Birmingham and District Premier League

Birmingham and District Premier League

The Birmingham and District Cricket League is the oldest club cricket league in the world, formed in 1888. Arguably the strongest club competition in the country, it was also the first ECB Premier League, being designated such in 1998.

Geography

The Birmingham League traditionally covered North Worcestershire, South Staffordshire and North Warwickshire, much of which is now the conurbation of the West Midlands. Since 1998, with the introduction of the ECB Premier Leagues, the pyramid system, and feeder leagues in the four counties (Shropshire Premier Cricket League, Staffordshire Club Cricket Championship, Warwickshire Cricket League and Worcestershire County Cricket League), the catchment of the league has spread to include the whole of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, as well as a larger part of Staffordshire (North Staffordshire clubs still play in a separate competition). Herefordshire clubs, who play in the Worcestershire County Cricket League, can also be promoted into the league, and many Shropshire clubs are now also dotted throughout the league structure.

History

The Birmingham and District Cricket League is the oldest club competition in the world, beginning league matches in 1888. The Birmingham and District Cricket Association had actually formed eight years earlier in 1880, but only ran a successful, if not controversial, cup competition for those first few years.On Friday 30 November 1888, representatives from local cricket clubs gathered at the Queen's Arms Hotel, Easy Row, Birmingham and went about setting up the first ever Club Cricket League, being inspired by the success The Birmingham County Football Association had had in organising local football competition and fixtures.With some representatives needing to consult their own committees before pledging their commitment to the league, and one or two prominent local clubs not being present, it wasn't until a second meeting on Friday 14 December 1888 that the league was actually, officially formed. There were initially seven clubs who decided to trial the league format the following season. They were:
* Aston Unity
* Handsworth Wood
* Kings Heath
* Mitchells
* Salters
* Walsall
* West Bromwich Dartmouth

Those early days saw many changes in the league's club make-up:

Kings Heath moved to "The Reddings" Ground, joining with Moseley Cricket Club (and taking on that name). Another Kings Heath Club was formed later, but never became part of the Birmingham League set-up until the restructuring of Midlands Club cricket in 1998.
Salters Cricket Club who played in Roebuck Lane, West Bromwich, and originated from the Spring Works of the same name, resigned from the league after just one season.In 1890, Wednesbury Cricket Club joined the league.In 1891, Smethwick Cricket Club, who had been involved in the Birmingham and District Cricket Association Cup competition in the 1880s, entered the league.
Mitchells Cricket Club left the league between 1892 and 1896, due to some friction surrounding ineligible players, but shortly after they returned, they became Mitchells and Butlers Cricket Club when the two breweries amalgamated in 1898.In 1892, Small Heath Cricket Club joined the league and although their ground was amongst the best in the competition, the club was out of its depth in other aspects, and they resigned from the league 3 years later.In 1894, Warwickshire County Cricket Club entered the league after years of deliberation, but withdrew again in 1895 after being admitted to the County Championship.Over the next few years, the league's influence moved to the west, with Dudley Cricket Club joining the League in 1893, Stourbridge in 1894 and Kidderminster in 1895.
Handsworth Wood who had performed creditably in the league until their Browne's Green ground was acquired by developers shortly after the First World War, spent one season playing at the County Ground, Edgbaston, but when no new ground could be found the following season either, they lost a narrow motion by the league (by one vote), and Old Hill Cricket Club replaced them in 1920. The Handsworth Wood Club folded shortly afterwards, handing their cash balance over to the league benevolent fund.

The second XI competition, which would arguably become the second best standard of cricket in the region until league restructuring in 1998, had been formed in 1893.

