TABS CC History

History and Background

Boston United Cricket Club was founded on May 25th 1873 by Abraham Adkin and William Dalby, when the following advertisement appeared in The Wetherby News:

''Boston Spa United Cricket Club are open to arrange a limited number of matches with any clubs in the vicinity. Any person wishing to join this club, are respectfully solicited to remit subscriptions to A. Adkin, Hon Sec. or W. Dalby, Asst. Sec. Entrance fee 2/6. Hon. members 5/- upwards.''

In the early days matches were played on the Wharfedale College ground (now Wharfedale Hall) and also on the present games field which was then part of the fields of The Royal Hotel. Matches were played against Seacroft, Thornbury and Thorp Arch Grange in the clubs first season.

A well recorded event in the clubs history appears to be a gala, including a 3 day cricket match organised by the club to take place on Whit Monday, June 5th 1876. The match was between the Boston Spa Twenty Two and the North of England XI, whose team included many famous Yorkshire cricketers of the time.

Throughout the 1870s, records show that matches were played against Leeds Albion, Wetherby Britannia, Tadcaster Clarence, Aberford, Thorp Arch Grange School and Burley Clarence. Some of the Boston team also played for Lord Hawke's Wighill Park team.

Players from the Boston club were also known to have played matches for Thorp Arch Hall and Thorp Arch Grange in the late 1870's, which could have been the beginnings of the amalgamation of the clubs. Although an exact date when these clubs joined forced is not known, it was possibly between 1880 and 1888.

In August 1880, the club organised its second festival and it can be seen that the cricket club played an important part in the social activities of village life in Boston at this time.

Mr J Hatfield J.P. of Thorp Arch Hall had been president of the club until his death in 1889. His son continued in the role. By this time, matches were being played on the present cricket ground, behind the Pax Inn, Thorp Arch, part of the Hatfield estate.

By the late 1800's, matches were being played against teams from Garforth, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, Swillington Park, and Collingham. Although the railway at Thorp Arch was a useful mode of transport, it is recorded that "members of the team would travel in a wagonette drawn by two horses, which would take them as far afield as Cross Gates"

Lord Hawke, who captained England in Australia and also captained Yorkshire for many years, often entertaining the county side at Wighill Park, brought the Lord Hawke's XI to play at Thorp Arch in the early 1900's. It is known that Yorkshire players did turn out for Thorp Arch and Boston Spa during the early 1900's and these included George Smith and G A B Leatham. It is said that George Smith "lifted the bat and the ball soared over the cottages and rolled down Thorp Arch Main Street"

The club were playing in the Barkston Ash league at this time and a match between Boston A and Clifford United was recorded when H Kitchen took 7 for 7.

On 17th December 1919, the Wetherby & District Cricket League came into being. Representatives of the Clifford, Kirk Deighton, Spofforth, Stockeld Park, Thorp Arch & Boston Spa and Wetherby cricket clubs, at a meeting held in Wetherby, unanimously decided that a cricket league would meet a long-felt need in the Wetherby district.

There was a great deal of cricket played after the First World War and Thorp Arch & Boston Spa Cricket Club carried on through the difficult years of World War II, although activities in the Wetherby League were suspended between 1941 and 1945. The continued service of the railway services from Thorp Arch to Harrogate, Leeds and Church Fenton was one of the reasons the Royal Ordnance Factory was built at Thorp Arch, which in turn provided a new source of players and opponents for the club. The RAF also had hutted camps in Chestnut Grove and Thorp Arch Park supplying still more cricketers.

In the 1940's, the club had one team in the Harrogate League and one in the Wetherby League. A ladies' committee was formed to provide refreshments and in 1947, for the first time, ladies were permitted to attend the annual dinner.

In 1952 the club supported Wetherby in the formation of a Junior League section at Under 16s. 1992 saw the introduction of Under 14s cricket, with a change to Under13s, 15s and 17s, in line with national competitions, in 1996. Under 11s were introduced in 1999. Thorp Arch & Boston Spa has been, and still is, represented at all these age groups since their introduction to the league (see Juniors section of this website).

