Outlane on the right road

The Halifax Cricket League is celebrating its centenary. In this series, league historian Dr Peter Davies looks at aspects of its history - competitions and grounds,clubs and key men and women.

On account of its location, Outlane CC is probably one of the most famous cricket clubs in the North of England.

And if there was an award for the cricket club located closest to a motorway, Outlane would probably win it.

The first mention of the proposed M62 came in 1961.

Three years later, in 1964, the club officially objected to the motorway plans, but a year later, in 1965, the Ministry of Transport rejected the club’s objection and OCC began the search for a new home (the MoT actually said they would require half the ground).

In February 1970, the Old Lindley Road ground had to be vacated for the building work to start.

The frustration of the club was summed up by its spokesman, Mr Gronow, who explained that, ‘We are kept in the dark. Everywhere we turn we seem to hit a brick wall. In official quarters everyone is absolutely non-committal.’

Key dates thereafter include:

- 1970: It was agreed that the club should hire Highfields cricket ground from the Corporation for the season and the duration of work on the motorway.

- 1974: Club moves back to the Lindley Moor ground and joins the Halifax League. The original field was actually one field in from Old Lindley Road and in the line of the motorway. The new wicket had to be constructed much closer to the edge of Lindley Moor itself and a new pavilion constructed.

- 1976: Momentous decision taken to lay on electricity and subsequently for the bar to be installed. Webster’s Brewery (once the club’s landlords) agreed to assist in this venture.

It might be quite noisy on matchdays, but the club’s ground is well known and easily visible from the motorway.

In addition, the club is able to sell advertising space on its outer clubhouse walls – precisely because thousands of cars pass by on the motorway every day.