The league was suspended for the First World War between 1914 and 1918, but continued to play through the Second World War, and the League, now comprising of 10 clubs (Aston Unity, Dudley, Kidderminster, Mitchells and Butlers, Moseley, Old Hill, Smethwick, Stourbridge, Walsall, West Bromwich Dartmouth), stayed the same until 1975.In 1975, the league expanding again as Warwickshire and Worcestershire decided the strength of the league could be utilised. Warwickshire entered a 1st and 2nd XI (basically a 1st/2nd team side and a 2nd/colts side), whilst Worcestershire only entered a 1st XI and Duport Cricket Club (A Dudley-based Furniture making company club) played their 2nd XI fixtures. Whilst Warwickshire established themselves in the competition and won it on a few occasions, Worcestershire struggled, and two years later, Duport took on their 1st XI fixtures too, as they were forced to pull out of the league.
Duport also struggled with the on-field standards, and when less support from the Works Social Club hit them, they too were forced to pull out of the competition, and were replaced by another Worcester-based side in 1982, Worcester City.Many other changes took place in the league throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and they are summarised below:

YEAROUTGOING CLUBREASONINCOMING CLUB
1977WorcestershireStruggled to field sides due to small County staffDuport
1982DuportWorks Social Club decreased funding and club struggled with the standard of cricketWorcester City
1985DudleyGround caved-in and club was forced to foldCoventry and North Warwicks
1990WarwickshireStruggled to commit to League cricket with increased County 2nd XI programmeWolverhampton
1992Worcester CityClub foldedStratford
1995Mitchells and ButlersBrewery decided to sell off ground so club foldedBarnt Green

ECB Premier League

Since being designated an ECB Premier League in 1998 (the first Premier Cricket League in the Country), many changes have occurred in the league's structure.Initially, the 12 clubs in the old Birmingham League made up the Premier division, and a First Division, Second Division East and Second Division West were made up from clubs in the old Midlands Combined Counties League, the Worcestershire League, the Warwickshire League and the Staffs League.Only one side was promoted in the first year of the structure, and that honour went to Cannock Cricket Club. Aston Unity Cricket Club, a founder member of the league, were the first ever side to be relegated.Promotion and relegation between the Premier League and the First Division was increased to two teams in the second year (1999). The movement of clubs during that time is highlighted below:

YEARRELEGATED CLUBSPROMOTED CLUBS
1998Aston UnityCannock
1999StourbridgeHarborne
"MoseleyHalesowen
2000SmethwickKnowle and Dorridge
"HarborneAston Unity
2001West Bromwich DartmouthHimley
"KidderminsterMoseley
2002Aston UnityShrewsbury
"StratfordWellington
2003ShrewsburyWater Orton
"WolverhamptonWest Bromwich Dartmouth
2004Water OrtonLeamington
"CannockKenilworth Wardens
2005LeamingtonShrewsbury
"HalesowenKidderminster Victoria
2006Old HillShifnal
"ShrewsburyWalmley
2007Coventry And North WarwickshireLeamington
"WellingtonWolverhampton

2007 season

Walsall Cricket Club won the Birmingham league for the second time in a row, the second time this has happened since the Premier League was put into place in 1998. Walsall Seamer Gareth Williams has now won the Birmingham League title with three different clubs (Walsall, Barnt Green and Wellington). 2003 and 2004 winners Wellington were relegated, as were Coventry and North Warwickshire. Leamington won Division one despite having a very young side, while former heavyweights Wolverhampton are back in the top flight in 2008 for the first time since 2003. Wolverhampton have done this with another young side, opening the batting with 14 year old Anish Kapil. Water Orton and Aston Manor were the teams relegated from Division 1, Aston Manor after having achieved 3 successive promotions before 2007. Division Two was won by Attock (who field an all Asian team), followed by Dorridge who narrowly missed out in 2006. Bridgnorth and Fordhouses both went down to Division Three. Division Three was won by Shropshire side St Georges, followed by a strong Ombersley side who had a number of ex-Worcestershire pros in their side. Whitchurch could count themselves unlucky after finishing third with 326 Points, which in any other season would have surely seen them to promotion.

