History
The First Innings - 1847 to 1865
On the 22nd of September 1847, the first recorded cricket match involving the Meanwood Cricket Club took place against The Swan (Woodhouse) Cricket Club at the Meanwood Cricket Ground. Meanwood secured victory by 34 runs. A second fixture was then played the following Wednesday between the two clubs, with the result again in Meanwood’s favour by 48 runs.
A single wicket cricket match was played the Tuesday after on Woodhouse Moor between the ‘Great Gun’ of the Rockingham David Bentley, and the duo of B. Myers and G. Walker of the Meanwood club. ‘The Novices’ (Bentley and Myers) defeated ‘The Crack’ (Bentley) by 12 runs, to take home winnings of one sovereign.
In 1848, The Meanwood Club (or Royal Meanwood Club) played further fixtures against Adel (spelt Addle at the time) and The Caxton, both at the Meanwood Cricket Ground. In the fixture against Addle on Saturday 23rd September 1848, Addle were victorious by 13 runs, and then on the Monday 25th September, Meanwood defeated The Caxton by 23 runs.
Newspaper reports from 1847 to 1864 document that Meanwood played regular matches against local opposition with their playing eleven including the same core group of men who lived and worked in the Meanwood area. These included men working in tanning (leather) industry, the textile industry and the local Quarry .
Meanwood WMI Cricket Club - 1865 to 1870
Following the inauguration of the Meanwood Working Men's Institute in 1865, a new cricket team was formed. Henry Cowper Marshall, son of John Marshall (industrialist), allowed the use of his park surrounding Weetwood Hall, twice a week for cricket in 1865, before the new club were provided a permanent home by William Beckett-Denison, tenant of Meanwood Hall, in the grounds of Meanwood park, now the Woodlea Housing estate, in 1866.
Meanwood Park Cricket Club - 1870 to 1887
In 1870, the Meanwood Park Cricket Club was formed. It is unclear whether this marked a continuation of the earlier Meanwood WMI Cricket Club under a new name, or the establishment of a separate club. However, the Meanwood Park Cricket Club remained based in Meanwood Park, and its playing members largely overlapped with those who had represented the Meanwood WMI side.
Bower Family - 1887 to 1895
Between 1887 and 1893, the Bower family played a significant role in the development of the cricket club. Wealthy industrialists with business interests in glass blowing and mining, the Bowers were prominent figures in Leeds society. By the late 1880s, two of the Bower brothers were tenants of Meanwood Hall, while another, John Richard Bower, was mayor of Leeds in 1880. John Richard became president of the cricket club, and under his patronage, Meanwood rose to prominence as one of the leading clubs in the city, including changing the teams name from Meanwood Park Cricket Club to Meanwood Cricket Club in 1888. The club employed professional players, including William Fletcher (cricketer), and competed in prestigious fixtures—most notably defeating Leeds Cricket Club at Headingley Stadium in 1892.
In 1892 Meanwood were one of nine clubs (Leeds, Hunslet, Holbeck, North Leeds, Sheepscar, Armley, Wortley, Leamington and Meanwood) who met to discuss the formation of the first Leeds Cricket League, however for reasons unknown Meanwood were not one of the eight teams who went on to form the league. Later that year John Richard Bower was reported to be supporting the Leeds Cricket Club and seemingly his involvement in Meanwood had ended.
Leeds Second League - 1895 to 1906
As league cricket in Leeds formalised, Meanwood joined the Leeds Second League and ran two sides until 1906, when they retired from league cricket.
Wilderness Years - 1906 to 1919
Very little is known about the club following the retirement from League cricket through to the end of the World War I. The club continued to function, and 'ordinary' or friendly fixtures took place, often raising money for charitable causes.
Re-joining League Cricket - 1919 to 1939
Following the war, Meanwood re-joined the Leeds Second League and in 1928 won the Leeds Second Cricket League 1st Division Championship. In the 1930s the club fielded two teams in the Yorkshire Central League, which went on to amalgamate with the Barkston Ash Cricket League.
Post-war successes - 1939 to 1960
During the Second World War it is not clear if any league cricket was played although it is known that Meanwood played Yorkshire County Cricket Club in a wartime evening match which Yorkshire narrowly won.
Meanwood won their first post-war honours in 1949 when they became the Yorkshire Central Cricket League Division A champions.
In 1959 the club won their first silverware in a decade when they won the Barkston Ash Cricket League’s premier cup competition the Lane Fox Cup. The game was marred by a Meanwood player being taken to hospital after a ball hit him in the mouth.
Decline and rejuvenation - 1960 to 1987
In the 1960s the club went into a period of decline but recovered in the 1970s, winning the Barkston Ash Division 2 title in 1975. By the early 1980’s the club was once again a leading side in the league and won the Division 2 title again, the mid-week Stoker Cup and the 6 a-side indoor competition. In 1983 the club won their second Lane Fox Cup and 6-a-side indoor cup. 1983 was also the year that the club established their first junior side. In 1984/85 club members worked together to build a new pavilion and tea room which still stands today.
