The Higson Cup- a great cricketing tradition

 By Mike Latham

 

By all accounts Tom Higson was a modest cricketer, but he left an indelible mark on the game by donating the Higson Cup to be competed for by clubs comprising the North Lancashire and District League, now the Cumbria Cricket League, via a compromise as the North Lancashire & Cumbria Cricket League.

 

The knock-out trophy, inaugurated in 1923, is eagerly contested, the final one of the highlights of the cricketing year in the far north-west of England, where the passion for the game still burns brightly. In 2019 Furness won the cup, thanks largely to a superb all-round performance by their Sri Lanka international professional, Sachith Pathirana. He scored 83 in his side’s 195-8, then took five wickets as Keswick were bowled out for 95 in reply.

 

Tom Higson was a former Oxford University, Derbyshire and Lancashire player who captained Kendal CC in the North Lancashire League for several seasons. Born Stockport in 1873, he played 29 first-class games between 1892 and 1923, scoring 584 runs at 12 and taking 41 wickets with slow off-breaks at 28.

 

His contribution to cricket was more marked off the field; he was a member of the Lancashire Committee for 49 years and succeeded the late Sir Edwin Stockton as chairman in 1932, serving in that role until 1949 after a previous stint as honorary treasurer for eight years.

 

Tom Higson

 

Between 1931 to 1934 Higson was a member of the MCC Selection Committee, a Test selector, alongside Sir Pelham Warner and Percy Perrin.

 

Another great servant to cricket is the Cumbrian stalwart Gilbert Johnstone, a man familiar to many who read these pages. Gilbert, who now resides in Workington, was, by his own admission, no great shakes as a player but contributed so much as an umpire and later administrator, serving on the Cumberland CCC committee for many years.

Gilbert Johnstone

Gilbert has also spent many years researching the history of the game in Cumbria, ensuring scorecards are recorded for posterity on the Cricket Archive website.

As well as researching every scorecard for a Cumberland CCC game, he combined with me to research the Higson Cup and now every final is recorded on the CA website, many previous games in the rounds also.

Millom were the first winners of the Higson Cup, then played as a midweek competition with no limit on overs. In the inaugural final they played Ulverston at Dalton, a low-scoring game watched by a large crowd.

Railway Meadow, Dalton-in-Furness, pictured at the 1954 Higson Cup Final – and again, at a club game, in 2018 (below)

Played on Wednesday, 8 August 1923, the Millom Gazette recorded: “The crowd was a big one and the vocal exercises of those in it left no doubt as to the conglomerate nature of its composition.

“Ulverstonians predominated but Millom had taken a fairly large number of supporters.”

Millom batted first, mustering 89, Alex Rigg and Herbert Thomas adding 42 in the only partnership of note.

“The total was not formidable, but it was too much for Ulverston,” the Gazette added. “Only Brockbank reached double figures as Gill and Thomas bowled with deadly effect.”

Maurice Gill, a native of Burnley, was the Millom professional, a left medium bowler of cunning and accuracy.

Gill took 5-25, Thomas 5-13 as Ulverston were bowled out in 24.3 overs. “(Syd) Mudge kept a grand wicket and the fielding was better than usual,” the Gazette reporter added, generously.

A great crowd awaited the triumphant team as they returned later that evening to Millom station.

Many a great tale has been told of Higson Cup Finals since and thanks largely to Gilbert, with a little help from me, they are recorded here:

Higson Cup Finals 1923-2019

1923 (8 Aug) at Dalton CC: MILLOM 89 (F Boon 4-23) defeated Ulverston 40 (M Gill 5-25, HH Thomas 5-13) by 49 runs.

1924 (27 Aug) at Dalton CC: FURNESS 85 (W Ormanby 7-23) defeated Millom 46 (H Ogden 6-22, WG Collinge 4-24) by 39 runs.

1925 (27 Aug) at Furness CC: BARROW 144 (S Youren 5-37) defeated Dalton 40 (AE Bancroft 6-21, J Tyldesley 4-18) by 104 runs.

