About Us
Ewood Holmes, on Moderna Way, is part of the old Ewood Estate. Records show that cricket was played there over a hundred years ago in the late 1800s.
M.C.C was certainly making headlines in the local press during the 30s with an exceptionally good team consisting of four Greenwoods, Harry Carter, Norman Harry Jones, Frank Lawrence and Bernard Bowe, they won all three cups.
Cricket continued to be played there during the war with a skeleton team but success continued after the war years when Bert Wilcock and Charlie Pugh shared Halifax League bowling average with 71 wickets for 475 runs in the same season - an average of 6.69 - which has never been beaten .A remarkable feat. It was during this successful period that Bert Wilcock won the award for top batsman, top bowler and top fielder which has yet to be surpassed, so it is no surprise that in 1948 the first X1, the second X1 and the under 18s were League Champions.
After the 1948 season, Bert Wilcock, probably the best cricketer for Mytholmroyd Cricket Club, went to play Yorkshire League cricket with King Cross and took 188 wickets in his first season. He was subsequently invited to play for Gloucestershire but work commitments prevented him from taking up the appointment.
The early 50s also proved that some fine cricketers were playing at Ewood Holme.
Under the captaincy of Joe Martin and then F.Ken Smith they won the League Cup in 1952,1953 and 1954 but that was the last time for, 1955 proved disastrous and resulted in relegation.
Six members of the successful team are still alive and living in Mytholmroyd.
They are Rex Greenwood, Jack Gledhill, Rex Holdsworth, Jack Mitchell, Desmond Nutter and Roger Shackleton, four of whom can often be seen watching present day cricket at Mytholmroyd.
The 60s saw a mainly Thornber orientated club which went up and down like a yo-yo. John Astin, assisted by Nigel Robinson, became captain and proved pillars of strength for the MCC and it was largely due to John Astin,s efforts that the ground now sports a wonderful new pavilion with a new bar named after him.
2006 is full of promise for MCC.
Following a 64 year wait 2005 saw the Parish Cup return to Ewood Holmes and skipper Simon Wheelwright is aware that expectations are high this year to maintain the growth we have seen over previous seasons.
First XI not only winning the cup but challenging for the title right up to the last weekend. The second XI only lost in the semi final of the cup and pushed
The pavilion, envied by many, opens its bar during matches; teas have been voted among the best in the area and the excellent playing surface is the result of many years dedication by Martyn Astin and now with the unmistakeable knowledge that top groundsman Alan Hodgkinson has brought, the field has never been better.
All this and the most beautiful setting to watch cricket you could wish for.
We look forward to seeing all comers this year at Ewood Holmes where a warm welcome awaits.