By Club Historian John Ball

Cricket was first played in Tintwistle around 1835/6, on a ground which now lies beneath Arnfield Reservoir. In those days the highlight of the season was the annual fixture between Arnfield farmers and Tintwistle CC who then played under the banner of “Tintwistle Unicorns”. During the next few years, Arnfield Reservoir was constructed and a new ground had to be found. In 1850 a meeting of members was held at the Waggon and Horses Public House at the corner of Old Road and Chapel Lane when the club was reconstituted under the new title of “Tintwistle Royal Cricket Club”. Cricket was played on several fields including Conduit Street which was then under construction. As a result, more permanent headquarters were needed. One of the original members, a man named John Roberts, agreed to rent a field at Speedwell to the club. In August 1854 the ground was ready. The first match played on the new ground was against Gorton Mechanical Institute and was won by Tintwistle CC. Matches have been played continuously on this ground from 1854 to the present date, except during the two World Wars. The only things to change? Houses and a busy main road now surround the Speedwell ground, which is slightly larger than the original. The ground, which is now owned by the club, having been purchased in the 1980’s, now holds the third pavilion.

From 1854 to 1893 the club played friendly matches (the term ‘friendly’ being used loosely). Most games ended controversially. Visits were made to Salford, Penistone, Oldham and Tideswell. When trains couldn’t be used, horse-drawn waggonettes were pressed into use. Some players suffered injury whilst travelling by this method. Abel Harrop, a Tintwistle player, fell out of a waggonette travelling up Mottram Moor and broke his arm. A visiting team from Penistone were returning home after a match against Tintwistle and at one point on the road above Woodhead Tunnel a player fell under the wheels and was tragically killed. The Tintwistle club were quick to react, organising a charity match which raised £12/-/- for the player’s family. The Club President and Treasurer during the 1870’s was James Sidebottom who owned Waterside Mills. It was due to his generosity that the club was able to pay for the services of professional players when a match merited them.

In 1866, cricket had become sufficiently popular for the club to run a Second X1. One fixture in 1873 was reported in the local newspaper, the Tintwistle supporters being described as a “drunken, loud mouthed rabble”. In those days it was not uncommon for a crowd of 300/400 spectators to shout the team on, sometimes accompanied by Tintwistle Brass Band playing some lively tunes. The annual expenditure in the 1870’s was between £12/-/- and £13/-/-. In those days, cricket bats cost 2/6d and balls were 6d. Throughout the 1880’s cricket increased in popularity and the club formed its Third X1, engaging a full-time professional named Jimmy Robinson from Hollingworth, a distant ancestor of Mrs Emma Bonser. The club had 153 members at this time, 58 of whom were playing members.