Four teams were relegated out of the Birmingham League and into the feeder leagues:-

Old Wulfs Tettenhall (Staffordshire)Pelsall (Staffordshire)Solihull Blossomfield (Warwickshire)Wem (Shropshire)

No Worcestershire team was relegated.

The winners of each of the feeder leagues (Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire,Worcestershire) were as follows:-

*Shropshire Premier Cricket League: Oswestry
*Staffordshire Club Cricket Championship: Lichfield
*Warwickshire Cricket League: Bablake Old Boys
*Worcestershire County Cricket League: Brockhampton

Clubs

Here is a list of Birmingham League Cricket Clubs, and the divisions their teams were in for the 2007 season:

CLUB1st XI2nd XI
Aston ManorFirst DivisionThird Division
Aston UnitySecond DivisionSecond Division
AttockSecond DivisionPremier
Barnt GreenPremierPremier
BerkswellSecond DivisionThird Division
BridgnorthSecond DivisionFirst Division
BromsgroveFirst DivisionSecond Division
CannockFirst DivisionSecond Division
ColeshillThird DivisionThird Division
Coventry and North WarwicksPremierPremier
DorridgeSecond DivisionFirst Division
EveshamSecond DivisionSecond Division
FordhousesSecond DivisionSecond Division
HalesowenFirst DivisionFirst Division
HarborneFirst DivisionPremier
HimleyPremierFirst Division
Kenilworth WardensPremierFirst Division
Kidderminster VictoriaPremierPremier
KingtonThird DivisionThird Division
Knowle and DorridgePremierPremier
Leamington SpaFirst DivisionPremier
MoseleyPremierPremier
NewportSecond DivisionThird Division
Old ElizabethansSecond DivisionSecond Division
Old HillFirst DivisionFirst Division
Old Wulfs TettenhallThird DivisionThird Division
Olton and West WarwickshireThird DivisionThird Division
OmbersleyThird DivisionThird Division
PelsallThird DivisionSecond Division
PennSecond DivisionSecond Division
ShifnalPremierFirst Division
ShrewsburyFirst DivisionPremier
SmethwickSecond Division Second Division
Solihull BlossomfieldThird DivisionThird Division
St. GeorgesThird DivisionSecond Division
Stratford-Upon-AvonFirst DivisionFirst Division
StudleyThird DivisionThird Division
Sutton ColdfieldFirst DivisionFirst Division
TamworthSecond DivisionFirst Division
West Bromwich DartmouthPremierFirst Division
WalmleyPremierPremier
WalsallPremierPremier
Water OrtonFirst DivisionFirst Division
WellingtonPremierSecond Division
WemThird DivisionThird Division
WhitchurchThird DivisionSecond Division
WolverhamptonFirst DivisionPremier
WombourneThird DivisionThird Division

Clubs from each county

For the 2007 season, the Birmingham and District Premier League is made up of 19 Warwickshire clubs, 13 from Staffordshire, 8 from Shropshire, 7 from Worcestershire, and 1 from Herefordshire.

