Esholt Cricket Club was founded in 1895 and the present square was first used the following season. Prior to this the village friendlies were played on the site where the Memorial Institute now stands. Since the club’s formation there has been continuous cricket in the village with the exception of three years during the First World War.
In the early years Esholt were members of the Airedale and Wharfedale Second Class League, winning it in 1903. After a period in the Bradford District league, a move was made into the newly formed Second Division of the Bradford League in 1909. Esholt took their place alongside such clubs as Birkenshaw, Bradford City Lamplighters, Crossley Hall, Laisterdyke, Mountain Mills, Sandy Lane, Shipley St Pauls, Tong Park and Woodlands. Unfortunately this lower section was dissolved after only two seasons when the league reverted to a single tier structure of 12 clubs.
During this period the club was able to field two elevens composed entirely of players who lived in the village. In 1915 Esholt were readmitted to the Bradford League to take over the second team fixtures of Bowling Old Lane, who had replaced the Bradford club at short notice, as Park Avenue was no longer available. After the war Esholt spent unremarkable years in the Bradford Central League before moving to the Wharfedale League in 1929.
The period 1946 to 1953 was the most successful in the club’s history. They recruited players from Baildon Methodists, Tong Park, Guiseley and Yeadon. The club was able to field two first teams of equal strength known as Esholt A and Esholt B. The former won the League Championship in 1947, while the B team secured the Mathieson Cup, an exceptional achievement which indicates the strength in depth the club had available at that time. The A team topped the table again in 1948 and three years later it was the turn of Esholt B. The players won many individual trophies with Harold Dean, Ernest Jagger, Willie Jeffery (twice) and Ralph Shuttleworth collecting the league batting prize, while Denis Milner headed the League bowling averages in 1950.
Esholt transferred in 1956 to the new and enlarged Dales Council, where the club remained for a further 29 years. The first XI won the league title on five occasions. The second team was equally successful, winning the championship in 1982 and the knock-out cup in 1976, 1980 and 1984. It was during the 1980 final that the present scoreboard, built in memory of Ralph Shuttleworth, was first used.
In 1970 Esholt agreed with Airebronians Rugby Union Club and Bradford City Council to take over the use of three derelict cottages at the side of the ground and convert them into a clubhouse. Aided by grants and donations, together with much hard work, the premises were officially opened in 1979 by Brian Close CBE.
The club was admitted to the Leeds and District Cricket League in 1985 and much was achieved in a relatively short time. The second team earned promotion in 1986 and the senior side headed Division Two in 1987 and 1990. Esholt employed its first overseas professional, Wahid Niazi, in 1991, and this in no small measure resulted in the club winning the Hepworth Cup that season and securing First Division status.
The 1994 season was probably the best in the club’s history. The first X1, spearheaded by Pakistani professional Tahir Mahmood, completed the league and cup double with the cup final being one of the greatest finals ever. Woodhouse amassed 286 for eight. West Indian Test opener Stuart Williams scored a magnificent 127. Remarkably Esholt knocked off the runs with two overs to spare, Tahir hitting a Man of the Match winning 127. In 1995 the second team won the Division Two title and two years later the first team won the league title again in a nail biting finish which went to the last game of the season.
In 1998 the Club took the major step of applying for membership of the Bradford League and made their second debut in the league in 1999. The start was inauspicious – bottom of Division Two and application for re-election – despite the services of a South African first class cricketer, Pierre de Bruyn, who contributed 1,138 runs and 33 wickets. Thankfully the league had faith in Esholt and it gave them the opportunity to re-group. The 2000 season was a happy and successful one with the club just missing out on promotion with a side without stars, but 11 men, all pulling together at all times. Four of the team were members of the league’s White Rose side which went on to win the final held at Esholt – an honour in only our second year in the league.
Young Sri Lankan player Ajantha Weerapulli fitted in well with the side and he scored over 600 league runs. The 2001 season saw a few changes in personnel, notably in a new skipper, Mark Paynter, grandson of the legendary Eddie Paynter. A new overseas player, New Zealander Lou Vincent was engaged. Unfortunately Lou was only able to complete half the season due to his being called up for the New Zealand One Day squad but we had the satisfaction of watching his international career blossom culminating in his Test debut against Australia at the end of the year. He marked his first Test with a century in his first innings – only the fifth New Zealander to achieve this feat.
Another New Zealander was recruited for 2002. Aaron Fuller, who had played for Cleckheaton in 2001, was added to the squad along with Undercliffe opener Mark Gilliver. Both performed well with Gilliver underlining his standing as one of the most consistent runscorers in recent years by making 1,328 while Fuller took 51 wickets. Despite their success, Esholt could only finish in mid-table.
In 2003 Indian batsman Vivek Mahajan joined the club. He announced his arrival by making 1,155 runs to finish second in the league batting averages.as Esholt finished seventh. In 204 he scored 844 runs to top the league batting charts as Esholt came sixth under the leadership of all-rounder Richard Whitehurst.
The club's first honour arrived in 2005 when the second team won the Second Teams Division Two championship after producing was fine performances during the campaign. The first team were dogged by inconsistency although skipper Whitehurst provided some late fioreworks when he blasted 187 against Windhill.
In 2007, 8 years after rejoining the league the club finally achieved promotion to the first division. A nail biting season came to a climax in a home win over Morley to clinch the second promotion spot. Esholt are now playing the highest level of cricket in their long history, how long they can remain there remains to be seen but the club are confident and will make every effort to remain in the top division of arguably the best league in the country. Whatever happens a warm welcome awaits all first division clubs to Esholt in 2008.