1926 (25, 26 Aug) at Dalton CC: MILLOM 169-8 (WF Pennington 4-31) defeated Kendal 166 (H Hall 64, HO Walmsley 8-65) by 2 wickets.

1927 (25 Aug) at Barrow CC: FURNESS 121 defeated Morecambe 105 (J Melville 6-28) by 16 runs.

1928 (13 Aug) at Furness CC: BARROW was awarded the Cup by default after Millom refused to play after the date was changed from 15 Aug.

1929 (12 Aug) at Furness CC: DALTON 165 (H Hall 9-85) defeated Kendal 111 (EB Jackson 4-31, J Walker 4-14) by 54 runs.

1930 (11 Aug) at Furness CC: BARROW 108 (G Hargreaves 4-33) defeated Whitehaven 52 (HO Walmsley 6-28, HH Thomas 4-20) by 56 runs.

1931 (10 Aug) at Furness CC: BARROW 59-5 (RD Pickthall 4-34) defeated Kendal 57 (HO Walmsley 9-26) by 5 wickets.

1932 (8 Aug) at Barrow CC: NETHERFIELD 178 (WH Davies 99, RH Ayres 5-42) defeated Vickerstown 123 (WH Davies 4-31, F King 4-25) by 55 runs.

1933 (14 Aug) at Furness CC: DALTON 189 (S Redhead 62, G Stephenson 4-20) defeated Barrow 144 (V Smith 5-73) by 45 runs.

1934 (8 Aug) at Furness CC: BARROW 109-9 (R Wilson 6-29) defeated Cumberland Motor Services 108 (AC Williams 7-48) by 1 wicket.

1935 (8 Aug) at Barrow CC: DALTON 190 (S Redhead 78, J Graham 6-57, A Denison 4-80) beat Kendal 135 (V Smith 5-65, G Gibson 4-48) by 55 runs.

1936 (13 Aug) at Barrow CC: FURNESS 157 (J Walker 57, A Graves 5-69, E Steele 4-46) defeated Whitehaven 122 (R Ayres 5-47, WRC Houston 5-46) by 35 runs.

1937 (5 Aug) at Furness CC: BARROW 103 (E Steele 5-26) defeated Whitehaven 102 (G Higgins 5-30, R McIntosh 4-35) by 1 run.

1938 (4 Aug) at Barrow CC: CUMBERLAND MOTOR SERVICES 108 (WH Davies 5-38) defeated Vickerstown 87 (W Kinrade 5-34) by 21 runs.

1939 (10 Aug) at Furness CC: KENDAL 127 (RJ McIntosh 5-58) defeated Barrow 107 (W Stead 4-54) by 20 runs.

1945 (6 Aug) at Dalton CC: FURNESS 139-7 (WH Davies 66no) defeated Millom 111 (W Horne 53, W Ormandy 4-13) by 28 runs.

1946 (8 Aug) at Furness CC: BARROW 214-8 (CJ Tomkin 58, C Clarkson 57, H Dalzell 5-62) defeated Kendal 76 (J Holroyd 5-40) by 138 runs.

1947 (7 Aug) at Furness CC: MILLOM 103-5 defeated Kendal 102 (W Harrison 52, W Horne 6-47, J Procter 4-47) by 5 wickets.

1948 (5 Aug) at Furness CC: KENDAL 86-0 defeated Barrow 83 (E Leeming 4-42) by 10 wickets.

1949 (4 Aug) at Barrow CC: FURNESS 149-8 (W Horne 58, K Bennett 58, FW Anderson 4-25) defeated Ulverston 106-9 by 43 runs.

1950 (10 Aug) at Barrow CC: WORKINGTON 96 (B Reed 5-25) defeated Kendal 51 (R Wilson 6-31, J Bowes 4-20) by 45 runs.

1951 (9 Aug) at Barrow CC: FURNESS 179-5 (JH Coombe 60no) defeated Netherfield 139 (BS Ramchand 5-67, H Gibbon 5-66) by 40 runs.

