ARMITAGE BRIDGE have become the first team to be crowned League champions this season after their runaway success in the Cedar Court Conference.
And for long-suffering supporters of the Bridge, success has been a long time coming.
The last time Armitage Bridge’s first team won a League title, not a single member of the current first team squad had even been born.
For that old Section B title is almost lost in the mists of time back in 1968!
So although the Conference title comes behind the Premiership and Championship crowns, it is nevertheless a major landmark in the club’s history and one which the players and supporters have every right to celebrate long and hard.
Up to press, the Bridge are the only undefeated team in the entire Drakes League, and having captured the Hinchliffe Cup, their aim now is to go through the season unbeaten in the League programme.
Paul Hamer returned to the Bridge at the start of last season after six years away, and was then made skipper for this season, which is when the club really took off.
“It’s been a great season for us, and I’m absolutely delighted with the way things have gone,” reflected Hamer, who began his career with the Bridge as a 10-year-old, before having a couple of spells at Meltham and Marsden. “We’ve been doing well this year because I believe we’ve got a good team. Most sides are useful down to numbers five or six, but we’re tending to field 11 useful players, all of whom are capable of producing the goods, and that’s the difference.
“We recruited only two new players for the start of the season, Hayden Jones and Carl Jump, and they’ve certainly made a difference, although it’s not just been about them.
“I played with Hayden in Perth a few years ago and knew how good he was, and as soon as I found out he wanted to come over to England we lined him up.
“But he’s not just a good player (he’s now closing in on 800 runs), he’s also such a genuinely nice guy who has fitted in brilliantly, as has his wife. They both work behind the bar at the club, and Hayden will just do anything you ask of him. They truly are great additions to the club.
“And the same goes for Jumpy (Carl Jump) who approached us on Andy Gledhill’s recommendation and is not only doing a fantastic job for us, but absolutely loves it here.
“He’s always been there when we needed him, either with the bat or by knocking over two or three wickets (so far he’s picked up 47 in League and Sykes Cup) and certainly his experience has won us close games which, in previous seasons, we would have lost.
“Carl is also a tremendous character to have in your club, and I’m definitely glad we’ve got him on our side and not against us, and the great news is that he’s already signed up again for next season.”
Hamer stressed the success has been spread around the team.
“Gleds (Andy Gledhill) has done a fine job and has such a positive attitude both on and off the field, while Danny Moorhouse has come on loads this season,” he added.
“He’s really worked on his batting (he’s now topped over 400 runs) and has put together some good innings, while Rick Lunn has opened the bowling and has had an excellent season.
“Having had the pressure of captaincy taken off him, I think he is one of the best bowlers in the Conference, and even when he’s not taken the wickets, he’s not gone for any runs. In fact, Rick has really been Mr Dependable this season.
“Jordan Williamson is one of our exciting young prospects and definitely one for the future. I know one or two clubs have already had their eyes on him, but I’m hoping he’ll stay with us, and of course his dad Mark still plays down here in the Seconds.
“We’ve also got Faheem (Hussain) who, although he hasn’t done as well with the bat as he would have liked this year, has bowled well when needed, and he’s still only 20, while we also have three 16-year-olds, Joel Harrison, Tom Heeley and Cody Parr, who we’ve tried to give as much first-team experience as we could this season.
“We’ve been fortunate this year in that most players have been available every week, which is something we haven’t had before, which of course helps with consistency and the team spirit, which again is something we have not always had at the Bridge.
“We know that next year will be much harder in the Championship, because there will be two good teams coming down from the Premiership, and I’m expecting it to be a tougher division than perhaps it’s been this time.
“But we’ll certainly be looking forward to the challenge, and I know most of our guys are committed and want to keep improving, so there’s no question we’ll be going for it again next season, and who knows – in a couple of seasons we might even be looking to get into the Premiership.”
For the record, back in 1968 the Armitage Bridge side who won the Section B title, comprised professional Charlie Moore, Geoff Barker, Eric Wood, Roy Booth, David Green, Donald Slee, Geoff Ladbroke (now a leading umpire), Dennis Midwood (no introduction needed), Stuart Woodcock, Frank Fisher and former League disciplinary secretary Leslie Duncalf.
