games lost to the weather. Nevertheless Burnley were worthy champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first team also got to the last 8 of the Lancashire Cricket Board trophy losing in a tight game to eventual Liverpool competition winners Northern CC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2020 This season didn\u2019t start until August due to the Covid pandemic. Teams competed for the Presidents Trophy. Walsden firsts performed well and were beaten in the semis by eventual winners Church CC, whilst the seconds lost to Clitheroe in the final on Walsden. Our third team were regional group winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interesting facts in the Clubs History<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>1888<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Rev Russell Napier represented Lancashire twice scoring 48 runs and taking 11 wickets for 102 including 4 for 0 against&nbsp;Yorkshire<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1937<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With six seasons as professional only leg spinner Jimmy&nbsp;Hatchman&nbsp;served longer&nbsp;as professional than&nbsp;any other&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;professional. Jimmy had two spells of 3 seasons 1937-38-39 and remarkably again in 1955-56-57.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1937&nbsp;Hatchman&nbsp;took 123 wickets, a club record which stands today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overs \u2013 577<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maidens \u2013 81<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Runs \u2013 1761<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wickets \u2013 123<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Average \u2013 14.7<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1950<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The club has only ever produced one player who has gone on to play county cricket<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydney&nbsp;Starkie&nbsp;left&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;to join Northamptonshire in 1951 playing until 1956 mainly in 2nd&nbsp;X1 cricket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His figures in first class matches were as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matches \u2013 95<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inns \u2013 110<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>N.O. \u2013 33<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Runs \u2013 857<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>H.S. \u2013 60<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Average \u2013 10.71<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He took 166 wickets at average 34.25. Best bowling 6-33. Catches 64.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1951<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>P B Wight played as an amateur in 1951 for ten matches. A West Indian he went on to play for Somerset and later became a first class umpire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1958<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dick Pollard played two matches as an amateur for&nbsp;Walsden. Pollard had played for Lancashire from 1933-1950 and represented England four times against Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1969-73<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cec&nbsp;Wright who was professional for 5 years 1969 to 1973. He took a remarkable 538 wickets for the club. His figures are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Overs&nbsp; &nbsp;Maidens&nbsp; &nbsp;Runs&nbsp; &nbsp;Wickets&nbsp; &nbsp;Averages<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1969&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 345&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 61&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1104&nbsp; &nbsp; 116&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9.51<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1970&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 396&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 57&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1273&nbsp; &nbsp; 114&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10.72<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1971&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 332&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 56&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1208&nbsp; &nbsp; 114&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10.59<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1972&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 389&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 35&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1225&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;90&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 13.61<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1973&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 378&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 53&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1265&nbsp; &nbsp; 104&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 12.01<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Totals&nbsp; &nbsp; 1840&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;262&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6075&nbsp; &nbsp; 538&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;11.29<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The eighth ball over was still in place meaning&nbsp;Cec&nbsp;took a wicket every 3.5 overs or every 27 balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1996<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After only 12 games professional Paul Hutchison had taken 62 wickets and looked set to break the league record. A dislocated shoulder meant that he could not bowl for many weeks and he finished the season with 75 wickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2012<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Left arm Spinner&nbsp;Ranil&nbsp;Dhammika&nbsp;took an incredible 119 wickets at an average of 7.9 runs per wicket. The 119 wickets are an overs cricket record beating&nbsp;Ces&nbsp;Wrights&nbsp;total of 116 in 1969 &amp; was only 4 wickets behind the all time Club record of 123 wickets by Jimmy&nbsp;Hatchman&nbsp;in 1937. The miserly average of 7.9 is certainly the best by any player in the Central Lancashire League for the last 10 years and may be one of the best averages in the history of the League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A short history of&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;C&amp;BC written by A S in Oct 2018<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Walsden&nbsp;Cricket and Bowling Club<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 2018 is one the players and members of&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;Cricket and Bowling Club will never forget. The club became champions of the famous Lancashire League at their first attempt, losing only one match in the whole campaign. In addition the second and third eleven also won their respective leagues with the seconds also winning the Telegraph Challenge Cup. This was the first time in Lancashire League history that all 3 teams had become champions of their leagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The village club has come a long way since its foundation in 1870. The club became a founder member of the Central Lancashire League in 1872 competing against large towns such as Rochdale, Oldham, Bury and Stockport. Success was a long time in coming and not until 1954 did the club win any silverware when they won the Wood Cup Competition (aided in no small way by a certain Everton Weekes).1962 saw the club become joint League Champions and Wood Cup winners followed by becoming outright League Champions in1964. There were no more league championships until the successes&nbsp;of&nbsp;&nbsp;2012&nbsp;and 2013, although there were three more Wood Cup successes in between. Following the demise of the Central Lancashire League in 2015, the club joined the newly formed Pennine League where it won the Premier League both in 2016 and 2017, before moving to the Lancashire League and the championships of 2018. The club has always prided itself on the fact that the vast majority of its players have been born or lived in the village with the exception of the professional. Although known for their prudence in signing professionals some stars of the Test Arena who have graced the Scott Street ground as&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;professional include Everton Weekes, Trevor Chappell,&nbsp;Mohsin&nbsp;Khan, Andy&nbsp;Bichel&nbsp;and Shaun Marsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Off the field the Club has always been the centre of&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;village life, along with St Peter\u2019s Church. The original wooden club pavilion built in 1910 (a converted Mission Hall from Oldham) purchased for \u00a325, was over the years used for weddings, funerals, plays, dances and many more events. In the late 1950\u2019s the club was close to folding, but in a bold move with a superb fundraising effort the new dressing rooms and bar were added alongside the 1910 building. As the years went on the team became one of the harder clubs to beat on the field and off the field the club managed to stay in the black due to a great team of hard working committee and members. By the 1990s the old Mission Hut was really showing its age so with the Millennium looming the Committee decided to demolish it and with the help of Lottery Grants and donations from local residents and local businesses the new Millennium Suite was built and opened in 2000. The new building remains the centre of village life for the local community and has recently had a major facelift. The building is environmentally friendly with solar panels and air source heat exchange system. All weather practice wickets and a digital scorebox have been installed on the ground and great emphasis has been placed on coaching and coaching facilities for its five junior teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The future of the club looks well set for the next generation but it will take a monumental effort to top the triple league winning season of 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Author: Allan&nbsp;Stuttard&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nov 2018.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE HISTORY OF WALSDEN CRICKET &amp; BOWLING CLUB \u2013 CRICKET SECTION The early beginnings of&nbsp;Walsden&nbsp;Cricket &amp; Bowling Club are shrouded in mystery. Although officially formed 1870 records can be found of matches played as early as 1856. It is believed that the club played at White&nbsp;Scack&nbsp;and Heights Houses prior to its move to the present ground in 1870. The addition [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-655","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=655"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":656,"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/655\/revisions\/656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walsdencandbc.co.uk\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}