Championships and achievements

YEAR1st XI2nd XI
1889Aston UnityNo Competition
1890Moseley and West Bromwich Dartmouth*No Competition
1891MoseleyNo Competition
1892Handsworth WoodNo Competition
1893Walsall
1894Aston Unity
1895MoseleyWalsall
1896Walsall and Aston Unity*
1897Handsworth Wood
1898Dudley
1899Kidderminster
1900Aston Unity
1901Kidderminster
1902Handsworth Wood
1903Handsworth Wood
1904Moseley
1905Dudley and Handsworth Wood*
1906Dudley
1907Moseley
1908Moseley
1909Moseley and Mitchells and Butlers*
1910Aston Unity and Dudley*
1911Mitchells and Butlers
1912Walsall
1913Dudley
1914Mitchells and Butlers
1915-1918First World WarFirst World War
1919Stourbridge
1920Moseley
1921Old Hill
1922WalsallOld Hill
1923MoseleyOld Hill
1924Kidderminster
1925Mitchells and ButlersOld Hill and *
1926Mitchells and Butlers
1927Aston Unity
1928Mitchells and Butlers
1929Kidderminster
1930West Bromwich Dartmouth
1931Mitchells and ButlersOld Hill
1932West Bromwich Dartmouth
1933West Bromwich Dartmouth and Walsall*
1934West Bromwich Dartmouth
1935WalsallWalsall
1936Walsall
1937Walsall
1938Moseley
1939Aston Unity and Mitchells and Butlers
1940Old Hill
1941West Bromwich DartmouthCompetition suspended for Second World War
1942West Bromwich DartmouthCompetition suspended for Second World War
1943West Bromwich DartmouthCompetition suspended for Second World War
1944West Bromwich DartmouthCompetition suspended for Second World War
1945West Bromwich DartmouthCompetition suspended for Second World War
1946Kidderminster
1947Mitchells and Butlers
1948West Bromwich Dartmouth
1949Aston Unity
1950Kidderminster
1951Smethwick
1952Dudley
1953West Bromwich DartmouthOld Hill and *
1954Mitchells and Butlers
1955West Bromwich Dartmouth
1956Moseley
1957Dudley
1958West Bromwich Dartmouth
1959MoseleyWalsall
1960Old HillWalsall
1961Moseley
1962Kidderminster
1963Moseley
1964Moseley
1965West Bromwich Dartmouth
1966Kidderminster and Walsall*
1967MoseleyWalsall
1968SmethwickWalsall
1969Moseley
1970Moseley
1971West Bromwich Dartmouth
1972Walsall
1973Kidderminster and Moseley
1974West Bromwich Dartmouth
1975KidderminsterWalsall
1976Walsall
1977Aston Unity
1978Warwickshire
1979WarwickshireWalsall
1980WalsallWalsall and *
1981DudleyWalsall and *
1982Walsall
1983Old Hill
1984MoseleyOld Hill
1985Moseley
1986Walsall
1987Stourbridge
1988WarwickshireOld Hill
1989StourbridgeWalsall
1990Wolverhampton
1991Coventry and North WarwicksWalsall and Old Hill*
1992WalsallWalsall
1993West Bromwich DartmouthWalsall
1994WalsallOld Hill
1995Barnt Green
1996WalsallWolverhampton
1997Barnt GreenMoseley
1998WolverhamptonWest Bromwich Dartmouth
1999WalsallMoseley
2000CannockWalsall
2001StratfordCannock
2002HalesowenMoseley
2003WellingtonHarborne
2004WellingtonKidderminster Victoria
2005Barnt GreenHarborne
2006WalsallLeamington Spa
2007WalsallMoseley

* * - denotes a shared title

1st XI Division 1/Premier Division winners

Of those clubs still playing, Moseley have won the 1st XI Division 1/Premier Division title outright 18 times and have had 3 shared titles, Walsall 17 & 3 shared, West Bromwich Dartmouth 16 outright & 2 shared, Kidderminster 8 & 2 shared, Aston Unity 6 & 3 shared, Old Hill 4, Barnt Green 3, Stourbridge 3, Smethwick 2, Wellington 2, Wolverhampton 2, Cannock 1, Coventry & North Warwickshire 1, Halesowen 1, Stratford-upon-Avon 1.

Of those clubs that have folded or no longer play in club competitions (ie. Warwickshire), Mitchells & Butlers won the title outright 8 times and had 2 shared titles, Dudley 6 times outright with 2 shared, Handsworth Wood 4 & 1 shared, & Warwickshire 3.

