In 1937 the club were runners-up, but now Allen took 28 wickets, Frank Atkinson and Billy Baines again assisting Joe Gerrard in the role as main wicket taker.

Half-way through the season, the club lost the services of Ken Holding, and for the remaining fixtures he was replaced by 18 years old J. R. Gradwell from Bolton Cricket Club. The same John Gradwell was to break the Bolton League record for the number of league and cup victims in a season, for Farnworth 18 years later. His stay at Bradshaw, just 10 matches, was enough to ensure that in one of these games he took more victims than any other Bradshaw wicket-keeper had done in one match when at home against Kearsley he stumped three batsmen off Joe Gerrard, before catching three more.

It was Hamer Cup year again in 1938. Tonge were beaten in the first round at Castle Hill. Then there was a scare in the second round, when, after Bradshaw scored 216 at The Rigbys, Egerton were 191 for 5 in reply before succumbing, to 204 all out, Syd Greenhalgh's century being in vain.

Farnworth, in the semi-final, after professional James Heap had taken the first 3 wickets for 8 runs, recovered to a suspended score of 135 for 3. Bradshaw's reply was 130 for 4, of which Billy Baines had scored 85 not out, his first 50 runs taking only 45 minutes. On the third night Farnworth collapsed to 198 all out. Bradshaw at 189 for 5 and having the match all but won, lost 3 wickets for one run, including Billy Baines, run out for 114. Fortunately the gravity of the situation did not transmit to Joe Gerrard, who facing at 193 for 8 proceeded to score 4 and 5 off successive deliveries.

The cup-final at Heaton with Horwich as opponents proved to be the easiest round. Bill Cunliffe 67 not out, and James Heap produced an unbeaten stand of 91 to pass Horwich's total of 115, scored off 53 eight-ball overs, 13 of these runs being conceded in Frank Atkinson's last two overs in a final analysis of 6 for 26. Ken Holding caught four of these batsmen, to add to the one off Heap that broke the opening partnership at 66.

Competitions in the form of American Bowls, held on the cricket square, tennis, golf, skittles and a balloon race, took place, whilst a refreshment-room and a sweet-stall provided sustenance. Other attractions were a fortune-teller, a concert-party and jazz-bands. Dancing was allowed until 11 p.m. In 1936, advertised as a Garden Fete, admission was Adults 6d, Children 3d and the gate-money alone realised just over £60. After expenses of some £100 were deducted, the balance sheet showed a profit of £93.2.8d, on the face of it insufficient rewards for the effort and organisation involved. But when it is considered this amount almost covered the professional's wages, it would be more than justified in relative terms.

In 1939, and now classed as a Carnival and Gala, the event included Monday and netted a disappointing £64.4.1d: the war was only six days away.

All however did not run smoothly even in the more leisurely days of the nineteen-thirties. It is now 50 years since the secretary of Bradshaw Brass Band felt it necessary to address this postcard to his opposite number at the cricket club:

"I am writing to let you know that I am having bills printed why we are not playing at the gala, for I have been advised by a few people of Bradshaw where I will distribute the bills telling of the mean tricks that have been done to the band by your committee, because we refuse to help to pay for the Bridge which we do not use. We will also claim a percentage on the stalls for we worked for them as well as you".

As far as can be gathered from the minutes, Bradshaw Cricket Club's only concession to the early war years, was a resolution in August 1940, that no club prizes would be made for the duration. As it was, the war years were to be brightened by two rays of sunshine. Fred Hartley's initial years as professional (1940-41), and then his return for the years 1944-45, four seasons in which he won the Bolton League professionals' prize. Fred, unarguably the finest professional the club ever had if figures are to mean anything, never took less than 100 wickets in any of his four seasons with Bradshaw, feats which tended to over-shadow his outstandingly good batting. Always the club's leading run-scorer, he was sometimes considered so, his 660 in 1945 for instance being more than twice the total of his nearest colleague. He also captured 119 wickets that year.

1941 was the season in which he claimed all 10 wickets at Farnworth, helping his total to 128, a League record that still stands 43 years on.