History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF IDLE CRICKET CLUBThe Earliest record of any cricket organisation in Idle, was on July 20th 1861, when the Idle United Club was formed, although it was known that there was a cricket club in existence prior to this date known as the ?Fat Pot Club.United commenced its career on a ground situated in Holly fields, but later moved to a field in Dunk Hill. The club disbanded in 1865 and re-formed as the ?Idle Lilywhite Cricket Club? and played on Idle Moor. After moving, yet again to a field in Thorp Garth, the club made its final move to the present ground on Cavendish Road and in 1889 assumed the name of ?Idle Cricket Club?.In 1896 the club was invited to Join the West Yorkshire Cricket League, which included, Bradford, Halifax, Skipton, Keighley, Barnsley, Bingley, Bowling Old Lane and Saltaire, and to their credit won the league trophy.The Bradford League was formed in 1902 and Idle joined it in 1906. It was four years late before the first silverware arrived at Cavendlsh Road, when both the 1st XI and 2nd XI championships were won. The club have subsequently won the first division title a further five times and the second division title three times, with the Priestley Cup being won on six occasions. The 2nd XI has won their respective title on four occasions, but has never been successful in the Priestley Shield.The glory years for Idle were in 1965/66/67, when the division one title was won each year, with the double, league and cup, being achieved in 1965.There have been many notable cricketers at Cavendish Road, the most famous being Sir Jack Hobbs of Surrey and England fame. Jack, as he was then known, signed for Idle in 1915 and played for the club for the next three years. It is interesting to note that he received £5.00 per match plus expenses, and although he was approached by other clubs and offered more money, he remained loyal to Idle and never asked for an increase. On one occasion the opening pair was Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes, a partnership to set along side any of the famous players who have played in the Bradford League.C S Dempster, the New Zealand test batsman played several years for the club during the First World War, along with several other county players who played for the club during the First and Second World war years. Douglas Padgett who, after playing for Yorkshire and England, later became county coach, is the most celebrated player actually born in Idle.With the decline of industry in the Idle area, the fortunes of the cricket club took a downward spiral, after last winning the 1st division title in 1977, and although the 2nd division title was won in 1989, it took another ten years before any further success was becoming at the club. This was in the form of the 2nd X1 winning the second division title.