1952 (7 Aug, 27 Aug) at Barrow CC: WORKINGTON 189-8 (A Allan 61, E St Hill 4-82) defeated Vickerstown 186-6 (A Burrows 65, R Wilson 4-109) by 2 wickets. (NB: rain stopped play on 7 Aug after the conclusion of the Vickerstown innings; the match was resumed 20 days later).

1953 (5 Aug) at Barrow CC: MILLOM 176-9 (K Reid 7-62) defeated Carnforth 141 (SK Girdhari 6-74) by 35 runs.

1954 (4 Aug) at Dalton CC: MILLOM 134-1 (RK Arnold 59no, SK Girdhari 69no) defeated Barrow 131-9 (R Sharp 6-40) by 9 wickets.

1955 (3 Aug) at Dalton CC: CARLISLE 175-8 (A Ashman 78) defeated Carnforth 163 (E Miller 50, N Baxter 7-53) by 12 runs.

1956 (8 Aug) at Barrow CC: DALTON 45-5 defeated Haverigg 44 (R Polkinghorn 7-17) by 5 wickets.

1957 (8, 9 Aug) at Vickers SC: BARROW 124 (F Gibson 6-60) defeated Dalton 64 (JI Harley 6-33, B Probert 4-12) by 60 runs.

1958 (30 Jul) at Dalton CC: VICKERSTOWN 118 (EJ Purdon 4-35) defeated Workington 75 (T Wood 5-28) by 43 runs.

1959 (6 Aug) at Millom CC: CARLISLE 90-4 defeated Whitehaven 88 (AH Clapperton 5-53, D Williamson 5-32) by 6 wickets.

1960 (3 Aug) at Dalton CC: LINDAL 78 defeated Millom 77 (W Steel 7-32) by 1 run.

1961 (17 Aug) at Dalton CC: HAVERIGG 139-8 (K McCourt 4-26) defeated Workington 138-9 (MJ Gillbanks 4-57) by 2 wickets.

1962 (11 Aug) at Barrow CC: DALTON 155 defeated Furness 121-9 (H Dalzell 5-37) by 34 runs.

1963 (1 Aug) at Dalton CC: CARLISLE 148-4 (M Beaty 61) defeated Lindal 144 (H Stretch 50, D Fordy 6-30) by 6 wickets.

1964 (30 Jul) at Vickers SC: CARLISLE 175-9 (GD Cooke 65, JK Hughes 5-67) defeated Furness 157 (K Reynolds 5-49, D Fordy 4-41) by 18 runs.

1965 (30 Jul) at Furness CC: VICKERSTOWN 83-5 (P Hodgson 4-41) defeated Barrow 82 (J Thompson 5-34) by 5 wickets.

1966 (28 Jul) at Barrow CC: CARNFORTH 119-4 (DT Wilson 55) defeated Vickers SC (A Girdhari 6-39) by 6 wickets.

1967 (20 Aug) at Furness CC (NB. The first Higson Cup Final to be staged on a Sunday): VICKERS SC 137-9 (D Burns 4-47) defeated Dalton 114 by 23 runs.

1968 (18 Aug) at Dalton CC: WHITEHAVEN 148 (I Park 58, A Girdhari 4-42, S Higgins 4-32) defeated Carnforth 50 (JC Pickup 6-23, J Winter 4-23) by 98 runs.

1969 (24 Aug) at Dalton CC: WHITEHAVEN 133-8 defeated Ulverston 76 (T Thompson 6-35, C Carruthers 4-37) by 57 runs.

1970 (23 Aug) at Dalton CC: WHITEHAVEN 95 (P Hillman 7-61) defeated Vickers SC 74 (A Hodgson 5-25, T Thompson 4-25) by 21 runs.

1971 (22 Aug) at Dalton CC: MILLOM 211-5 (A Postlethwaite 74, T Thompson 4-74) defeated Whitehaven 117-6 (AJC Gray 50no) by 94 runs.

1972 (13 Aug) at Dalton CC: LINDAL 161-9 (S Usher 4-34) defeated Millom 62 (R Herman 7-29) by 99 runs.

