EARBY Cricket Club - Playing the Game, is the latest publication by the Earby and District Local History Society, writes the society’s Bob Abel.

EARBY Cricket Club – Playing the Game will be launched at the Applegarth, the home of Earby Cricket Club, on Saturday September 7.

Researched and written by Stephanie Carter, it includes reminiscences from players past and present, the club’s ‘friendly’ matches on the old ground, the personalities, incidents and rivalries with teams such as Gargrave and Settle.

The village has enjoyed an intense love of cricket over the years - the club existed in the 1850s, making it one of the oldest sporting organisations in Craven.

The old field was said to be one of the best village cricket fields in Yorkshire, and big hitters, such as Bobby Bracewell attracted a large following. The first known photograph of Earby cricketers was taken on part of the cricket field near the Green End Shed in around 1880, and shows a match in progress between Earby and Colne Tradesmen. The trees on the right of the picture lined the private carriage drive leading to club benefactor, Christopher Bracewell’s home at Green End, now New Road.

With the growth of industry and the influx of workers to Earby, the cricket field was taken for the building of houses, shops, mill extensions and a new (Victoria) road into the village.

1892 was Earby’s last season on the old ground.

The club, now a member of the Craven Cricket Union, was fortunate to find a new benefactor in A J Birley who had acquired five acres of land known as the Applegarth. Through Mr Birley the Applegarth field was secured in 1893 on “favourable terms” and remains the home of the club to this day.

Earby had then a very successful first eleven, with the Demain brothers (Jack and Willie) in the ascendancy.

In 1897 Earby joined the Ribblesdale League for the first time. However financial problems were never far away and the increased emphasis on paying for a professional player and umpires, together with travelling expenses made the club’s existence precarious.

The club has always prided itself on its homebred players, with family names recurring down the years. It has also had one of the most successful youth policies in the league and it is known for the care it lavishes on its promising youngsters.

In 1947 the Birley family presented the Applegarth to the club and the town as a memorial to Mr Birley., with a stipulation that the ground was put in trust to be used exclusively by Earby Cricket Club as a cricket field.

The club has enjoyed outstanding success, producing legendary players such as Stanley Taylor and Leonard Duxbury. The 1950s and 1960s saw some of the greatest years with it winning both the Ribblesdale League and Ramsbottom Cup. The teams with players such as Billy Brown, Clifford Reid, Jack Cross, Colin Madden, the Wear Brothers, Donald Moore. Michael Chapple, had very strong support from spectators, with matches between arch rivals Barnoldswick living long in the memory.

Included, is Earby’s support team, the hard working committee men such as Dick Nowell, scorers such as Keith Crabtree, the groundsmen especially the much loved Harry Davies and the ladies committee who did so much more than provide the best teas in the league.

In 1980 Earby’s popular all-rounder Michael Chapple was the Ribblesdale League’s ‘Player of the Year’ . The decade also saw the opening of the new club-house and pavilion. Steve Hipgrave and Ian Clarkson held aloft the League winner’s Cup in 1988. The 1990s were dominated by the 1991 “Double double” when the fabulous first and second teams won all before them. The teams were full of stars, the three Pickles brothers, Manoj Parekh, John Rainger, Steve Hipgrave, Michael and Ronnie Wiseman; and so many others, including the young prodigy, 17 year-old Glen Chapple, who became Captain and later chief coach of the Lancashire County side.

One of the assets of Earby Cricket Club remains the strength of its juniors. After some difficult times in the 2000s, when interest in cricket was on the decline, Earby now have a committee working towards getting the club back on track and up-to date. There have been many new initiatives, and support from sponsors including the installation of a brand new electronic score-box. The club is still able to field three senior and several junior teams and it is hoped that with the improvements and new players, interest will be re-ignited in the Club, not just on facebook and social media but in an increase in spectators on the field and member’s use of the clubhouse facilities throughout the year.

It is hoped the book will go some way to awaken this interest.

The society is indebted to the following sponsors who contribute to the publishing costs. Bruce Meldrum, Pennine Tools Aerospace; Eccles Greenwood Partnership Financial Planning; Earby Clarets; Earby Town Council; Euravia Engineering and Supply Co Ltd.

“Earby Cricket Club – Playing the Game” is available price £10 at the book launch at 11am on Saturday, September 7 or from Earby and District Local History Society meetings or at the archive room on Fridays from 10am to 12 midday. Further enquiries at: info@earbyhistory.co.uk.