The club continued to play in the Wetherby & District Cricket League at senior level until 1962 with the early 1950's appearing to be the most memorable period.
Some of the clubs' successes are detailed below:

Seniors

1936 Senior Division Winners
1937 Saturday Senior Knock-Out Winners (Hare Cup)
1939 Senior Division Winners
1949 Senior Evening (Charity) Cup Winners
1950 Reserve Division (2nd XI) Winners
1951 Division One Winners
1951 Senior Evening (Charity) Cup Winners
1951 Reserve Evening Knock-Out Winners (Harry Haw Cup)
1952 Reserve Division (2nd XI) Winners
1953 Division One Winners (2nd XI) Winners
Senior Evening (Secondary) Knock-Out Winners
1954 Division One Winners
1957 Division One Winners
1957 Senior Evening (Charity) Cup Winners
1958 Reserve Evening Knock-Out Cup Winners
1961 Division One Runners-up

Juniors

1952 U16s Junior League Champions
1957 U16s Junior League Champions
1970 U16s Junior League Champions
1970 U16s Northern Division Winners
1971 U16s Northern Division Winners
1982 U16s Northern Division Winners
1984 U16s Central Division Winner
1985 U16s Junior League Champions
1987 U16s Central Division Winners
1998 U13s League Winners
2000 U17s Northern Division Winners
2000 U17s Nicholas Priestley Cup Winners

In the early 1960s the decision was taken to apply for admittance to the York & District Senior League. Thorp Arch & Boston Spa Cricket Club were accepted and began playing in this league in 1963. The reason for the move was to play a higher standard of cricket and at clubs with better quality wickets and outfields. A veteran of the club described the reasons for the move as "there were only about 3 other clubs in the Wetherby League at this time that could give us a good game - besides that we were all fed up of fielding in cow pats!"

There is no doubt that the club has found life in the York & District Senior League challenging particularly as the league has grown tremendously over the years. Although there are many individual performances by club members recorded there have only been 3 team honours received in this league to date:

1984 Division 5 Winners ( 2nd XI)
1989 Division 2 Winners
1990 Division 1 Winners

However, Thorp Arch & Boston Spa Cricket Club are totally committed to continued membership of this league, ensuring that members get the best opportunities to play cricket at clubs where the quality of playing surfaces and facilities are closely monitored and maintained.

The club also supports the proposed move to a new ground at Dowkell Lane, Thorp Arch, which will offer a new clubhouse with bar, car parking, permanent outdoor net facilities and a much larger playing area. A children's play area is also included in the plans. Further details will be given on this website as they become available.

