In a season when 7000 spectators watched Eagley beat Astley Bridge in the Cross Cup Final, the contributor to St. Maxentius Church Magazine, after describing a match played 28 years earlier saw the Farnworth match at The Rigby's thus:

"The second Saturday afternoon is in the present year and once again on Bradshaw Cricket Field. But what a difference! We have removed from the Shooting Butts and have pitched our tent at Rigby's. Gone is the sketchy crease and the rough out-field, our ground is now laid all over. Gone is the little wooden hut, we have a splendid pavilion with separate scoring box and ample accommodation for players, and a first-rate tea room where tea is served in a manner to satisfy the most fastidious visitor.

We have a row of well kept Tennis Courts at one end, complete with tea-room and dressing-rooms, where our young folk play tournaments and club games, and once a year compete for the handsome cups presented by Mr. James Walsh. At the other end is the Bowling Green where the older members play the game and try also once a year to win the fine trophy presented by Lt. Col. H. M. Hardcastle. We have flower beds in front of the pavilion and a herbaceous border on the north side of the Green, and on the embankment we have a grand stand in course or erection. Just in passing, why do we call a place where we sit down a 'stand'? A bit comical when you come to think about it.

Once again as in the days of old, the sun is shining and the day is hot, but the rain has softened the pitch and runs are hard to get. Our opponents are the Farnworth team who played in the senior division whilst we were struggling in E division of the Junior League, so we have made progress at Bradshaw. Farnworth have won the toss and elect to bat first and for a short time the scoring seems easy, until the effect of the roller having worn off, the batsmen are scratching painfully at the slows of Billy Hughes and nibbling at the fast ones of Fred Scowcroft. We have bred three rare bowlers in these days. Watch the long run of Billy's, those two short steps half way, the quick change of the ball from left to right and the high-flung delivery. It looks easy to hit it out of the field but the ball does not come up to you as you would like. It is a nasty length, just on the blind spot and has a wicked habit of curling away from the bat to the delight of slip-fielders; and if you play forward to it, the ball seems to go straight to mid-off whether you want or not.

At the other end Fred is sending the expresses down and the batters do not seem to like his deliveries either.

With that long run up to the wicket, his arm swinging in a half circle and the ball delivered at the top of the final swing, with perfect length and wicket high, he is very bad to play today. Some days, like all bowlers, he gets off that length, but this is his day out. Our third bowler is another of the Smith family; Jim of that ilk. His bowling is quite different from either of the forgoing. Those few quick steps up to the wicket and the fierce fling of that deadly left arm have won matches for Bradshaw in the past, and we all hope will win, or help to win, many more in the future. No batsman likes fast left-arm bowling.

Before the 1924 season the need for reorganisation of the league was seen to be paramount, and a sub-committee was formed by the Bolton & District Cricket Association to explore various possibilities. When, after a close vote, the decision was for status quo, the writting was on the wall. That an attempt would be made to form another league was now more than a possibility.

Season 1925 saw two resignations from the West Section reducing the league to ten clubs.

Bradshaw contemporaneously, were having a crisis of their own. A selection committee of four, inclusive of the first team captain, had been elected. This was an innovating for the club, which through the years had alternated between the whole committee choosing the team, or just most of them.

By May 12th, after only two matches, the committee had a resolution before them "that three more committee men be added to the selection committee". The result of the vote is not stated, neither is a reason given for these cryptic proposals. Perhaps the general committee contained a prophet, for early in July the selection committee of four (or maybe seven) made the astonishing decision to leave the professional out of the first team. A look at the figures prior to this sensation shows the professional Billy Hughes to have taken 30 wickets for 500 runs. Joe Walch was leading wicket taker with 44 wickets at a cost of 540 runs, Fred Scowcroft being the next most successful bowler with 12 for 247. Only one batsman, Frank Walsh, had scored more runs than Hughes, 182 to 157.

It would be interesting to know the reaction of players, committee and supporters of the club, when the omission of the professional became public knowledge. There may have been extenuating circumstances, but, on the face of it, it seemed harsh judgement on a man who only two seasons previously had taken 85 wickets when playing as an amateur for the club. This record still stands today. As professional the season before, his 58 wickets had cost 11.5 runs each. He had also been the club's highest scorer with 383, a fair number in those days. It is difficult to imagine how the club could field eleven better players. The incident closed with yet another tantalising minute:

"Re selection committee decision in leaving professional out of team. After a long discussion the matter was left in the same position".

1926 was to be the last of the East and West 1st Division Leagues. The attempt to cater for too many clubs had proved unsuccessful, the West Section now being depleted by yet another withdrawal, to nine clubs.