Page 11 - Real Rochdale Issue 22 Summer 2024

success in Australia’s Test matches against trophy joining the trophy cabinet in 1955 and
England during the summer of 1945. 1956.

The highlight of his inaugural season was a After a couple of decades focusing on
hard-hitting 143 in two and a quarter hours. developing the younger players, Rochdale took
Two of his sixes soared over the pavilion at their first league title for 34 years with Dave
Stockport’s Cale Street ground, In all he hit six Callaghan in 1990. They backed this up the
sixes, a five and 17 fours. This was followed following season with a league and cup double.
by a return of 9 for 43 as the home team were
bowled out for 155. Further titles followed in 1993 and 1995. In
the interim, the Dane Street ground was sold to
Pepper waited another season before Asda, with the club relocating to the site of the
completing the double, only the second player former Redbrook School.
to have done so. He repeated the feat in 1948
and the Championship was won with a 13-point The arrival of exciting young talent, in the
margin over Milnrow, the runners-up. shape of 22-year old Robbie Baker from
Western Australia again ignited the team and
Pepper’s three-year stay at Dane Street netted they claimed the title in 1997 and 1999.
him 3,127 runs and 297 wickets.
Rochdale topped the table in 2001, 2003 and
What followed was five seasons of 2007 with Dirk de Vos, Tushar Arothe and Ryan
ex-Gloucestershire and England Test batsman Hinds respectively carrying the professional
Charlie Barnett. His superb attacking play mantle.
had ranked with the world’s best and he didn’t
disappoint. He scored runs for Rochdale at an After a reorganisation of cricket leagues in the
amazing speed. Manchester area in 2018, Rochdale chose to
join the Lancashire League; a strong,
During his tenure, in which the League was won competitive and challenging competition
four times and the Wood Cup once, Barnett which has proved a great success.
scored 4,687 runs and captured 437 wickets.

In the 1950s, Rochdale went on to win the With thanks to Rochdale Cricket Club,
Wood Cup in each of Dattu Phadkar’s four in particular the late Alistair Bolingbroke
seasons with the League Championships whose research made this article possible.

Rochdale Cricket Club’s team for 2024

REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2024 10 11 REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2024