Barbara Cole
Secretary - Junior Section
August 2000

Thorp Arch & Boston Spa CC
- - - - - Thorp Arch & Boston Spa History- - - - -

	History and Background Boston United Cricket Club was founded on May 25th 1873 by Abraham Adkin and William Dalby, when the following advertisement appeared in The Wetherby News: ''Boston Spa United Cricket Club are open to arrange a limited number of matches with any clubs in the vicinity. Any person wishing to join this club, are respectfully solicited to remit subscriptions to A. Adkin, Hon Sec. or W. Dalby, Asst. Sec. Entrance fee 2/6. Hon. members 5/- upwards.'' In the early days matches were played on the Wharfedale College ground (now Wharfedale Hall) and also on the present games field which was then part of the fields of The Royal Hotel. Matches were played against Seacroft, Thornbury and Thorp Arch Grange in the clubs first season. A well recorded event in the clubs history appears to be a gala, including a 3 day cricket match organised by the club to take place on Whit Monday, June 5th 1876. The match was between the Boston Spa Twenty Two and the North of England XI, whose team included many famous Yorkshire cricketers of the time. Throughout the 1870s, records show that matches were played against Leeds Albion, Wetherby Britannia, Tadcaster Clarence, Aberford, Thorp Arch Grange School and Burley Clarence. Some of the Boston team also played for Lord Hawke's Wighill Park team. Players from the Boston club were also known to have played matches for Thorp Arch Hall and Thorp Arch Grange in the late 1870's, which could have been the beginnings of the amalgamation of the clubs. Although an exact date when these clubs joined forced is not known, it was possibly between 1880 and 1888. In August 1880, the club organised its second festival and it can be seen that the cricket club played an important part in the social activities of village life in Boston at this time. Mr J Hatfield J.P. of Thorp Arch Hall had been president of the club until his death in 1889. His son continued in the role. By this time, matches were being played on the present cricket ground, behind the Pax Inn, Thorp Arch, part of the Hatfield estate. By the late 1800's, matches were being played against teams from Garforth, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, Swillington Park, and Collingham. Although the railway at Thorp Arch was a useful mode of transport, it is recorded that "members of the team would travel in a wagonette drawn by two horses, which would take them as far afield as Cross Gates" Lord Hawke, who captained England in Australia and also captained Yorkshire for many years, often entertaining the county side at Wighill Park, brought the Lord Hawke's XI to play at Thorp Arch in the early 1900's. It is known that Yorkshire players did turn out for Thorp Arch and Boston Spa during the early 1900's and these included George Smith and G A B Leatham. It is said that George Smith "lifted the bat and the ball soared over the cottages and rolled down Thorp Arch Main Street" The club were playing in the Barkston Ash league at this time and a match between Boston A and Clifford United was recorded when H Kitchen took 7 for 7. On 17th December 1919, the Wetherby & District Cricket League came into being. Representatives of the Clifford, Kirk Deighton, Spofforth, Stockeld Park, Thorp Arch & Boston Spa and Wetherby cricket clubs, at a meeting held in Wetherby, unanimously decided that a cricket league would meet a long-felt need in the Wetherby district. There was a great deal of cricket played after the First World War and Thorp Arch & Boston Spa Cricket Club carried on through the difficult years of World War II, although activities in the Wetherby League were suspended between 1941 and 1945. The continued service of the railway services from Thorp Arch to Harrogate, Leeds and Church Fenton was one of the reasons the Royal Ordnance Factory was built at Thorp Arch, which in turn provided a new source of players and opponents for the club. The RAF also had hutted camps in Chestnut Grove and Thorp Arch Park supplying still more cricketers. In the 1940's, the club had one team in the Harrogate League and one in the Wetherby League. A ladies' committee was formed to provide refreshments and in 1947, for the first time, ladies were permitted to attend the annual dinner. In 1952 the club supported Wetherby in the formation of a Junior League section at Under 16s. 1992 saw the introduction of Under 14s cricket, with a change to Under13s, 15s and 17s, in line with national competitions, in 1996. Under 11s were introduced in 1999. Thorp Arch & Boston Spa has been, and still is, represented at all these age groups since their introduction to the league (see Juniors section of this website). The club continued to play in the Wetherby & District Cricket League at senior level until 1962 with the early 1950's appearing to be the most memorable period. Some of the clubs' successes are detailed below: Seniors 1936 Senior Division Winners 1937 Saturday Senior Knock-Out Winners (Hare Cup) 1939 Senior Division Winners 1949 Senior Evening (Charity) Cup Winners 1950 Reserve Division (2nd XI) Winners 1951 Division One Winners 1951 Senior Evening (Charity) Cup Winners 1951 Reserve Evening Knock-Out Winners (Harry Haw Cup) 1952 Reserve Division (2nd XI) Winners 1953 Division One Winners (2nd XI) Winners Senior Evening (Secondary) Knock-Out Winners 1954 Division One Winners 1957 Division One Winners 1957 Senior Evening (Charity) Cup Winners 1958 Reserve Evening Knock-Out Cup Winners 1961 Division One Runners-up Juniors 1952 U16s Junior League Champions 1957 U16s Junior League Champions 1970 U16s Junior League Champions 1970 U16s Northern Division Winners 1971 U16s Northern Division Winners 1982 U16s Northern Division Winners 1984 U16s Central Division Winner 1985 U16s Junior League Champions 1987 U16s Central Division Winners 1998 U13s League Winners 2000 U17s Northern Division Winners 2000 U17s Nicholas Priestley Cup Winners In the early 1960s the decision was taken to apply for admittance to the York & District Senior League. Thorp Arch & Boston Spa Cricket Club were accepted and began playing in this league in 1963. The reason for the move was to play a higher standard of cricket and at clubs with better quality wickets and outfields. A veteran of the club described the reasons for the move as "there were only about 3 other clubs in the Wetherby League at this time that could give us a good game - besides that we were all fed up of fielding in cow pats!" There is no doubt that the club has found life in the York & District Senior League challenging particularly as the league has grown tremendously over the years. Although there are many individual performances by club members recorded there have only been 3 team honours received in this league to date: 1984 Division 5 Winners ( 2nd XI) 1989 Division 2 Winners 1990 Division 1 Winners However, Thorp Arch & Boston Spa Cricket Club are totally committed to continued membership of this league, ensuring that members get the best opportunities to play cricket at clubs where the quality of playing surfaces and facilities are closely monitored and maintained. The club also supports the proposed move to a new ground at Dowkell Lane, Thorp Arch, which will offer a new clubhouse with bar, car parking, permanent outdoor net facilities and a much larger playing area. A children's play area is also included in the plans. Further details will be given on this website as they become available. Barbara Cole Secretary - Junior Section August 2000