History

The Club was formed during the miners' strike of 1921 and first played in the field adjoining the Waggon and Horses before moving to the present field in 1924.

At first friendly matches were played, until the Club joined the West Riding League in 1927 - with the exception of Newton Hill, they are the longest serving members of the League. Up to 1950 only residents of the village, or Fairburn-born people, could play but this rule was relaxed due to insufficient support. Prior to the 1939-45 war, the school had always a good cricket team and many of these players progressed from the school team to the Village 2nd and eventually the 1st team. The school side played in the Knottingley School Area League and also took part in a competition organised by the Kippax Club. The trophies for winning this were a bat presented by Alan Kippax, an Australian who toured the country with the 1934 Australian Team, and for the runners up a mounted ball, donated by H.G. Vivian who toured with the 1935 New Zealand team. Both these competitions were won by the school team and a certain measure of this success was due to the efforts of Mr. Cookson and Mr. Blackshaw, both Headmasters of the school during the period. The signed cricket bat can be found in the recently developed East Stand of Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

During the 20's the village cricket team became associated with the Fryston Colliery Welfare Scheme, who erected a wooden Pavilion and provided a certain amount of equipment. The wooden Pavilion was blown down during a gale in the winter of 1963 and the present brick structure erected the following Autumn. The association with the Welfare scheme ended in 1965, since when the club have been responsible for their own fund raising.

The first success the side had was in 1946 when the team won the 2nd division league and were promoted to the 1st Division. Between the years 1957 and 1971, the 1st Division Cup was won on no fewer than 7 occasions (this is still a record in the league) and the 1st Division championship Shield three times - probably the period 1966 to 1971 was the "golden era' of the club as the 2nd XI also shared the Championship and won the 2nd Division Cup.

Our recent history, has seen the club growing in strength, which now boasts several youngsters in its senior teams. Some of these youngsters featured in Fairburn's 2002 Senior Cup triumph, which was the last of the clubs trophies in the Leeds West Riding League.

In 2008, the club ended their 80 year association with the LWRCL, to join the Pontefract & District Cricket League, culminating in immediate success with the club winning the Division 3 at the first attempt. Going into 2009, the club hopes that the current crop of players can emulate the golden team of the late 60s.

Founded: 1921

Members of the Leeds West Riding League

from 1927 until 2007.

Members of the PDCL 2008-

West Riding Cricket League

Div. 1 Shield Winners 1962,1968,1969

Div. 1 Leaders Cup Winners 1970

Div. 2 Leaders Cup Winners 1969

Senior Cup Winners 1957,1959,1963,1967,1968,1969,1971,2002

Junior Cup Winners 1963

Div. 2 Champions 1977,1994,1998

Div. 3 Champions 1985

Festival Trophy Winners (2nd XI) 2007

Sportsmanship Award: 2000-2007

Groundsman Of the Year 2004

PDCL Honours

Division 3 Champions 2008

Website administrated by Mark Abdy and James Clegg