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| William Roscoe and George Kay, continued to
associate themselves with the club long after their playing days were
over, and were eventually to become life members. As for the match itself,
heavy rain prevented a prompt start, and several inspections were made by
the umpires and players before play could commence at 3 o'clock.
"Joe Derbyshire devastated Thewlis's stumps, when he had scored only 6 and Bradshaw's hopes ran high". Could this be the match of the Thewlis quote about the good lads still to laik wi' yet? It seems so. "The finest cricket of the day was witnessed when the brothers Warburton became associated. They were nicely set when 50 went up, and in just over half an hour had taken the score past 100" Brough back to bowl after he had reached his half century, "one of Derbyshire's expresses shattered his stumps". "Completing his fifty Walter Warburton went on to punish the tired bowling and it was mainly due to his efforts that the second hundred was left behind. The last four wickets fell cheaply but Walter, scoring well, reached his century, and eventually carried his bat for a superb 112. Although he has often displayed some ability with the bat the younger Warburton is a recognised bowler and his success was all the more gratifying to the supporters of the cup-holders because it was unexpected. A collection realised £5.10.6d. The attendance was not so large as in recent years, the unpromising state of the weather in the morning doubtless keeping many away. Still there were fully 3,000 present and receipts at 5 o'clock totalled £30." Eagley had amassed 244, and the match was won. Before the close of play Bradshaw had lost Joe Derbyshire, and the ensuing Saturday saw them all out for a paltry 78, of which John Derbyshire scored 25. Walter Warburton made this cup final of almost eighty years ago a personal triumph with bowling figures of 13.4 overs, 4 maidens, 19 runs, 5 wickets. This cup final is still the one won by the greatest margin of runs in the Bolton and District Cricket Association. Walter Warburton whose fourth cup-final this was, was only really getting into his stride. He scored 141 in the cup final against Farnworth the next year, and afterwards had half-centuries in three finals out of five. Joe Derbyshire at this time was establishing himself as an outstanding all-round cricketer as well as being a professional footballing full-back of some repute. A cricket club minute of August 1905 reads:- Resolved that the secretary write to Preston N.E.F.C. asking them to grant Joe Derbyshire permission to play in the final". |
To quote from Mr. R. Wolstenholme's
dissertation on The Formation of the Bolton League, "Until 1939 the
Association, through the influence of Edward Cross, was affiliated to the
Bolton Cricket Club, which was the premier cricket club in
nineteenth-century Bolton. An arrangement existed with the Bolton C.C.
committee to the effect that they would, if possible, find a place in the
first team for any local cricketer who by his play proved that he is worth
a trial against a superior team. Also in keeping with this main objective
of the Association, District Matches were arranged between Junior
representative sides and Senior clubs and also, for example, between 16
chosen from the Senior clubs to play Bolton C.C.."
When in 1906 Bradshaw gained Silcock as professional from Bolton C.C. to begin his reign which was to last for nine seasons to 1914, The Cricket & Football Field said "Joe Derbyshire was to go to the Premier Club of the Town". In the event a footballing injury prevented this move, and he did not play at all that season. 1907 was to be Joe's last with Bradshaw. He had, along with Silcock, completely monopolised the bowling, when they had respectively taken 46 and 70 wickets, brother John with 9 being the nearest challenger to his amateur dominance. John Sofield, secretary of the club, wrote in the report and balance sheet of September that year: It is also gratifying that one of our players, Mr. Joe Derbyshire, has taken up a position on the ground staff of the Lancashire Cricket Club. His loss to the Club will be great, but we wish him every success, and hope he will do honour to himself and his County". Joe Derbyshire's return to League cricket in Bolton was with Tonge, where he played with distinction for many years. This period from the turn of the century in Edwardian Bolton saw league cricket gaining in popularity and approaching its peak just before the First World War. Fanatical support grew for the village sides, the number of local lads in the 1905 cup final bearing testimony, and, with public transport in its infancy and no radio, crowds increased and derby matches were often rowdy affairs, as an extract from the C & F.F. for August 8th 1903 illustrates: "The start was cautious but when the pair were nicely settled, Roscoe was finely caught at point, whilst Garside was out to a skier. Then a curious incident stopped play for twenty minutes; John Derbyshire had only just arrived at the wicket when the ball was overthrown. The pair started for a run when it is alleged Pilling the Tonge captain called out that the ball was dead. Derbyshire therefore turned back and was walking to his original wicket when a Tonge player upset his wicket and he had to go, despite the protest of the Bradshaw captain. The home supporters urged him to stop the game, but fortunately wiser councel prevailed and although Bradshaw felt very sore on the point the innings was continued. My impression was that Derbyshire was to be sympathised with. |