History

Early Foundation

Established circa  1920, the Club served the recreational needs of the  workers from the local farming communityand from the local village trades of wheelwrights, builders, joiners, cobblers, shopkeepers , horticulturalists, nurserymen and other artisans. The menfolk of this thriving community played cricket on a  wired-off square  at Paradise Farm on New Road, Whixley, by kind permission of the then tenant of the West Riding small-holding, Mr Harry Warrington.  The Club’s pavillion was a wooden structure, without mains water or electricity. Teams in those early days played in the Harrogate Saturday League and the Hessay Evening League.

In 1968 the team moved to Rudgate Fields on Ouseburn Road, by kind permission of Mr Maurice Daniel of Stonegate Farm, Whixley, when the pavillion was totally dismantled and rebuilt on its new site.

Arson attack

In 2005, the Pavilion sufferred an arson attack  and was totally destroyed  in the fire.

The whole future of the Club was put in jeopardy and the  ability to complete in planned fixtures was put in doubt, but due to the commitment of the  playing-members,and their belief that sport plays a  vital role in village life,  they launched an ambitious plan to rebuild this historic club like a phoenix from the burning ashes.

Since the field was not owned by the Club, the project necessitated, in the longer term,  both the acquisition of the freehold of the field and the provision of  a new pavilion.   However in the immediate term, a temporary structure was purchased with local support, so that the  2005 season could proceed , albeit with some temporary difficulties.

Moving into the 21st century

Since then the Club has  formed a Board of Trustees, which has  registered the Club  as a Charity.   Together, they have  organised a  series of fund-raising events , and with the support of  the Sports and Arts Foundation, along with other charitable foundations,  has aquired the freehold of the field which has enabled the Club to progress a Planning Application for the construction of a new pavillion.

The Club -membership is now actively progressing fund-raising for an  enlarged permanent  pavilion, meeting up- to- date  standards, complete with mains water, and sustainable energy supply,  that will accomodate both Juniors and Seniors,  on a two-wicket sportsground, that will support the growing needs of the whole Club.

Honours to build upon

Over the past 50 years, Whixley’s efforts on the field have resulted in the following honours, among others

Wetherby League Honours

Division 3 champions 1966,  Division 2 champions 1967,  Division 1 Runners-up 1968,  Division 5 winners 1982

Harrogate Evening League

Division 5 champions 1991, Division 4 champions 1992, Division 3 Champions 1993 and 1997,  Division 2 champions 1994 and 1998

Whixley Evening League

Division 1 champions 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1975, 1980, 1981,1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 2000, 2003