RIDDLESDEN Cricket Club will be hoping to pick up where they left off in the Craven League after claiming the Division Three crown last time out.

With some hard work behind the scenes, and the retention of a key group of core players, the 2022 season marks the next step in their hopes for promotion back to the top-flight, a division they featured in as recently as 2016.

Formed in 1888, the club is no stranger to success, winning 13 West Bradford League titles between 1910 and 1968, and 16 Keighley Cups from 1912 to their most recent in 1988.

However, titles have been thin on the ground since the turn of the century.

Regrouping after a lack of players saw them drop down to the fourth tier in the mid-2010s, they suffered heartbreak on the final day of the 2018 Division Three season after an unplayable pitch at Barrowford saw them controversially denied promotion by Crossflatts, but they have gone from strength to strength since.

Keighley News: Crossflatts (pictured) were the ones who were celebrating promotion from Division Three at the end of the 2018 season, with Riddlesden left feeling hugely aggrieved that it wasn't them going up instead. Picture: Richard Leach.Crossflatts (pictured) were the ones who were celebrating promotion from Division Three at the end of the 2018 season, with Riddlesden left feeling hugely aggrieved that it wasn't them going up instead. Picture: Richard Leach.

Finishing their title-winning season unbeaten, club secretary Mark Bailey insisted discipline and experience were key factors in their success last year.

“The 2021 season was an outstanding success,” he said. “We’ve had a strong core of players for a few years, and in 2018, we were pipped to promotion on win count only.

“Going into last year, we were bolstered by the returning Mohammed Zulfiqar and Naveed Hussain. Both have spent several seasons playing in the top division so they brought a wealth of experience, and more importantly composure, to the team.

Keighley News: Mohammed Zulfiqar is back within the Riddlesden ranks and his top-flight experience could be key. Picture: Andy Garbutt.Mohammed Zulfiqar is back within the Riddlesden ranks and his top-flight experience could be key. Picture: Andy Garbutt.

“Our captain Mohammed Gulnawaz set out a clear plan from the start - what everyone’s roles were, batting and bowling line-ups, a high-tempo approach, and a strong work ethic in the field.

“The team responded excellently with good discipline and commitment, and a far more cohesive spirit than previous seasons. This team focus, a very strong bowling attack, and that added experience combined to let us go undefeated on the way to winning the division.”

That triumph also coincided with the 125th anniversary of the club’s home on the banks of the River Aire, a ground where any ball that is hit for six is likely to end up on the nature reserve or in the river.

There have been several techniques employed to retrieve them over the years, including a new netting system, with ex-player Peter Roe’s dog a particularly popular choice!

The newly-renovated clubhouse, which they have shared with fellow Craven League club Eldwick & Gilstead since 2017, also now houses two winners’ badges from the 1921 and 1922 West Bradford League triumphs, which were donated during the pandemic by Jim Helliwell to commemorate his father’s success at the club.

However, agreeing their ground share almost fell at the first hurdle when members of the Riddlesden committee went to the wrong pub for a meeting between the sides.

With both E&G and Riddlesden now playing in Division Two, Bailey admits that it will be a strange experience for the players to line up against each other in a competitive league fixture.

“It became painfully apparent that we couldn’t maintain two teams due to a lack of players, so we took the difficult decision to drop down to being a single-team club in 2017,” he added.

“We knew we wouldn’t be in a position to field a second team anytime soon, so rather than have the ground empty on alternate weekends, we looked around for other teams that could use it.

“We heard a rumour that Eldwick weren’t particularly happy at Bingley so we approached them at the end of the season – we arranged a meeting in their local, but then three of our group went to the wrong one!

“Once we were all together, an initial four-year deal was agreed upon, and things have gone very well, so an extension was agreed in 2020.

“This year may be more of a challenge though as we meet in the same division this time. I wonder how our players will fare with using the away changing room!”

Riddlesden kick off their Division Two campaign with two home games against Silsden and Long Lee from April 23, and it certainly will be interesting to see how they get on.