History
What follows quite literally just scratches the surface of the history of the club. The information that follows I just happened to have as a result of my research into local village cricket (N.B Heysham figures a lot in my book of smittle spots and sticky buns).
To delve into the Heysham story would unearth masses more information especially regarding individual performance e.g Century Makers 10-9 wicket performances. To "delve" would be quite straight forward as the local press save Heysham Cricket Club good coverage - but it would take ages!
I could find absolutely no reference to Heysham Cricket Club before a stray game in 1887 but there were several games in 1888. The squire knowlys of Heysham Towers ran a country house cricket team in the late 1840's but this can't be considered the formation of Heysham Cricket Club as it soon foundered.
In 1939 Heysham shock the Lancaster and District Cricket League when they refused to join the Westmorland Cricket League. Heysham 2nds remained in division 2 of the Lancaster and District Cricket League. The 1sts immediately won the Westmorland Cricket League second division title. A.Wilson took 8-12 v Warton on 15/07/39 and 7-18 on 29/07/39 v Warton.
In 1940 the Westmorland Cricket League tried to carry on despite the war and played friendlys in the two zones: Westmorland and Lancaster. Heysham were set to play Morecambe A Carnforth, Silverdale and Yealand but in the event the later two pulled out so they played Morecambe A and Carnforth four times each. The 2nds played in division 2 of the Lancaster and District Cricket League in 1940. 1940 Tower Shield Final. J Halton won the game for Heysham (117) v Morecambe (114) with a hat-trick at the death. In 1941 the Westmorland Cricket League collapsed and the Lancaster and District League reduced to one division which Heysham Cricket Club rejoined. The Visitor of 02/07/41 records a century of 102 no by T.Wilson V Kings Own. The first ever century to be scored by a Heysham player.
In 1946 Heysham Cricket club returned to the Westmorland Cricket league and promptly tied with Kendal A for the championship (only one division in 1946). There was a play off at Lune Road which Kendal A won thanks to the inclusion of First Teamer Howard Dalzell. J Hilton took 6-25 v Warton on 18/05/46 and G.Jackson took 8-14 v Warton on 25/05/46.
In 1947 Heysham won their first Westmorland League championship. In 1949 Heysham 2nds joined division 3 of the Westmorland League and after a play-off with Sedgwick won the title, 1965 Heysham join the breakaway "South Westmorland Cricket League" now 2 "Westmorland" Cricket Leagues.
1975 The two Westmorland Cricket Leagues reunite under the banner "South Lakeland Cricket League"
1997 The South Lakeland Cricket League returns to its original name of "The Westmorlands Cricket League"
In the coming months,i will try to bring the history a little more up to date.with details from the more recent past,so keep looking out for more ....ken
