Greatest Moment

Admission to the Halifax League in 2000.

Local Hero

Keith Hudson – player, groundsman, club official: ‘Mr Bridgeholme’.

Bizarre Fact

There is no place called Bridgeholme. The club originated directly from local industry. The cricket teams from J.J.Tatham Ltd., Nanholme Mills, and Moss Brothers, Bridgeroyd Mills joined forces to form one club in 1950. The name ‘Bridgeholme’ was invented by combining ‘Nanholme’ and ‘Bridgeroyd’. These two mills still exist today, although Nanholme is now renamed Springholme and is owned by PickwellArnold

Opening of Station House

Preparation of the Station House ground had been underway since the summer of 1952. Drainage, levelling and the laying of the square had been the priorities.

The first match, against Hebden Bridge Salem in the first division of the Hebden Bridge and District League, was scheduled for 9 May 1953 but the ground was not quite ready and the game was switched to Salem Field. Bridgeholme captain John Martin hit 125 of his side’s 222 all out that afternoon, the first century by a Bridgeholme batsman and the first time the team had scored 200.

Beating Old Town

The ground was opened ten days later on the evening of Tuesday 19 May, just a fortnight before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The 1st XI beat Heptonstall Slack seconds by eight wickets in the Hebden Bridge League’s 20 overs-a-side knockout cup, Jack Kaye taking 7 for 20 with his off-spinners as the visitors were all out for 40.

The first league match on the ground was played the following Saturday when the 2nd XI beat Old Town seconds by 54 runs. The first eleven made their home league debut on 30 May and suffered one of only three defeats that season, replying to Birchcliffe’s 174 with 99 all out. 

Post-Match Entertainment

Bridgeholme’s cricketers have traditionally frequented local hostelries for their post-match entertainment.

For many years they diplomatically supported their landlords at the nearby Station House Hotel. This has now closed and more recently the players have held their celebrations and post-mortems at the Rose and Crown, the Swan With Two Necks and the Shannon and Chesapeake.

With the construction of the new pavilion has come the opportunity to provide post-match hospitality, thereby earning much needed funds, at the ground.

It is a condition of the Lottery grant which funded the building that it is used by the community, and local groups and private individuals are taking advantage of Eastwood’s first community building for decades.