Into Bradford

Posted by Peter Davies

Saturday 7 April

A foray out into the Bradford League – a pre-season friendly between Undercliffe CC’s second and third teams. Thankfully, the weather was okay. Not many spectators in evidence but the tea room was open, there were a few punters in the bar, and also a few spectators knocking about outside.

I was impressed that Undercliffe was only a £5.80 taxi ride away from the city centre – much closer than I thought. There was very much a pre-season feel to this practice match – because that, after all, was what it was.

The club has an interesting history. The league website talks about the club’s early years:

‘Undercliffe Cricket Club have been members of the Bradford League since its inauguration in 1903. A thriving membership has always ensured a good financial base which has helped, particularly in later years with payments to players.

‘…However, there was no great entrance for the club into the league for they finished a modest ninth in the first season. Great Horton were the outstanding side of the decade and were Undercliffe’s bogey team, dismissing them for 27 in 1904.

‘T.E.Wright became the club’s first centurion in 1905, scoring 107 not out against Dudley Hill as they finished fifth in the league and registered an isolated triumph against bogey team Great Horton when they skittled them out for 28. The two sides met in the semi-final of 1906 and Horton won by an imposing 201 runs.

‘Undercliffe won their first league title in 1907 and in 1908 won the Priestley Cup for the first time when they dismissed Shelf for 109 and replied with 111 for three. The cup returned to Intake Road in 1910 when they scored 263 before bowling out Great Horton for 145 to secure a 118-run victory.’

Key personalities in the history of the club include George Gunn – a star of the early twentieth century; Edward Clarke of Northamptonshire in the 1920s; Thomas Alec ‘Sandy’ Jacques, who played for Yorkshire; Vic Wilson, who eventually captained Yorkshire; Jack Wainwright, star of the 1963 championship-winning side; Les Jackson, Alan Ward, David Smith and Ashley Harvey-Walker and Jim Brailsford (all Derbyshire); David Dobson, star of the 1970s; John White, a top pace bowler; and David Bairstow, of Yorkshire and England.

The league website talks about more recent years: ‘The seventies proved to be an outstanding decade for the club as they also lifted Priestley Cup in 1974 and 1975. In 1974 they dismissed Bingley for 127 before cruising to a six-wicket win and the following year they made 234 for nine before defeating Manningham Mills for 138.

‘The eighties started in fine style with another Priestley Cup triumph - this time by 32 runs against East Bierley but there was no more silverware until 1986 when they lifted the league championship. Their side included Simon Kellett, Jerry Mytton, Peter Booth, David Dobson and Howard Reeve who were all regular runscorers while former Leicester paceman Booth took 38 wickets.

‘There were plenty of ups and downs during the 1990s. They were relegated in 1994 and 1999 and on each occasion bounced back by winning the Second Division championship the next season.

‘The biggest highs were winning the First Division championship under the captaincy of Russell Heritage in 1997 and the Yorkshire Champions Cup the following year. Sadly the club was relegated again in 2003.’