Swinton Wesleyan Cricket Club

Swinton Wesleyan Cricket Club Minute Book
(Document of the Month, Sep 2007)

Ref no. 58-N/21/8/1

Date: 1921-1929

Swinton Wesleyan Cricket Club was just one of the many sport and social clubs that developed through the Methodist churches. Members of the club attended Swinton Saint John's Wesleyan Methodist Church which also had a Drama Club, a Mother and Under 5s Club and a Tennis Club.

Swinton Wesleyan Cricket Club was formed on 2nd May 1921. In order to become a member of the club a player had to have a good reference from the church class Leader or Superintendent. The minute book provides a fascinating insight into the practice routines of the team, the equipment they used and the creation of a Swinton Ladies Cricket club.

In one incident on June 17, 1922 the club lost a crucial game against local rivals, Roman Terrace Working Men's Club, and were knocked down to second place. The minutes of a committee meeting, which was held a couple of days later, suggest that the club were extremely unhappy with the manner of the defeat. They passed a motion to lodge a complaint against Roman Terrace Working Men's Club.

The minute book does not make it clear what the outcome of the complaint was; however, the defeat did leave Swinton second in the league. They were unable to regain their position at the top and went on to finish second in the league behind Roman Terrace Primitive Methodists.

Image, Transcript and History of Swinton Wesleyan Cricket Club