This photograph was taken not too many years after the formation of Haworth Wesleyan Cricket Club in 1887. Soon after that time, in 1890, there were six other Haworth cricket teams mentioned in the Keighley News of the time: Haworth Red Rose; Haworth White Rose; and Haworth Victoria - these three all played on Haworth Moor. There were also: Haworth Britannia; Haworth White Star; and Haworth CC, as well as our own club. We, Haworth Wesleyan CC, later Haworth Methodists CC, are probably the oldest club in the district to have maintained a continuous existence since our formation before 1890. That makes us 120 years old at least - something to be proud of!
The Club was formed in 1887 and was originally called Haworth Wesleyans CC, with the earliest information available being of a match against Lees Albion on 14th September 1889. Their first games were played in a field at ‘Long Bridge’ and then from an unknown date, games were played at Cooke Gate until our present ground at West Lane was opened in 1951.
In 1893, the club joined the newly formed Keighley & District Junior League finishing in second place after a play-off with Oakworth. 1895 saw the club join the Keighley section of the Craven Junior League winning the Championship in 1898, and in 1899 the 1st XI gained promotion to the Senior League in the Craven Union and the 2nd XI joined the junior section.
By 1905, the Craven Senior & Junior Leagues had given way to the Keighley and District League and the Club were members of the Senior Section. In 1915, admission was obtained to the West Bradford League and remained members of that League until its demise in 1984.
The club then joined the Craven & District Cricket League and have played there to date. At some unknown point in the distant past the club changed name to Haworth Methodist CC, and then in 1992 the name was changed to Haworth CC which we still hold.
In the early 1980s the club began its first junior sides with an Under 15 team and many of these players are now the statesmen of the senior sides!
In 1994, the club restarted a junior team at Under 13 level. Their first match must have gone down in the record books as they were all out for 6 runs - and 4 of them were byes!! Over the years though, some very talented youngsters have had the opportunity to come through and join senior sides, both at Haworth and in other teams. 2004 was the first season ever with teams at three age groups in the Upper Airedale Junior Cricket League (UAJCL).
In 2006 the 1st XI had a great season and finished 3rd in the Craven League but 2007 was a shock as the same set of players couldn't escape the bottom two with constant rained-off fixtures and they were ultimately relegated to the Craven League Division Two.
2008 and 2009 have been good years as the 1st XI bounced straight back in Division One and three junior sides were playing again with the club facilities used six nights week sometimes!
Sadly, in 2009, the 2nd XI went down to Division 5 as the club rebuilds again. The vision of a few years ago is paying off though as those young players are now beginning to take their place in senior cricket, ready to enjoy a great sport for years to come!
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