1973 (10 Aug) at Vickers SC: WHITEHAVEN 132 (G Banks 4-30) defeated Haverigg 29 (A Hodgson 7-16) by 103 runs.

1974 (18 Aug) at Dalton CC: CARLISLE 102-3 defeated Furness 99 (J Agar 50, RH Greenup 4-38, D Musgrave 4-24) by 7 wickets.

1975 (10 Aug) at Vickers SC: LINDAL 99-5 defeated Whitehaven 97 (TE Gifford 6-23) by 5 wickets.

1976 (15 Aug) at Vickers SC: HAVERIGG 132-8 (G Monkhouse 7-75) defeated Carlisle 117 by 15 runs (D Weavers 5-49, A Sharp 4-51) by 15 runs.

1977 (14 Aug) at Vickers SC: MILLOM 189-6 (K Wilkinson 85, GH McMeekin 53) defeated Lindal Moor 121-6 (T Clarke 67no) by 68 runs.

1978 (20 Aug) at Dalton CC: FURNESS 126 (R Herman 4-35) defeated Lindal 103 (J Firth 5-56, N Mehta 5-40) by 23 runs.

1979 (12 Aug) at Furness CC: CARNFORTH 173-8 (N McDonald 4-41) defeated Vickerstown 153 (G Bates 5-19, W Stafford 4-94) by 20 runs.

1980 (17 Aug) at Barrow CC: LINDAL 157-4 defeated Penrith 151-7 by 4 wickets.

1981 (9 Aug) at Barrow CC: CARLISLE 128-4 defeated Penrith 127-8 by 6 wickets.

1982 (8 Aug) at Vickers SC: BARROW 181-6 defeated Millom 90 (M Nicholson 4-26) by 91 runs.

1983 (7 Aug) at Vickers SC: MILLOM 204-7 (D Drury 83, G Cross 4-50) defeated Workington 136 (G Reed 53, CJ Wilson 4-36) by 68 runs.

1984 (5 Aug) at Vickers SC: MILLOM 181-7 (S Sharp 74, D Drury 59) defeated Carlisle 114 by 67 runs.

1985 (30 Aug) at Barrow CC: VICKERS SC 125-1 (SM Dutton 80no) defeated Dalton 124-7 (I Cooper 61no) by 9 wickets.

1986 (3 Aug) at Barrow CC: VICKERS SC 174-8 defeated Lindal 165-7 by 9 runs.

1987 (2 Aug) at Barrow CC: DALTON 137 (S Briasco 4-19) defeated Furness 115 (D Peoples 4-17) by 22 runs.

1988 (7 Aug) at Millom CC: CARLISLE 206-5 (K Maxwell 65) defeated Penrith 178 (N Beaty 59) by 28 runs.

1989 (6 Aug) at Barrow CC: LINDAL 198-8 (C Knight 56, I Cooper 50) defeated Vickers SC 186-6 (P Shah 90) by 12 runs.

1990 (5 Aug) MILLOM 198-9 (S Carr 4-33) defeated Barrow 167-9 (SM Dutton 72) by 31 runs.

1991 (4 Aug) at Barrow CC: CARNFORTH 96-9 (S Harvey 4-40, S Akbar 4-11) defeated Vickerstown 95 (A Cowperthwaite 4-20) by 1 wicket.

1992 (2 Aug) at Askam CC: CARNFORTH 116-3 (RP Singh 58no) defeated Dalton 113-6 by 7 wickets.

1993 (22 Aug) at Millom CC: CLEATOR 170-6 defeated Penrith 169-6 (I Parker 61, A Hay 55, I Clark 4-31) by 4 wickets.

1994 (7 Aug) at Vickers SC: DALTON 133-5 (I Gibson 56) defeated Furness 132 (A Sippy 66, I Gibson 6-18) by 5 wickets.

1995 (8 Aug) at Barrow CC: CARNFORTH 231-1 (P Handley 97, D Greenwood 87no) defeated Haverigg 191 by 40 runs.

