BROAD OAK CRICKET CLUB ...... Located in the Colne Valley, in the rural heart of the Yorkshire Pennines just outside the main town of Huddersfield, the Club is one of the oldest clubs in the Huddersfield District Cricket League, with a proud tradition within the village.
The club runs 2 Senior teams, competing in the 'Drakes' sponsored Huddersfield League, alongside those teams are our 5 Junior Age groups - U17, U15, U13, U11 and U9's - competing in the 'Sellers' Huddersfield Junior League, with an aim of providing cricket for all ages and abilities. The juniors are the future of the club, they must be encouraged, particularly with there now being so many other activities and distractions taking people away from playing our wonderful game.
As any cricket lover knows, nothing quite compares to watching the drama and intrigue of a match unfolding right before your eyes. Well, imagine that game set against the perfect backdrop provided by Broad Oak. It doesn't get much better than that
PRIDE, TRADITION, AND A HORSE TO CUT THE OUTFIELD!
The Story of the Ground By Ian Hodgson
As we look and admire the youth and talent of today we must look at how it all started, and how it was possible to lay the foundations that have been in place to aid the progression and development of Broad Oak CC.
The club’s first match was played in 1880 at Barrel’s Field at Well Oil, but the venue for home games did vary. For a while Broad Oak played their matches at an old school yard and a meadow near the rock. In their first season the club formed a committee and by 1883 were offered a new ground near Christ Church by Mrs Edmund Walker, the owner of Broak Oak Farm. Broak Oak have played at this venue ever since.
Local stonemasons certainly did their bit at the new ground, constructing a gateway to the arena, which meant they could charge spectators. This work was also done voluntarily with the entrance fee money being ploughed back into the club funds. In 1890 the debts of the club had been cleared, allowing the club to employ a part-time groundsman for 7s 6d per week. By 1901 the club employed Walter Stubbing as their full-time professional and groundsman. Without the technology we have today, the club got a horse to cut the outfield!
The club owes a debt of gratitude to various people for helping to keep the club going in the 1880s and 1890s. Joseph Sykes, a publican at the nearby Th’Alma pub, organised a match which helped pay the club’s annual rent. In 1903 the club could afford to build a clubhouse with a landlord being appointed. A year later the clubhouse was extended and in 1937 the club spent £1,200 on a new bar and clubrooms.
In 1967 the most recent addition was a new bar and a modernised lounge in the clubhouse. Over time, the club has grown and grown. The work of the past has given the club pride and tradition that it will never lose.
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Cricket Heritage
The link to our dedicated club page is
http://www.ckcricketheritage.org.uk/southkirklees/broadoak/clubhome.htm
As you can see, it now contains many documents and archive images relating to the history of the club. It is regularly updated and much more will be added over the coming months. Let other members of the club know about it - and of course, if you have any ideas about how they could develop the page, and the website, do let them know.
See also the home page at http://www.ckcricketheritage.org.uk
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Please take time out to visit our picturesque ground on match days, where you will always be assured of a warm welcome, a fantastic tea and some fine refreshments in our clubhouse bar. If you are interested in joining our club, either as a player, or as a social member, then just come along or contact us through the details below :
Chairman/CWO : Andrew Roebuck Tel: 01484 841361
Secretary : Angela Metcalfe Tel: 01484 843542 Email: skillsbills@aol.com
Treasurer : Kathleen Dudley Tel: 01484 648384
League Rep : Craig McCreadie Tel: 01484 641898
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The Clubhouse Function Room with Bar Facilities is also available for Hire for all your Social Events :- Birthdays - Barmitzfas - Christenings - Weddings - Wakes - Family Reunions - Anniversaries - Quiz's - Meetings - etc...