Greatest Moment

22 August 1999 - the opening of the new state-of-the-art pavilion.

Local Hero

Bas Lucas - lost an eye, but has still managed a century, and plenty more runs, for Dale.

Bizarre Fact

The club's ground 'collapsed' in 1982 due to severe flooding. Railway sleepers - which had been used to protect the ground from the nearby river - simply gave way.

The ground is the ultimate village venue. It is sited on the main road adjacent to the bowling green; this means that on Saturday afternoons all passers-by get a taste of the action. Not only this, but they get an excellent view of proceedings because the playing area is 'down below' the road, sited in an ampitheatre-type 'bowl'.

The Z.Hinchcliffe Pavilion is named after Zechariah Hinchcliffe, a pioneering local mill-owner of the nineteenth-century. It is a modern, double-decker building that owes its existence to the Sport England Lottery Fund and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.

It boasts a balcony, superb changing facilities and three hanging baskets on the front. Inside there are themed cricket tea-towels on display, ‘fundraising’ bricks, and posters (one publicises the club's 'sponsored tree' scheme; another shows a photo of the old pavilion in 1997 and the new one in 1999 - a kind of 'before-and-after' effect).

Stairlift and Scorers

There is also a newly-installed disabled stairlift, a spick-and-span kitchen (which serves super toffee cheesecake on 'Denby Dale Bicentenary Pie' plates), and a special room for scorers and umpires (plus assorted hi-tech gadgetry). There are three scoreboards: two electronic facilities (one in the pavilion, one directly opposite) and a small manual device.     

So forward-thinking are Denby Dale that they hire out the pavilion as 'business space' during the week. As the roadside noticeboard puts it: 'Welcome to Denby Dale Cricket Club and Denby Dale Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic - John Secker BSc (Hons) MCSP SRP, Chartered Physiotherapist - Tel: 07979 597289'. (Recently, the club has also put on a special training course for cricket scorers - six sessions plus an exam - and coaching sessions for local female cricketers).

As you look out at the playing area from the main road, you see not only a sporting arena but an area of dense woodland, some mauve-coloured heather, a selection of hand-crafted walls, a field of cows high above the village, and the odd house. The ground is a lovely round shape. The boundary is marked in white paint. There is no sightscreen at the bowling-green end, but there are a couple of small white fences at the other end.

Special People

Directly opposite the bowling green there is a large sign saying 'Palace Tandoori: Indian Cuisine' - a nod to the club's chief sponsors. A copy of the latest teamsheet is pinned to the noticeboard near the main entrance and a set of benches line the perimeter of the field. Some of these have special significance as the following inscriptions make plain:

Dedicated to the memory of Dennis Padgett from his wife Joyce.

Donated to Denby Dale Cricket Club in memory of Arthur Lodge by his wife Edith - Happy Memories.

In memory of Selwyn Brian Simpson - Lifelong Supporter and Player.

Dedicated to the people of Denby Dale and the surrounding villages - From Doctors K & R Samanta.

In memory of their parents - From Doctors K & R Samanta.

Golden Period

Denby Dale CC joined the Huddersfield Central League in 1922, replacing Lepton Highlanders. But theirs has not been an unbroken membership of the League, for they withdrew during the Second World War and did not take part in 1942, 1943 or 1944. They had a golden period in the 1950s, twice winning the 1st XI cup, three times triumphing in the 2nd XI knockout competition, and also tasting success in the league - claiming eight successive 2nd XI titles and one 1st XI crown.

The club has also been in the news off the field. In May 1927 the League executive, 'passed that J.H.S. of Denby Dale...be struck off the list of League umpires and that the Denby Dale club had to find an efficient substitute.'

Meanwhile, in November 1979, the League secretary 'reported that Denby Dale had indicated that they did not wish to participate in the Sykes Cup in 1980'. Higham were invited to take Denby Dale's place, but no reason is given as to why the Wakefield Road club wanted to opt out.

Over the years, though, the great thing about Denby Dale teams has been their versatility. At Scholes one year the players washed themselves in a nearby dyke after the game!

Newsletter and Sponsors

In the first years of the twenty-first century, the club launched a regular newsletter (the Denby Dale CC Gazette - full of news, announcements and sensible ideas such as a 'swap shop' for youngsters wanting to trade in kit they've outgrown).

And also a new website which recently announced some good news: 'We have formed an alliance between HTT Print (Europe) Ltd. and the Government’s Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme for Sport and Physical Recreation, Sportsmatch, to produce a grant capable of purchasing a bowling machine. This will be a tremendous coaching aid to coach Damms and his team and should give a boost to the women’s coaching sessions. Many thanks to all concerned.' A few days later, the same website announced: 'The bowling machine has now arrived and is being put into good use most evenings.'