1996 (4 Aug) at Furness CC: ASKAM K SHOE 207-4 (D Knight 59) defeated Carnforth 203-6 (P Handley 63, D Greenwood 52) by 6 wickets.

1997 (3 Aug) at Millom CC: BARROW 198-6 (SA Miller 54, M Hughes 54no) defeated Whitehaven 197-7 (J Bruce 88) by 4 wickets.

1998 (2 Aug) at Dalton CC: CLEATOR 103-4 defeated Barrow 102 by 6 wickets.

1999 (1 Aug) at Askam CC: CLEATOR 196-4 (I Clark 81) defeated Furness 195-3 (A Sippy 82no, S Bond 64) by 2 wickets.

2000 (6 Aug) at Millom CC: : FURNESS 126-4 (A Sippy 71no) defeated Cockermouth 125 (G White 66) by 6 wickets.

2001 (5 Aug) at Furness CC: MILLOM 155-2 (R Bell 63) defeated Lindal 154-8 (C Knight 61no) by 8 wickets.

2002 (4 Aug) at Keswick CC: LINDAL 217-9 (P Webster 93, C Moffat 4-27) defeated Workington 215-5 by 1 wicket.

2003 (3 Aug) at BAE Sports Club: BARROW 152-5 (R Lewis 74no) defeated Dalton 149-9 (B Bell 55no) by 5 wickets.

2004 (1 Aug) at Haverigg CC: MILLOM 243-4 (T Dowlin 137no, GN Dawson 57) defeated Furness 177 by 66 runs.

2005 (7 Aug) at Cleator CC: WORKINGTON 397-7 (S Beare 215, K Moffat 61) defeated Keswick 281-8 (N Swainson 51no) by 116 runs.

2006 (28 Aug) at Workington CC: KESWICK 182 (I Khan 87, I Clark 4-24) defeated Cleator 166-9 by 16 runs.

2007 (5 Aug) at Penrith CC: CLEATOR 232-9 (D Clark 87, S James 4-29) defeated Workington 115 (D Bell 4-19) by 117 runs.

2008 (3 Aug) at Cleator CC: MILLOM 117-4 (S Swallow 58no) defetaed Keswick 116 (I Khan 67, S Bickerstaffe 4-19) by 6 wickets.

2009 (2 Aug) at Haverigg CC: FURNESS 178-9 defeated Cleator 123 (C Quin 58) by 55 runs.

2010 (1 Aug) at Haverigg CC: CLEATOR 111-5 defeated Millom 108-9 (D Rooney 4-29) by 5 wickets.

2011 (7 Aug) at Haverigg CC: WORKINGTON 237-4 (C Moffat 108, K Moffat 83no) defeated Furness 215 (I Daniel 105) by 22 runs.

2012 (12 Aug) at Penrith CC: KESWICK 186-8 (G Weightman 71no) defeated Cockermouth 162 (S Grisdale 4-46) by 24 runs.

2013 (4 Aug) at Haverigg CC: FURNESS 110-1 (I Daniel 55no) defeated Workington 107 (N Waterston 4-24) by 9 wickets.

2014 (17 Aug) at Dalton CC: FURNESS 90-2 (B Chapples 40no) defeated Ulverston 88 by 8 wickets.

2015 (2 Aug) at Haverigg CC: WORKINGTON 180-7 (CE Moffat 50) defeated Furness 178 by 2 runs.

2016 (7 Aug) at Millom CC: WORKINGTON 255 (K Gajasinghe 60, K Moffat 52) defeated Lindal 94 (S Beare 4-9) by 161 runs.

2017 (27 Aug) at Haverigg CC: CLEATOR 139-8 (MJ Daly 4-31) defeated Furness 138 (L Gribbin 47, D Blackwell 4-15) by 2 wickets.

2018 (5 Aug) at Cleator CC: FURNESS 73-2 defeated Carlisle 69 by 8 wickets.

2019 (4 Aug) at Haverigg: FURNESS 195-8 (SS Pathirana 83) defeated Keswick 95 (SS Pathirana 5-19) by 100 runs.

2020 not competed.