K Siddique

Padiham were founder members of the the League in 1891 providing the first two secretary /treasurers, Mr. N. Astin 1892‑1900 and Mr. T. Spencer 1900‑20. They remained members in the infamous season of 1902 when the League was down to only four teams but they were unable to continue after the First World War. After being runners‑up in 1901 and 1906, the first championship was won in 1908, thanks mainly to fast bowler, Sam Moss whose 100 wickets at 5.7 included a 10 wicket haul against Great Harwood, the third in the league's history and still the only one which needed no help from a fieldsman ‑ all bowled! Jonathan Brooks reminiscing about the early days thought Sam Moss the fastest and fiercest bowler lie had seen in the league. No other Padiham bowler has reached the 100 wicket mark. The club's record total remains the 300-5 made against Barnoldswick in 1892, a league record which stood for 50 years.

Moves to re‑establish a cricket club in the town began in 1947, chiefly at the instigation of Bill Houston. Land was bought at the Arbories, by the local authority, from Mr. Legendre Starkie of the Huntroyde estate who gave up ideas of a private housing development to allow for a cricket and football field to be developed. A public meeting at the Town Hall in November, 1947 gave unanimous support and a successful appeal was launched to raise the £5,000 needed from the club itself. Work began in 1948 and the ground, dedicated as a memorial to the dead of the Second World War, was opened in August, 1949. With its tall trees around three sides, sometimes a hazard and requiring special boundary rules, it is one of the most picturesque of the league's grounds and one of the smallest.

Bad weather had delayed work on the new ground and the re‑entry of Padiham into the Ribblesdale League but the team were back there for the 1950 season. Players were recruited mainly from local works teams and Jim Smith of Rishton became the first professional and Roland Eames the first captain. The championship was won in 1960 under Jack Dutton, with 77 wickets from professional Ross Howarth and 53 wickets from Jack Horan. Roger Devon had joined the club from Lowerhouse in 1959 and since then there has rarely been a Padiham 1st XI without a Devon in it. Brother John followed Roger in 1964 and Roger's son Graeme now keeps up the tradition. Becoming captain in 1961 for four seasons, Roger Devon eventually hit over 6000 runs for the first team but never managed a century; his best was 98 not out versus Whalley. He was the sole survivor of the 1960 side when the title was won again in 1966, the captain by now being brother John, and the professional John Roberts who finished top of the league averages with 77 wickets making 214 wickets in all in his three successful seasons at the club. The season began at Settle with a poor innings of 70 but then 8‑13 for John Roberts and a win which set the tone for the rest of the campaign.

The last 25 years have produced only one more 1st XI trophy, the Ramsbottom Cup in 1973, John Devon still the captain. Brian Shirtcliffe, the current chairman then in his first year in office, took 7‑29 to help beat Clitheroe in the semi‑final and struck again in the final at Settle with 3‑22 and 3 catches to go with 3‑15 from Malcolm Heyworth, as Settle were dismissed for 72 to set up a 5 wicket victory. The final was reached in 1985 and again in 1989, when Whalley somehow snatched victory in the last over taking four wickets.

The 2nd XI won the Junior League in its first year, 1912, but since returning to the league in 1950 have managed just one trophy, the Lawrenson Cup in the first final in 1971, when they beat Rawtenstall 3rd Xl. They have been fairly consistently in Division 2 since the Junior League was organised into two divisions. Remarkably, though, in 1986 whilst finishing eleventh in the table, they set a new opening partnership which still stands (210 ‑ G. Ramshead 104* and A. Poole 90* versus Rolls Royce 2nd Xl) and equalled the tenth wicket record (75‑ J Suddal 62 and A. Hunter 40* versus Rawtenstall). And mention should be made of an all‑round performance more recently in 1990 by P. Shirtcliffe versus Ribblesdale Wanderers: 93 not out and 7‑61.

The U‑ 18 Xl, set up on a proper basis in 1963, has provided its fair share of players for the 1st Xl and for other clubs, including club captain in Stephen Gee, Bob Stevenson and Malcolm Heyworth and a Lancashire player in Ian Folley. And like other clubs a full‑scale youth policy is now an important part of the club's hopes for the future. Stephen Gee went on to a very successful career as Earby professional in the 1980s before returning to Padiham as amateur captain. Bob Stevenson is one of only seven wicketkeepers in the league to claim six victims in an innings and shares the honour with D. Hargreaves of Padiham who did the same in 1961.

When professional Michael McLeod scored 1045 runs in 1977, including three centuries, it was the second best aggregate in the league's history. Who would have thought it would be surpassed by an amateur? Earl “Duke” Eddings, a young Australian, hit 1187 in 1990 in whirlwind style including a club record 160 not out against Barnoldswick and altogether an incredible 70 sixes.

No club can survive without its hardworking backroom men and women. At the risk of omitting deserving cases, mention should be made of Alan Gardner, Kevin Coward, Stanley Parker, Brian Morris and Harold Rigg. Padiham look to a successful future and the golden jubilee of their picturesque ground.