STARS AND SILVERWARE!
History and Achievements
by
Chris Knowles
It is now over 130 years since the oldest surviving membership card for Emley Clarence was issued (below). Back in 1876, they were simply known as Emley Cricket Club and it was only in 1894 that ‘Clarence’ was adopted into the official name. As an aspiring and newly-formed team, victories in the Combination Cup and Lumb Cup (1900 and 1903 respectively) are widely regarded as Emley’s first major triumphs.
Initially, the club played their cricket in the Dearne Valley League. This was the case in 1906 – the year in which the new pavilion was opened. However, it was in 1924 that Emley Clarence replaced Hepworth in the Huddersfield Central Cricket League. Following a period of uncertainty in 1932, when the club temporarily withdrew from the competition, Emley Clarence cemented their place in the Central League in 1938. Three years later, the 1st XI were crowned Allsop Cup winners.
The period between 1956 and 1966 saw the club collect two Central League Section ‘B’ championship titles (1956 and 1965 respectively), and witnessed the 2nd XI take top spot in Section ‘C’ of the Central League in 1966 - an accomplishment which the team repeated in 1976.
Emley Clarence won the Central League Section ‘A’ in 1972, which was complemented by 1st XI glory in the Allsop Cup in the same year, but it wasn’t until 1978 that the club replicated the Section ‘A’ success once more. Further glory in the Tinker Cup, and also league success in 1986 and 1999, ensued, but no bigger achievement came than in 2000. Perhaps seen as their finest hour to date, Emley Clarence won the Central League Premier Division.
Over the years, Emley has been home to some very talented and prominent cricketers. For example, it is where ex-Durham and Northants fast bowler Alan Walker learnt his cricket and more recently, Matthew Wood, currently of Glamorgan CCC, but a former Yorkshire batsman who toured Australia with the England ‘A side on two separate occasions.
Since 2004, Emley have been playing in the Drakes Huddersfield League, performing solidly and soundly. In 2006, they won the Frank Platt Conference, which allowed them promotion to the Premiership.
However, controversy struck last season, when Emley’s 2nd XI were stripped of their Frank Platt Conference Two title following a six-point deduction for alleged disturbances during an end-of-season match with Kirkheaton. A subsequent play-off against Kirkburton ended in defeat after rain halted play, leaving Clarence in Conference Two for the forthcoming season.