7 – The Rising
By the early Eighties things were at last showing signs of progress off the pitch at the Villas; the catalyst without a doubt was the period of success on the field that began with the Club’s Under Eighteen team enjoying a period from 1977-80 that has never since been bettered. It was to be the foundations for some “Glory Days” that were just around the corner at senior level and it is fair to say that up until that point the club’s trophy cabinet was somewhat underused apart from storing the sweets in the cricket season.
There had been a few minor successes scattered over the sixty or so previous years but nothing really to crow about no matter what Haighy and Browny may have claimed. In truth they won sweet Fanny Adams all those years despite claiming to being the best cricketers of their generation, cruelly overlooked by both Yorkshire and England and cast away to the backwater that was Bolton Villas CC.
Greenwood Park, Sandy Line
We had formed an Under Fourteen side in 1975 playing a couple of late season friendly matches starting at that batter’s paradise, a council owned bone breaker of a pitch set in Greenwood Park, home of Sandy Lane CC. This was followed by our first season in the Bradford Junior League in 1976, although we hardly set the world alight. In 1977, my first year as captain, we lost every game so this barely seemed to set the precedent for the next few heady years as we entered the arena of Under Eighteen cricket in the Bradford Central Junior League.
Such was the strength of cricket in general at that time that the Bradford League and Bradford Central League co-existed although it was generally accepted the former was the better standard overall at both senior and junior levels. After all that was where the money was; sadly, nowadays the Central League has now vanished and it’s senior counterpart has it’s own issues as the money flows less freely at many clubs now.
The format all those years ago was two divisions with the respective divisional winners playing off at the end of the season for the honour of champions. There was also the T Joy Cup to play for and as the Central League played Under Eighteen cricket you often got lads too old for the rival competition – which was Under Seventeen – opting to play a final year of junior cricket adding spice as the token “ringer”. The following summarises this golden era for Villas junior cricket.
Tales of Yester-year
1977 – the only reason this was a barren year was that, on reaching the league play off, almost all the team (led by Rick Lawrence) missed the play off against Buttershaw St. Paul’s to go on holiday. How ironic if you sit next to Rick these days as he vents his spleen on the lack of commitment and competitiveness of the modern youth. Would they also know that this was the year the future mild mannered accountant reacted to a poor umpire’s decision by walking off the pitch at Wilsden CC; storming off the wrong way, hurling his bat a good fifty yards, pads and gloves flying over a wall only to be severely humiliated by the umpire again with a strong ticking off. Well it was the late old man Pierson’s home ground after all.
1978 – a double winning year under the captaincy of JB. I cannot imagine anybody being fined for dirty whites or turning up late under his command as it was almost de rigueur.
Play Off: Cross Roads 81 (M Duffy 3/14, N Gibson 3/17, S Wilson2/22)
Villas 82-3 (N Gibson 40, M Duffy 28)
It was clear even at this early age how outstanding the likes of Nick “Ginger” Gibson and Mark Duffy were although I am amazed that Ginger actually bowled as I never saw him move very much at all in all the years I played with him. And that was long before he discovered that a Family sized Pizza Hut Meat Feast and him were a match made in heaven, which must have been when the knees went. Big fat lad wobbling in on wonky knees…no wonder he took wickets. Duffy was a quality all round sportsman. Ginger was just all round.
Cup: Villas 193-5 (N Gibson 64, J Brennan 53, M Duffy 43)
Thornbury 79 (M Duffy 4-7)
The press cutting here notes Richard Tattersall as not conceding a bye although they only got 81 so not much could have got past the bat. I can only think that Lord Denis had him on some performance contract probably still paying off the broken window from his aborted golf career; although as far as Richard’s batting went he generally started most games in in debit so flawless keeping maintained a balance of sorts. Note also the captain’s knock no doubt an early exhibition of the shovel shot and the manic, insane running between the wickets he maintains to this day despite several replacement hamstrings.
1979 – a young yours truly could only skipper the side to a play off win.
Play Off: Villas 181-7 (A Stockdale 86)
Wilsden 173 (B Higginbotham 4-21, S Wilson4-26)
Extras were second highest scorer in our total and with Wilsden 91-0 after 15 overs we were in trouble but our little mystery spinner, Barry, turned the game and they collapsed in dramatic style. I bowled my usual pile of rubbish interspersed with what became known as my mystery ball – the straight one – and we were home as narrow winners testing the nerves of many watching parents.
1980 – skippered by a returning Duck back from a “pro” contract hobnobbing in the Bradford League at Billy’s insistence we once again won the double. As can be seen, we were glad to have him back.
Play Off: Sandy Lane141 (A Stockdale 6-14)
Villas 142-1 (A Stockdale 61*, S Dunwell56*)
Cup: Villas 171-7 (A Stockdale 54, S Dunwell39, P Thompson 32)
Northowram (P Smith 3-26, A Stockdale 2-18)
Notable for superb all round contributions from Duck and Thommo aka Paul Thompson. Three catches – including a stunning match winner to get rid of their main man plus a stumping – deservedly won Thommo the man of the match. Big Phil Smith was also in the wickets long before his desertion to sunny Florida and Stevie Dunwell made a valuable contribution the result of many intense, hard fought games honing techniques against the milk crate. That man did sell his wicket dearly. It was after all his crate and if he disagreed with “Hawkeye” or “Snicko” off he went with that crate.
1981 – a return to captaincy but the trophies just did not happen missing out narrowly in both formats.
Just Mates Playing Sport
These were exciting times for a bunch of mates playing a game we all loved. Sure we had the odd ringer or two, most sides did and the Bradford Junior League was undoubtedly superior to ours but ours was a good standard too and fiercely fought. We had come from hugely competitive games either on Lord Denis’s driveway often watered by Dave if he bunked off early from flogging biscuits or in the field up against the milk crate that Stevie Dunwell would generally smash to smithereens if he got a dodgy decision.This was long before the umpire referral system was ever was heard of.
Most of all we enjoyed each other’s company. I cannot remember us being particularly over coached nor did we enjoy anything remotely resembling the practice facilities the kids have today at Villas. As for helmets I only wore one if I got a lift to a game off my mate Jane. And whilst we were strutting our stuff for the first time, some of the older lads most notably Brent, Rick and Nick, were starting to become integral parts of the First Team and at last the average age was starting to sink under the fifty benchmark. “Better Days” were just around the corner. But would they ever get the ball out of Browny’s hands?
Paul Thompson says
As Browny put it bud I could catch flying pigeons lol. But I think my innings was the highlight I think it was at least 2 a ball!
Nick (Ginger) Gibson says
Thanks for those kind words Willy…looking back we had an outstanding team when you think about it Pete Clarke, Dave Newsham, Brian Ackroyd, You, the cricketer in your family John, Dave Freer ..obviosly JB, Duffy..the list goes on.