Glory Years - 1987 to 2003
In 1987 the club joined the Dales Council Cricket League and the proceeding 16 years became the most successful in the clubs history. The team won the league’s premier cup competition the Pools Paper Mills Cup for the first time in 1989. The now thriving junior section backed up the achievements of the first team by becoming joint winners of the U13s Leeds North Zone and winning the U13s Cup in 1991. The same group of players then won the U15s league title in 1993. A year later in 1994 both senior sides claimed silverware, with the first eleven winning the Pool Paper Mills Cup for the second time and the second eleven winning the D Division title. A year later in 1995 the second team followed up their league title success by winning the Cawthorne Cup. The club experienced a rare fallow year in 1996 but bounced back in 1997 winning their third Pools Paper Mills Cup. The 1998 season was a year to remember for the club, winning a league and cup double whilst the U15s won the Northern Zone title. League and cup runners up medals followed until back to back Pools Paper Mills Cup wins in 2002 and 2003 continued the clubs incredible cup tradition.
Dales Council League Decline - 2003 to 2013
The 2003 season was to be the last year that the senior sides won major honours in the Dales Council League as over the course of 2004 and 2005 the team broke apart. The 2006 season saw the club reduced to one side which was only possible due to a large number of the clubs successful under 13 and 15 sides stepping up to play first team cricket and unfortunately relegation to the B Division followed in 2006 and then again to the C Division in 2008. In 2010 the club won the C Division West title and also reached the Cawthorne Cup Final.
Joining the Wetherby Cricket League - 2014 to 2022
In 2013 the club were accepted to the Wetherby Cricket League (later renamed the Leeds and Wetherby Cricket League). Three back-to-back promotions, including a 100% winning record in 2013 saw the club reach the 2nd division. The club also fielded a second eleven in 2014 for the first time nine years, and proceeded to win the Division 6 league title in 2015 and the Division 5 league title in 2016. In 2021 the club celebrated over 150 years of continuous existence by hosting the Marylebone Cricket Club. In the final year of senior cricket in the Leeds and Wetherby League the 1st eleven finished top of the 2nd Division in 2022.
Building a community club - 2022 to present
After the Leeds and Wetherby League's senior cricket section disbanded following the 2022 season the clubs senior section re-joined the Dales Council League.
In the 2022 the club re-established their junior cricket section entering five teams from Under 9s to Under 18s in the Airedale and Wharfedale Junior Cricket League. A second under 11s side was also entered into the Leeds and Wetherby League Junior section in 2024.
In 2024 the club started their first Women and Girls side competing in the West Yorkshire Women's and Girls indoor winter and outdoor summer leagues.
Ground History
The earliest known Meanwood Cricket Ground was on land lent to them by a Mr Whitehead, a farmer who lived in 1 Stonegate Farm, now the site of the Northside Retail Park.
The club had a permanent ground in Meanwood park, now the Woodlea Housing estate, from 1866 to 1895.
In 1895 a concert was held to offset the expense of moving to a new ground on Parkside Road next to the Myrtle Tavern pub, and in May of that year the first fixture was played against Leeds Wanderers which Meanwood won by nine wickets, and remains the clubs home ground to this day.
Club Records
Edward Watkins scored a club record innings of 176 not out against Wibsey Park Chapel on the 5th June 2004.
Graham Child who finished the season with a club record batting average of 78.6 in the 2003 season
Stewart Dobson took a remarkable club record bowling figures in August 2003 by taking all ten Shipley Providence wickets for four runs (the four being scored by an edge in the first over).
In the 1950s H Stead became the first Meanwood player to take 10 wickets in an innings against J & S Rhoades at Morley. Stead finished with figures of 11 overs, 1 Maiden, 53 Runs, 10 wickets.
Written by: Howard Collier (Club Secretary). With reference to: Cynthia Rushton, “Over 100 Years of Cricket at Meanwood” (Horsforth, Propagator Press, 2006)
Photographs
William Beckett-Denison, grandson of Sir John Beckett (one of the original partners of the Beckett's Bank), lived in Meanwood Hall between 1864 and 1872. He provided the Meanwood WMI a cricket pitch in the grounds of Meanwood park in 1865. He later became the first chairman of Yorkshire Post Newspapers and a Member of Parliament.
1888 map of Meanwood showing the location of the Meanwood Park cricket ground. The ground was located in the area that is now Woodlea Garth, Woodlea Croft, Woodlea Fold.
1885 The Athletic News and Cyclists' Journal reporting on the achievements of C Kelk against Woodhouse Temperance.
John Richard Bower (1845-1928) became the Club President in the late 1880s. He lived in Leafield House by the current King Lane/Stonegate Road roundabout, now home to the Leafield House nursery. He became Mayor of Leeds in 1880.
20th century photograph and 1892 Yorkshire Evening Post player profile of Mr J. R. Bower Jnr - relation of the club president J.R.Bower Snr.
1994 Pools Paper Mills Cup Winning Side: Back Row (L/R): Rob Guthrie, Greg Wood, Jeff Shires, Paul Dews, Paul Merrick, Steve Shaw, Ian Long, John Hamilton (Scorer). Front Row (L/R): Mick Dews, Robert Burgess, Graham Child (c), Paul Keenan, Ian Senior