Thereare 30 clubs in the Huddersfield Central League.
Several have left in recent years but the Central is still as strong as ever.
Why have some clubs left recently? A few factors are at play.
A number of clubs have moved into the Drakes Huddersfield League in search of a higher standard of cricket.
Others have had to leave the league for financial or other reasons.
The clubs that remain can be categorised by geographical area.
In Huddersfield: Birkby Rose Hill, Bradley & Colnebridge, Edgerton & Dalton, Leymoor, Old Almondburians and Woodfield Park.
On the way to Halifax: Badger Hill and Birchencliffe
In the Spen Valley: Crossbank Methodists, Heckmondwike & Carlinghow United, Mount, and Upper Hopton.
Down the Holme Valley: Cartworth Moor, Holmbridge, Thurstonland and Upperthong.
On the way to Wakefield: Calder Grove, Crigglestone, Denby Grange, Durkar, Gawthorpe St.Mary’s, Horbury Bridge, Flockton, Nortonthorpe and Netherton.
And in the vicinity of South Yorkshire: Higham, Penistone, Silkstone United, Woolley Miners Welfare and Green Moor.
In the past, there were maybe 40 or 50 clubs – making it one of the biggest leagues in Britain.
Now, the league covers a fascinating geographical area – from the Pennines to the eastern outskirts of Kirklees, from Calderdale to Sheffield.
League president Jack Carson (pictured) comments: “Since the formation of the league in 1913, an awful lot of changes have occurred and hopefully most for the better.
“Some of the latter-day changes involve the care and safety of junior players with the introduction of the wearing of helmets, fielding and playing restrictions in senior cricket and the appointment of club welfare officers.
“Additionally, sponsorship of the league and cup competitions has been necessary to keep the running costs to a minimum and we are most grateful to all sponsors over the years, particularly arrowselfdrive.com
“The use of the Internet and 24-hour news has meant the creation of our own website, providing results and news to a wide reader audience.”
