Hartshead Moor

The success of the club on the field of play has been somewhat modest, but for a small outfit with limited finances they have always fought to make a good impression. The club was formed in 1876 on their current ground. Eventually the club bought the ground and have since carried out extensive improvements.

Hartshead Moor’s first President was Sir Alfred Mowat Bart who served 56 years until 1968 when he was succeeded by Herbert Walker who took the club through to their centenary in 1976.

They won the Spen Valley League in 1894, 1895, 1910, 1912, 1913 and 1914. They were members of the Yorkshire Council League from 1926 until 1931 then members of the Heavy Woollen League until 1944.

They moved to the Central Yorkshire League in 1944 and were Division Two champions in 1951, Heavy Woollen Cup runners-up in 1952 and Central Yorkshire League Division Two champions again in 1955. They also won the Heavy Woollen Cup in 1958 and were runners-up in the Central Yorkshire League Division One in 1959.

Hartshead took the big step of joining the Bradford League in 1963. Their early sides were based on experience with players like Brian Redfearn, Donald Hirst, Geoff Hodgson and Leonard Squire. They were Second Division runners-up in 1967 and spent two seasons in the top division before being relegated.

They were Second Division champions in 1972 and again in 1974 but on each occasion were relegated at the end of the following season. One of their first overseas cricketers was Raj Venkatraman who played for East Zone in the Ranji Trophy and joined them in 1981. He was followed in 1982 by Shahid Mahboob from Pakistan. He played Test cricket for his country added 144 in a crucial partnership with Imran Khan in a one-day international against England at Hedingley.Another Indian, Shish Hattangadi, joined Hartshead Moor in 1983 after catching the eye playing in the Ranji Trophy.

Pace bowler Micky Mills from Nevis troubled many batsmen in 1983. He had represented the Leeward Islands in the Red Stripe Cup and generate genuine pace and hostility.
Perhaps the most consistent performer for the club was batsman Jacob Martin.He made half-centuries in each of his first 11 matches for the club in 1997. It was the sort of form which earned him a one-day international call from India.

Pakistan batsman Azam Khan made a big impression in 1998. He crowned a good season by smashing a Bradford League record individual score of 214 not out against Ben Rhydding.
The club engaged another Pakistani player in 2002. They recruited Naeem Khan who had spent four year with Yeadon previous to joining them. He made 808 runs and proved to be another sound signing as the club finished tenth in Division Two.

After having to apply for re-election in 2004, Hartshead Moor were revitalised in 2005. They climbed to fifth in the league thanks in no small part to their overseas player Khurram Shezad who made 1,014 runs and opening bowler Ian Wardlaw who took 60 wickets and was voted the Bradford League’s Young Player of the Year.