About Us

So far as it is known no records survive of the earliest years of the club - believed to be around the turn of the century. We do know that in the 1920's the square was laid - or re-laid - under the direction of the late Major E.R.F. Compton, father of the club's current patron and owner of the Newby Hall estate. In the true tradition of country house cricket, proficiency at the game was a great help when applying for work on the estate. In the 1930's the club made its mark of the local scene by twice winning the coveted Ripon Knock-out Competition.

After the war it would appear that the club drifted along fairly uneventfully - whist drives being the big event of the year - until playing fortunes reached a low ebb in the mid 1960's. The club pulled out of Saturday league cricket and settled for playing Sunday friendlies and evening cup competitions. By 1969 something of a crisis was reached when the now tiny hardcore met in April to find that their secretary had ignored correspondence and not a single match had been arranged for the imminent season.

The club could easily have folded at this point but the determination of the late Wilf Virr, aided by the youthful energy of his son Richard and the late Peter, plus Steve Selby and Patrick McCreanor kept the club afloat.

In 1971 Chris Farrell first strode onto the Newby ground. Then an opening bowler with Otley in the Airedale and Wharfedale League (but living at Great Givendale, half a mile from the ground) Chris brought a determination to improve the club's status, both on and off the field which rubbed off on the others to produce stronger sides being fielded, better fixtures and, by 1975 a new pavilion. This has since been extended, in two stages, to its current size. Now living in Huddersfield, Chris still keeps a close eye on the club's fortunes.

The 1976 season saw Newby Hall in the Nidderdale League. League cricket in the 5th division did not immediately draw players from their previous league clubs; hence a somewhat patchy start to life in the Nidderdale was struggled through. This is best illustrated by performances on consecutive Saturday's - all out for 12 against Burton Leonard 2nds followed by 312 for 5 against Glasshouses 2nds. Promotion was achieved however; as it was in the next three seasons so that by 1980 the 1st division was reached.

By now a bar had been installed, where success in several local competitions was enthusiastically celebrated. Not until 1985 was the champagne out toasting the league championship. After being together at the top of the division all season Newby and Knaresborough Forest came here for the last league game of the season level on points. Newby won a tense affair by 44 runs in a game in which fortunes swung dramatically their way in the last hour. Outstanding in the championship winning side was Peter Moldrich, a young Australian from Perth, one of numerous players to come to the club from Australia since Tim Park, a former Newby Hall wicket-keeper batsman emigrated in 1980. The retention of the title in 1986 by a side led by Ervin Margis without an Aussie gave great satisfaction to the club and also went a long way to answering criticism within the league regarding the Australian connection.

In 1987 the club staged what is probably their biggest event, when Yorkshire C.C. visited us to play a benefit game against a Newby Hall select XI.

After the highs of the mid 80's the late 80's saw the club struggling at the foot of the 1st division and after a close escape in 1988 the club were relegated to division 2 in 1989. The club took this as an opportunity to re-group and bounced straight back in to division 1. The period 1990 to 1992 under the captaincy of Richard Virr and Nick Kent was a successful time for the club, helped by the services of some extremely good overseas players, backed up by talented locals. But nothing lasts forever as they say and when a number of these players "retired" the cub struggled and was relegated in 1995 to Division 2, where we were until 2001.

The start to the 2001 season was slightly uncertain as to its format. Foot and Mouth disease was spreading across the country and it was unknown what the future held for local league cricket. Talk was rife about the cancellation of the league altogether, but this was decided to be too drastic a measure. Games would be played, but league positions would be determined on an average points basis. There was to be no promotion or relegation. A lifeline was thrown to Newby by the most unlikely of sources, Studley Royal CC. Studley had decided to leave the Nidderdale League at the end of the 2001 season, to try their hand in the York Senior League. This meant one position was available in Division 1 to maintain the numbers. So one promotion place was available. This was Newby's chance. Under the captaincy of Stuart Rennison, the season was a triumph. Of the 22 league games played, Newby won 19 of them with one game being rained off. It was a close run thing with Dacre Banks for a while, but they eventually gave up hope and Newby won the right to play top flight cricket with two weeks of the season to go.  Proving that it isn't just Aussie's who come over here to play, Ollie Uffindall spent the winter of '00/'01 in Perth, WA and returned to Newby a different, and better player, taking 41 wickets at an average of just 12 runs, together with an amazing batting average of 102.83.  39 wickets at 12.38 from "Australian" Chris Lane and 716 runs at an average of 47.73 from Steve Potter combined to produce an exceptional season.

Back in the top flight of the Nidderdale League, 2002 saw Newby finish a respectable 3rd behind Killinghall and on a technicality, Masham. Oliver Uffindall proved that his 2001 was no fluke, by impressing all to win both the batting and bowling averages in division 1. 2003 was another slightly disappointing season, finishing second to a strong Killinghall side boasted by the return of ex county player Stuart Milburn and a fine array of local talent.

As the club enters the new Millennium we are lucky enough to boast some of the best facilities in the Nidderdale League. Major improvements were made to the clubhouse for the 2001 season.  A major investment has been made in the purchase of covers from Harrogate CC.  Formally to be seen at Headingley they will hopefully improve the already quality wickets. On the pitch we are a very young club who we hope will develop into a side capable of keeping us in the 1st division to emulate the achievements of our teams of the past. With the help of an "Awards For All" grant, a new concrete net facility was constructed and a bowling machine was purchased to further aide the development of the Newby Hall Cricket Academy. More investment has been made during the winter of 2003 with drainage being installed on the square and a new water tank and irrigation system to be ready for 2004.

2004 proved to be a very successful one. The 1st XI were champions of the first division once again captained by Olie Uffindall and the 2nd XI were promoted to Division 4 by a whisker from Ripley 2nds. Mike Irvine was a revelation taking 45 wickets at 15.89.

The 2005 season saw a unique event in the Club's history.  The introduction of a 3rd team.  A team primarily aimed at giving junior members experience of senior cricket was guided by a relatively new club member, James Blackburn.  The 3rd team competed in a newly formed Division 8 of the Nidderdale League finishing a creditable mid table by September.  Geoffrey Johnson, a long standing associate of the Club, donated a new trophy to be awarded to the most promising young talent and in its first season, Andy Robinson deservedly walked away with the honour.  The Club is rightly proud of its junior members and lets hope they can emulate the previous glories of days gone by.

2006 was surely the crowning glory and the best season in terms of success and showed real reward for the hard work put in at the club over recent years.  Unprecedented success came when the 1st XI won the 1st Division, the 2nd XI won the 5th Division and the 3rd XI won the 8th Division.  The 2nd XI also won the Wath Cup, with a very young side, beating a vastly more experienced Killinghall 2nds at Glasshouses.

Under the watchful eye of Aidie Allen, the 2nd XI were again promoted in 2007 to Division 3 and begin 2008 much closer to the 1st XI which can only be a good thing.  Mike Irvine returned as overseas player but his time was cut short due to work commitments back in Perth.  Sadly, 2007 is to be the last (for a while) for Olie Uffindall.  A true revelation at the club who’s work from the grassroots to captaining the 1st XI has been appreciated by all.

Late in 2007 saw an ambitious new project for the Club.  The creation of a new ground for the 3rd XI to call their home.  Since its formation, the 3rd XI has played its home games at Bishop Monkton, a local village with excellent cricketing facilities.  An approach was made to the Newby Hall estate, and as ever, they fully supported the idea of creating a second ground adjacent to the existing one.  The outfield was ploughed and leveled and a square was laid in preparation for 2008.

(Thanks to Phil Jefferson for his help in putting this club history together).