One of the cricket subject I am very interested in is Cricket during
the Second World War.Last week I noticed a two membership
cards for Todmorden Cricket Club who play in the Lancashire
League even though part of the town is in Yorkshire. When
I think of Todmorden I remember Brian Heywood along with
his father who wrote Cloth Caps and Cricket Crazy : Todmorden
and cricket 1835 to 1896.
The card belong to Mr Frank Gurnett and has the fixtures for
the first, second and third teams. The teams the thirds play I
have never heard of ie Knotts, Unitarians, Lumbutts, Dulesgate
Bridge Street and Patmos.The League in 1940 decided to
cancel all contracts with Professionals and there was a noticeable
fall i attendances at all grounds.Church won the Championship
enjoying the assistance of R.Parkin, the son of Cecil Parkin ,
the former England cricketer. Todmorden finished third eleven
points behind. There were 26 matches played.
I also purchased the membership card for 1941 for Todmorden.
It is a blue cardboard card which just shows the first team fixtures
for that year.For the second year the league carried on without
professional players and although the standard of cricket was not
so high , more clubs than usual showed a profit .Church again won
the Championship by an handsome margin .Wisden stated that
difficulties may be expected in raising teams during the 1942
season ,many of the young players being engaged in service
organisations.
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