Micklehurst Cricket Club

Micklehurst Cricket Club is based in Micklehurst, Mossley near the border with Stalybridge in Tameside, north-west England. Their home ground is on Castle Lane. The club are currently members of the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League Premiership. The 2008 season will be their 4th playing cricket in Yorkshire having been long time members of the Saddleworth and District Cricket League. Both 1st and 2nd XI's have been in their respective Premierships for the last 3 years

History

The club was formed in 1890 by employees of George Lawton and Sons, Woollen manufacturers of Micklehurst. When you look at the contours of the surrounding land, you realise what a labour of love it must have been to create the playing area. In those early days the ground was much smaller than it is today and boundaries only counted as three runs, after which the batsmen changed ends.

In 1898 Micklehurst became members of the Oldham and Ashton District League along with New Hey, West Oldham, Oldham Independents, Ashton Albion and Mossley Brow. The club joined the Saddleworth and District League in 1900. Throughout the ensuing 100 years, Micklehurst always featured consistently as League or Cup winners.

One of the lowest times for the club was on the 9th September 1984 when fire destroyed much of the clubhouse. Thanks to the generosity of townspeople, member clubs of the Saddleworth League and cricket clubs throughout the country £3,348.16 was raised, sufficient to replace the damaged building. Sadly most of the club’s photographic history was lost forever.

Whilst being able to boast the services of many fine players during its history, one of the most notable was Omar Henry, who in 1978 scored 1172 runs and in 1979 scored 1108, at an average of 73.86. This included one weekend with successive innings of 167 not out and 243. Omar went on to become the first non-white player to represent South Africa at international level and later became chairman of selectors for the South African Cricket Board.

At the end of the 2004 season the club resigned from the Saddleworth League and in 2005 played its first season in the Drakes Huddersfield League. Both the 1st and 2nd XI’s won promotion from their respective Conference divisions and since then have played in their respective Premiership divisions.

External links

* [http://www.micklehurstcc.co.uk Micklehurst Cricket Club]