Barkisland CC - Woodfield

"It's not the biggest ground, but it's got to be one of the nicest."

Barkisland - 'Bark' to those who know it well; 'Bark-island' to those who don't know it at all - is a small village situated to the north of Rishworth, to the east of Ripponden, and six miles south-west of Halifax. It is a quintessential Yorkshire community surrounded by luscious greenery, and in days gone by Barkisland was the name of an ancient township in the parish of Halifax.

The 1st and 2nd XI's play within the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League, which is one of the strongest semi-pro leagues in Yorkshire. The 3rd XI play within the Halifax Sunday League. All 4 junior teams play within the Halifax Junior League.

The village has had a cricket club since 1899. In the early days, home games were played at Norland Moor, but in the 1920s the club upped sticks to Woodfield. At first, Barkisland were members of the Halifax Association; in the 1930s they moved into the Halifax League; and in 2001 they switched into the Huddersfield League. (The 3rd XI still play in the Sunday Section of the Halifax League). The club's traditional foes are Triangle CC and Stones CC, but the rivalry is not too intense.

The cricket ground is wedged between Stainland Road and Saddleworth Road. Close by lie the village church, the local school, housing both old and new, and two pubs regularly frequented by Barkisland cricketers: The Griffin and The Fleece. And all things considered - setting, pavilion, and the quality of the playing surface - the venue must be one of the most attractive in the Halifax area. It is no surprise to discover that Barkisland CC have taken part in the National Village Cricket Championship.

From a distance, the ground has a picture-postcard quality about it. Close up, it continues to impress. Granted, the playing area slopes slightly down to the Scammonden Road side, but it is well kept and has a pristine look about it. The hanging baskets outside the pavilion add a touch of class, as do the handsome wooden benches dotted around the perimeter of the ground and the high-quality net facilities at the far end.

Originally, the Woodfield pavilion was a wooden construction sited where the scorebox is now. This building was bought from Southowram CC - and then sold back to the same club. In the early 1970s, club members set to work on building a new pavilion by the main entrance, and in 1975 it was officially opened, and that's not forgetting the fact that, in 1983, the club became the first in Yorkshire to own a fully automated scorebox.

Club Honours