Keith is the Station master

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. He’s known as ‘Mr Bridgeholme CC’. Introducing Keith Hudson - a key man, if not the key man, at Station House, Eastwood.

Hudson is not just a veteran player and captain at the Todmorden club, but also a long-serving groundsman, committee member and club worker.

And just for good measure, he is also a Halifax League official and is regularly on duty at cup-finals.

One profile recently stated: ‘If you pass Bridgeholme CC and see a single figure working on the ground, it will almost certainly be club chairman Keith Hudson.

‘Evenings, weekends and sometimes in the dark, Keith has done more to ensure that cricket at Bridgeholme survives and flourishes over the last 20 years than anyone else.

‘Keith was just 21 when he and Peter Brennand took over as groundsmen in 1985.’

The article went on: ‘The club was at a low ebb. Clubs from all walks of life suffer from internal politics and at the end of 1984 Bridgeholme lost several key players.

‘After two decades of steady progress, both team and ground were in decline and the club was compelled to resign from the Halifax League.

‘They returned to the Halifax Association’s third divi- sion, back where they were in 1964.

‘Through determination and perseverance the club progressed through the divisions and re-built, returning to the Halifax League in 2001. Keith’s tireless efforts were crucial to this revival and continue to sustain the club.’

During the cricket season, Keith’s weekly workload is also that of a full-time groundsman – he doesn’t stop!

And Station House is now a top-notch Halifax League venue: picturesque and with excellent facilities.

Hudson is a sign-writer by trade – and this is evident from the excellent signage around the ground.

He received recognition for his efforts with a Yorkshire Cricket Board award earlier this month.