1000 runs in a season

Although there have been many notable feats throughout the league's history, one of the most difficult achievements for a batsman is to score over 1000 runs in a club league season. Only 13 players have ever managed it in the Birmingham League:

PLAYERCLUBYEARRUNS
Alan TownsendMitchells and Butlers19611106
Alan TownsendMitchells and Butlers19701008
Colin PriceAston Unity19751093
Graham YallopWalsall19751152
Doug SladeWest Bromwich Dartmouth19781407
Graeme HickKidderminster19841234
Ian StokesMoseley19841236
Steve DeanWalsall19931166
Jonathan WrightOld Hill19931006
Andy FlowerWest Bromwich Dartmouth19951018
Grant FlowerBarnt Green19951024
Deon JordaanWolverhampton19961072
R. TapeMoseley19991005

National Knockout

The Birmingham and District Cricket League's strength as a competition has been proven throughout the years, by the presence of its clubs in the latter stages of the ECB National Club Cricket Championship (a cup Competition for all Clubs in the UK).Here are a list of clubs in the league structure who have won or been runners-up in the competition:

CLUBYEAROPPONENTSWINNERS/RUNNERS-UP
Wolverhampton1973The Mote (Kent)Winners
Moseley1980Gosport Borough (Hampshire)Winners
Shrewsbury1983Reigate and St.Leonard's Priory (Sussex)Winners
Old Hill1984Bishop's Stortford (Hertfordshire)Winners
Old Hill1985Reading (Berkshire)Winners
Stourbridge1986Weston-super-Mare (Somerset)Winners
Old Hill1987Teddington (Middlesex)Winners
Wolverhampton1988Enfield (Middlesex)Runners-up
Old Hill1989Teddington (Middlesex)Runners-up(replay)
Walsall1991Teddington (Middlesex)Runners-up
Old Hill1993West Bromwich Dartmouth (Staffordshire)Winners
West Bromwich Dartmouth1993Old Hill (Staffordshire)Runners-up
Walsall1996Chorley (Lancashire)Winners
Wolverhampton1999Teddington (Middlesex)Winners
Barnt Green2002Saffron Walden (Essex)Runners-up
Barnt Green2005Horsham (Sussex)Runners-up

Famous players

Many well known international players have played in the Birmingham League over the years:

England Players

Overseas players

Australia
* Greg Matthews
* Tom Moody
* Simon O'Donnell
* Chris Rogers
* Steve Waugh
* Graham YallopSouth Africa
* Peter Carlstein
* Allan Donald
* Clive Eksteen
* JP Fellows-Smith
* Anthonie Ferreira (Unofficial)
* Claude Henderson
* Brian McMillan
* Hugh Page (Unofficial)
* Sid Pegler
* Roy Pienaar (Unofficial)
* Dewald Pretorius
* Mike Rindel
* Herbie Taylor
* Thami TsolekileWest Indies
* Colin Croft
* George Headley
* Ron Headley
* Vanburn Holder
* Alvin Kallicharan
* Collis King
* Lincoln Roberts
* Alfred Scott
* Phil Simmons
* Dwayne Smith
* Alf ValentineNew Zealand
* Ian Butler
* Stewie Dempster
* Martin Donnelly
* Jamie How
* Warren Lees
* Bill Merritt
* Michael Papps
* John Parker
* Dipak Patel
* Barry Sinclair
* Don Taylor
* Glenn Turner
* Roger TwoseIndia
* Dilip Doshi
* Amar SinghPakistan
* Imran Khan
* Mushtaq Mohammad
* Sadiq Mohammad
* Shahid Saeed
* Shoaib Akhtar
* Wasim AkramSri Lanka
* Somachandra de Silva
* Champaka RamanayakeZimbabwe
* Dion Ebrahim
* Andy Flower
* Grant Flower
* Travis Friend
* David Houghton
* Douglas Marillier
* Gus Mackay
* Mpumelelo "Pommie" Mbangwa
* Waddington Mwayenga
* Paul Strang
* Tatenda Taibu
* Mark Vermeulen
* Dirk Viljoen

External links

* [http://www.birminghamleague.org Official League Website]


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