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CYCL History - The formative Years |
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 The following is an extract from the Central Yorkshire Cricket League Golden Jubilee 1987 publication written by the late Jack Hampshire and Anthony Woodhouse
Central Yorkshire League – The Formative years
Ten clubs entered the Central Yorkshire League in 1938, Ossett finally winning the title with 2 points to spare from Dewsbury and Savile. Meanwhile the rival Heavy Woollen League was operating with only six clubs – the final tables of both competitions being below:-
YORKSHIRE CENTRAL CRICKET LEAGUE
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| Played | won | lost | drawn | points | | Ossett | 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 36 | | Dewsbury & Savile | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 34 | | Cleckheaton | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 32 | | Heckmondwike | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 29 | | Wakefield | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 | | Birstall | 18 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 21 | | Batley | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 19 | | Morley | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 19 | | Liversedge | 18 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 16 | | Staincliffe | 18 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
HEAVY WOOLLEN LEAGUE
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| Played | won | lost | drawn | points | | Scholes | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 23 | | Hartshead Moor | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 20 | | Thornhill | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | | Hanging Heaton | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | | Gomersal | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | Drighlington | 10 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
Hanging Heaton who had wished to leave the Heavy Woollen League at the end of 1937 but had left their resignation too late, their fixtures for 1938 having already been arranged; had again applied to resign. In order to again stall their departure, the Fixture Committee of the Heavy Woollen League met even earlier to arrange their 1939 fixture card and again refused Hanging Heaton’s application to resign from the league. Hanging Heaton wished to join the Leeds Central league and took their case to the Yorkshire Cricket Federation, which was virtually the equivalent of the Yorkshire Cricket Association today. The Federation gave the club permission to leave the heavy woollen League and as a result of this decision, the Yorkshire Council resigned from the Yorkshire Cricket Federation.
There was one more important change to be made after the 1038 season had ended. At the AGM on October 27th, their present title was adopted in place of the Yorkshire Central League.
There was one more important change to be made after the 1038 season had ended. At the AGM on October 27th, their present title was adopted in place of the Yorkshire Central League. The war years that followed seemed to have a strengthening effect on the Central Yorkshire League and by 1944 hanging Heaton, chickenley and Gildersome from the Leeds Central league, all joined the Central Yorkshire League along with Drighlington, Gomersal, Hartshead Moor, Scholes and Thornhill from the Heavy Woollen league to form a second division. All 18 clubs retained membership of the Yorkshire Council and arranged fixtures with other council clubs outside their divisions if and when spare dates were available. Commonsense reigned at last. Dewsbury & Savile did not take part in competitive cricket in either 1943 or 1945 and actually wound up its activities in 1943 when the Dewsbury Corporation acquired the ground and lease. The ground would continue to be used by the Dewsbury club – they dropped the Savile on their return to the league in 1945 – but the Education Department and police would also have use of the ground. Further additions to the League were East Ardsley and Huddersfield ICI in 1949 while the re-formed Mirfield club entered three years later. In 1957 an Evening Cup was instituted and there was an unsuccessful attempt to introduce overs cricket which was finally accepted in 1963 by the Yorkshire Council so that the Central Yorkshire league had to follow suit. King Cross and Sowerby Bridge joined the League in 1961 followed by Brook Motors in 1964 and Lofthouse and Hunslet Nelson brought the League up to a strength of 24 clubs in two divisions of twelve. This perhaps was unwisely increased to 26 in 1976 when Altofts and Slazengers became members. The Central Yorkshire League are still members of the Yorkshire Council and the Council quarter finals, semi-finals and final are still held in high regard by participating clubs and leagues. Yet the CYCL are now an autonomous body and have complete control on how their league should be run. They have a different points system from any other league.
Ten clubs entered the Central Yorkshire League in 1938, Ossett finally winning the title with 2 points to spare from Dewsbury and Savile. Meanwhile the rival Heavy Woollen League was operating with only six clubs
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