Wibsey Park Chapel Cricket Club
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The Wibsey Park Chapel Cricket Club was formed in 1887 and joined the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League in 1908 where it played until 1998. At that time it was the oldest surviving member of the league only missing one season since joining. Originally club members were drawn from the membership of Park Methodist Church in West Bowling, Bradford, The club retained links with the church through a number of both playing and non playing members up until its closure in 2004.
The club had a proud record in the Sunday School League, having been league championship winners on no less that sixteen occasions and playing in the top division of the league most of the time.
In 1999 the club modified its name to reflect the area in which it now plays and draws most of its membership. At the same time it was accepted in to the Bradford Central Cricket League were its two main teams played as well as retaining a third team in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League. In 2000 links were finally severed with the Sunday School League when it had two more teams accepted in the Dales Council League. In 2005 the club voted on going back to three teams this was accepted due to the lack of quality senior players in the lower teams.
Today the club can boast some 100 active members, drawn from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds, in accordance with its membership equal opportunities policy. Three senior teams play each week during the summer as well as a midweek evening team and four junior teams at under 13, 15 and 17 levels. The club takes development of junior cricketers very seriously, filling the gap in the provision of facilities for the local community as well as the void left by the demise of sporting activities at school. Additionally it provides a continuous pool of players to help maintain the traditions and future of the club.
To support so much cricketing activity the club operates from two grounds – its home base at Haycliffe Lane, adjoining the special school, and the former Yorkshire County Cricket ground at Park Avenue Cricket Ground, which it hopes will provide the infrastructure for continually improving and raising the quality and standard of cricket in the future.
