Drakes Huddersfield League club Armitage Bridge are marking a special anniversary this Saturday, August 16.
One of Huddersfield’s most historic clubs, they are using the Jedi Sports Championship match against Lascelles Hall as a Former Players Day to celebrate their 175th anniversary.
The Bridge played in the first ever Huddersfield League game – which was rained off against Lascelles Hall on Easter Tuesday, 1892 – and it’s fitting that the reunion of ex-players, officials and supporters is being held when the Hall are visitors to Dean Brook Road.
Armitage Bridge were joint champions alongside Slaithwaite in the first year of the District League and won the title outright the following season, producing one of Yorkshire and England’s ‘Great Triumvirate’ of cricketers, Schofield Haigh.
Haigh starred alongside George Herbert Hirst and Wilfred Rhodes at top level and scored 11,713 first-class runs and took 2,012 wickets, playing 11 Tests.
Many generations of players have had Armitage Bridge close to their heart and James Moorhouse – whose family have been involved for over 150 years – says they are working hard to mark the club’s milestone in style.
“We thought the best way to mark the 175th anniversary was to get as many ex-players back and involved as possible,” said James, 27, a fifth generation of the family to play.
“There’s been a lot of work done around the ground, we’ve refurbished the bar area which has proved very popular, and we’ve created a patio with benches in memory of a number of players we have lost in recent years – people like Tim Sugden, Norman Dyson who was a big supporter, Ralph Beaumont and Michael Harrison.
“The main event we have planned, however, is on August 16, when the first team are at home and we want as many former players and members to come down as possible.”
