Gomersal

The original club was founded as Gomersal St Mary’s in 1896 by the village vicar, but the organisation only lasted six years. It was re-formed in 1892 on the present ground which had previously been the site of the old Little Gomersal Colliery.

In 1898 the club joined the Bradford District League followed later by membership of the Spen Valley District League and in 1916 the Yorkshire Council. Efforts were then made to raise funds to buy the ground. The first event on July 9, 1921 was attended by more than 4,000 people. It was June 1929 before sufficient funds were raised and the purchase was completed.

Cricket continued in the meantime and in 1921 they reached the final of the Heavy Woollen Cup where they lost to Wakefield. The following year, however, they won their first trophy when they lifted the Yorkshire Council championship.

The next significant event was the changing of their name to Gomersal Cricket Club in 1927 and in 1944 they joined the Central Yorkshire League under the overall control of the Yorkshire Council.

At the end of the Second World War the club bought an ex-army Nissan hut to use as a tea room. This was placed on the site of the present clubhouse and served a useful purpose for more than 30 years.

The club continued to provide facilities to play cricket for the local population without any noticeable success on the field and in 1962, with the aid of Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, a bar was opened in the Nissan hut.

Perhaps the most significant event in the club’s history occurred in the early 1970s when the adjacent football pitch was sold for housing. This sale created a firm financial base and the existing clubhouse and changing rooms were built.

Promotion from the Second Division of the Central Yorkshire League to the First Division was achieved in 1981 and in the same year the second team also won their division to move into the top flight. Both teams remained in the top division of the CYL, until a decision was made to move up to the Bradford League in 2000.

In 1984 it was decided to recruit an overseas player for the first time and Tony Blain from New Zealand represented Gomersal for two seasons. The impact was immediate with the Heavy Woollen Cup being won in his first season. Tony later went on to represent New Zealand in Test Cricket.

The next trophy came along in 1987 when the CYL’s 40 over cup competition, the Jack Hampshire Trophy was won. Gomersal dominated the Central Yorkshire League in the 1990s and won three trophies in 1991, but not the elusive First Division title. They finished second.
They were second again in 1992, the club’s centenary year, but they won the title the following year and they lifted a further four titles in the following six years. The last of these championships was the Central Yorkshire League’s Premier Division title in its first year of inauguration in 1999.

During these years many good players graced the field at Gomersal, but by 1995 the finances had dwindled and it was evident a new club committee more orientated to cricket would have to be formed if its cricket section were to continue to prosper. This was done with considerable success and progress on the field continued and by 2000 the clubhouse was refurbished at a cost of £100,000 and the club started its first season in the Bradford League, the highest form of league cricket in the area.

Many would have thought a period of consolidation would have followed, but amazingly the first team won promotion to the Bradford League First Division at the end of season 2000 and the second team went the whole season without losing a game, winning the league championship and Priestley Shield.

Unfortunately, the first team were relegated back to the Second Division after just one season. Wicketkeeper Matthew Garside followed up his success in topping the Division Two keepers charts in 2000 by claiming most victims in Division One.

Gomersal didn’t stay down very long. They won the Second Division title in 2002 to return to the top flight once again as champions with skipper Bradley Parker making 908 runs to top the Division Two averages and overseas fast bowler Matthew Hawking taking 67 wickets. Once again Gomersal were unable to cling on to Division One status and were relegated once again to Division Two. In 2005 they recruited former East Bierley captain Rob Burton to lead their new-look side which also included one of the Bradford League’s most instantly recognisable figures Murphy Walwyn. Unfortunately a poor start to the season resulted in the club finishing ninth