Wisden gives a list of the County Champions since 1864. From time to time during the next twenty years Championship Tables did appear in newspapers, but there was nothing official about the early list of champions and it was mid-way through the 1880’s before one knew exactly who had won the championship with any degree of certainty. In fact most cricket historians would probably agree that 1890 was the year when the County Championship really became "official".
Following it was a big upsurge in the Club cricket world with leagues being formed in Staffordshire, Birmingham, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Not everybody approved of points and league tables, and there was widespread opposition in some parts, particularly in the south. The Football League was formed in 1888 and in 1895 a split occurred in football’s handling code which was to revolutionise the game of Rugby.
These major upheavals in our three national games were to have an effect on the exploits of Illingworth St. Mary’s Cricket Club. It should not be thought that the friendly cricket played in Yorkshire was not played in a "hard" manner. It was and always has been played with vigour and keenness and in the mid-90’s there had been one or two incidents between Illingworth and some of its opponents. But at last in 1896 Illingworth elected for league cricket and joined the Ovenden and District League, which consisted of the following Clubs:~ Illingworth St. Mary’s, Mountain United, Bradshaw Mills, Lee Mount Baptists, Ovenden St. George’s and Ovenden Albion.
Their first season was one of outstanding success winning nine and losing one of their ten matches. They were easily champions and in the following year tied with J. & J. Baldwin’s who were defeated in a play-off. An invitation from the Halifax and District League was received in the wake of their success but the 1898 season saw Illingworth again playing friendly matches as they pondered their decision. They joined the Halifax League in 1899.
Their early seasons in the Halifax League were generally successful - they won the championship in 1903 and 1904 under Herbert Helliwell’s leadership, also in 1912 when Harry Hustwick was Captain and again in 1916. Helliwell was one of the Club’s best ever batsmen and he also shone in the field.
Victories were also secured in the Parish Cup in 1906, 1909 and 1914.
It was in 1900 that they asked James Sutcliffe to act as a professional for that season. So the Club was thinking in terms of success in their second season in the League but, so far as can be ascertained, Sutcliffe, perhaps the best bowler in the history of Ihingworth Cricket Club, never became a paid member of the Club.
Herbert Helliwell did eventually leave the Club to become a professional at Queensbury in 1907 but, like so many of their players, his heart always appeared to be with Illingworth. A long serving member of the Club, he had given stalwart service for some twenty years. Sutcliffe, too, was a loyal servant winning the bowling prize as early as 1897 and again repeating that honour in 1923.
In 1907 the annual dinner saw 59 sitting down for a meal which included a barrel of beer and aerated drinks. Charlie Crapper’s gramophone was in evidence during the meal and, after the Toast to the King, Queen and Royal family had been given and responded to, a song was rendered by Herbert Eastwood. Then came a Toast to the Army, Navy and Auxiliary Forces, before a report by the Secretary and the presentation of Prizes, in between which was a song by Mr. Crossley. It all seems generations away from the present, yet in many respects very similar to the Annual Dinner of today.
This Edwardian decade, followed by the Great War, is today recognised as cricket’s golden age. It is difficult to say whether it was in the Halifax Parish League. Two extracts from the Minutes make interesting reading:
26th June, 1908. "That we give the 1st XI 2/6d. each member and the reserve man who are selected to play in the postponed semi-final Cup-Tie Match on Monday the 29th at King Cross ground on account of broken time in connection with game".
8th July, 1910. "That something will have to be done to arouse interest in the practicing as almost any night there are not sufficient for any decent practice."
One can presume that the latter extract could have been written at any time during the last twenty years. If one listens to the "grumbling Committee" at any league ground in Yorkshire, then that extract would be considered to be the norm in decrying the attitude of the present-day League player. But to think that such a statement could have been made about the players of 70 years ago is a bit surprising. As the scriptures say, "there is nothing new under the sun
The difficulty of sustaining cricket in war time is brought out clearly in the minutes of 10th February 1917 Committee Meeting - just three present - C.P., J.AJ., H.H. and then later 26th January 1918 "that the abnormal conditions which exist at the present time do not warrant us to provide refreshments but we may get biscuits and Bovril".
Illingworth’s last season in the Halifax Parish League brought them another championship success in 1919 under the leadership of Jimmy Sutcliffe.
The Club had been hankering after a change of scenery for some time and had made overtures to join the Yorkshire Council, along with some of their neighbours just before the Great War. The Council had difficulties in carrying on a full Fixture List during the War period and it was after their final success that Illingworth actually applied for and were accepted into the Yorkshire Section. It was the prelude to a long period of continuing evolution that brought many honours to the Club and saw fresh faces appear in the years that followed.