Page 9 - Real Rochdale Issue 22 Summer 2024

200 years of rochdale In 1919, Rochdale-born
financier and then-president
of the club, Jimmy White set
out to sign the ‘best
cricket club professional’ in the land,
landing Cecil Parkin. Over
three seasons, he took 406
wickets, although there were
no trophies to show for his
efforts.

A highly successful period
then evolved with the signing
of Pat Morfee, a fast
right-hand bowler. Rochdale
won the League and the Wood
League champions 1900
Cup over his four season stay
at Dane Street. In all, he took
A successful decade followed The next major step in the 390 wickets and scored 1,700
but 1877 was the last season club’s history came in in 1893 runs.
at the ground before the club when Rochdale joined the
had to seek pastures new. Central Lancashire League. Other professionals that
They enjoyed immediate followed included Bill
The Ladies Bazaar Committee success becoming champions Hickmott, Sidney Barnes,
raised an astonishing £1,600 in their inaugural season and Ellis Achlong, Learie
which went towards changing the two that followed. They Constantine, Stanley Crump
a low-lying and uneven patch enjoyed further success in and Cecil ‘Cec’ Pepper.
One of the oldest cricket clubs in Lancashire, of wasteland near Rochdale seasons 1900, 1905 and 1906
before a barren period.
town centre into a spacious
Rochdale Cricket Club celebrates its bicentennial in 2024. and well-laid cricket ground. Signing Pepper on a
three-year contract was a real
Dane Street would be the World War One hit the club so coup for Rochdale, as he had
cricket club’s home for the badly that in 1918 there was proved to be an outstanding
Rochdale Cricket Club was formed on 15 June Cricket Club settled at the Vavasour Street next 176 years. no cricket at Dane Street. But
1824, adopting the rules, laws and regulations estate, off Milnrow Road, in 1868. a few men with visions of
established by Marylebone Cricket Club. The inaugural game on the happier days worked
The 1868 season opened at the new Milnrow new ground was a three-day strenuously and the year HONOURS
The first meeting of directors, presiding over Road ground with an extraordinary event: affair against a United South ended with the club
by Robert Holt, took place in the Woolpack Inn, Rochdale versus the Aborigines. It took place of England Xl. practically out of debt. 28 times champions of
and ‘Meer Field’ was rented for the on from 2-4 July and created a great deal of the first division:
remainder of the season for the princely sum of interest. 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897,
£2 – equivalent to about £275 today. 1900, 1905, 1906, 1922,
The visitors appeared in an eye-catching 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927,
Membership was granted by ballot and uniform each played wearing a red shirt, white 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952,
members met at a different hostelry each trousers and a distinctive coloured sash. 1953, 1955, 1956, 1959,
week. 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995,
The match won’t be best remembered for the 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007.
The most notable match of this period was a batting display, with time alone saving the
showdown between 11 northern champions Australian outfit from defeat. However, 12 times winners of the
and 11 southern champions from 8-10 thousands of spectators were drawn to the Wood Cup:
September 1860. ground to witness the sports which were to 1922, 1923, 1924, 1932,
follow, including traditional athletics and 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957,
A house building project in the New Barn Lane boomerang throwing. 1958, 1991, 2000, 2017
area forced another move, and Rochdale A crowd at Dane Street in the 1920s

REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2024 8 9 REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2024