The Birmingham and District Cricket League is the oldest club cricket league in the world, formed in 1888. Arguably the strongest club competition in the country, it was also the first ECB Premier League, being designated such in 1998.
Contents
Geography
Centered on the city of Birmingham, the Birmingham League traditionally covered North Worcestershire, South Staffordshire and North Warwickshire, much of which is now the conurbation of the West Midlands. Since 1998, with the introduction of the ECB Premier Leagues, the pyramid system, and feeder leagues in the four counties (Shropshire Premier Cricket League, Staffordshire Club Cricket Championship, Warwickshire Cricket League and Worcestershire County Cricket League), the catchment of the league has spread to include the whole of Shropshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, as well as a large part of Staffordshire, although North Staffordshire clubs play in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire League. Herefordshire clubs, who play in the Worcestershire County Cricket League, can also be promoted into the league.
History
The Birmingham and District Cricket League is the oldest club competition in the world, beginning league matches in 1888. The Birmingham and District Cricket Association had actually formed eight years earlier in 1880, but only ran a successful, if not controversial, cup competition for those first few years.
On Friday 30 November 1888, representatives from local cricket clubs gathered at the Queen's Arms Hotel, Easy Row, Birmingham and went about setting up the first ever Club Cricket League, being inspired by the success The Birmingham County Football Association had had in organising local football competition and fixtures.
With some representatives needing to consult their own committees before pledging their commitment to the league, and one or two prominent local clubs not being present, it wasn't until a second meeting on Friday 14 December 1888 that the league was actually, officially formed. There were initially seven clubs who decided to trial the league format the following season. They were:
Those early days saw many changes in the league's club make-up:
Kings Heath moved to "The Reddings" Ground, joining with Moseley Cricket Club (and taking on that name). Another Kings Heath Club was formed later, but never became part of the Birmingham League set-up until the restructuring of Midlands Club cricket in 1998. Salters Cricket Club who played in Roebuck Lane, West Bromwich, and originated from the Spring Works of the same name, resigned from the league after just one season. In 1890, Wednesbury Cricket Club joined the league. In 1891, Smethwick Cricket Club, who had been involved in the Birmingham and District Cricket Association Cup competition in the 1880s, entered the league. Mitchells Cricket Club left the league between 1892 and 1896, due to some friction surrounding ineligible players, but shortly after they returned, they became Mitchells and Butlers Cricket Club when the two breweries amalgamated in 1898. In 1892, Small Heath Cricket Club joined the league and although their ground was amongst the best in the competition, the club was out of its depth in other aspects, and they resigned from the league 3 years later. In 1894, Warwickshire County Cricket Club entered the league after years of deliberation, but withdrew again in 1895 after being admitted to the County Championship. Over the next few years, the league's influence moved to the west, with Dudley Cricket Club joining the League in 1893, Stourbridge in 1894 and Kidderminster in 1895. Handsworth Wood who had performed creditably in the league until their Browne's Green ground was acquired by developers shortly after the First World War, spent one season playing at the County Ground, Edgbaston, but when no new ground could be found the following season either, they lost a narrow motion by the league (by one vote), and Old Hill Cricket Club replaced them in 1920. The Handsworth Wood Club folded shortly afterwards, handing their cash balance over to the league benevolent fund.
The second XI competition, which would arguably become the second best standard of cricket in the region until league restructuring in 1998, had been formed in 1893.
The league was suspended for the First World War between 1914 and 1918, but continued to play through the Second World War, and the League, now comprising 10 clubs (Aston Unity, Dudley, Kidderminster, Mitchells and Butlers, Moseley, Old Hill, Smethwick, Stourbridge, Walsall, West Bromwich Dartmouth), stayed the same until 1975. In 1975, the league expanding again as Warwickshire and Worcestershire decided the strength of the league could be utilised. Warwickshire entered a 1st and 2nd XI (basically a 1st/2nd team side and a 2nd/colts side), whilst Worcestershire only entered a 1st XI and Duport Cricket Club (A Dudley-based Furniture making company club) played their 2nd XI fixtures. Whilst Warwickshire established themselves in the competition and won it on a few occasions, Worcestershire struggled, and two years later, Duport took on their 1st XI fixtures too, as they were forced to pull out of the league. Duport also struggled with the on-field standards, and when less support from the Works Social Club hit them, they too were forced to pull out of the competition, and were replaced by another Worcester-based side in 1982, Worcester City. Many other changes took place in the league throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and they are summarised below:
ECB Premier League
Since being designated an ECB Premier League in 1998 (the first Premier Cricket League in the Country), several changes have occurred in the league's structure. Initially, the 12 clubs in the old Birmingham League made up the Premier Division, and a First Division, Second Division East and Second Division West were made up from clubs in the old Midlands Combined Counties League, the Worcestershire League, the Warwickshire League and the Staffs League. The Second Division East and Second Division West have since been replaced by a Second Division and a Third Division. Only one side was promoted in the first year of the structure, and that honour went to Cannock Cricket Club. Aston Unity Cricket Club, a founder member of the league, were the first ever side to be relegated. Promotion and relegation between the Premier League and the First Division was increased to two teams in the second year (1999). Movements of clubs since 1998 are shown below:
Clubs
For the 2016 season, the clubs in the Premier Division are Barnt Green, Berkswell, Kenilworth Wardens, Kidderminster, Knowle and Dorridge, Leamington Spa, Ombersley, Shrewsbury, Walmley, Walsall, West Bromwich Dartmouth, and Wolverhampton.
Across the four divisions, the league is made up of:
Championships and achievements
1st XI Division 1/Premier Division winners
Of those clubs still in membership of the league, Moseley and Walsall have both won the 1st XI Division 1/Premier Division title outright 18 times and have had 3 shared titles, West Bromwich Dartmouth 17 outright & 2 shared, Kidderminster 8 & 2 shared, Barnt Green 4, Old Hill 4, Stourbridge 3, Shrewsbury 2, Smethwick 2, Wellington 2, Wolverhampton 2, Coventry and North Warwickshire 1, Halesowen 1, Knowle and Dorridge 1, Stratford-upon-Avon 1.
Of those clubs that are no longer in membership of the league, Mitchells & Butlers won the title outright 8 times and had 2 shared titles, Aston Unity 6 times & 3 shared, Dudley 6 times & 2 shared, Handsworth Wood 4 & 1 shared, Warwickshire 3, and Cannock 1.
1000 runs in a season
Although there have been many notable feats throughout the league's history, one of the most difficult achievements for a batsman is to score over 1000 runs in a club league season. Only 11 players have ever managed it in the top division of the Birmingham League:
National Knockout
The Birmingham and District Cricket League's strength as a competition has been proven throughout the years, by the presence of its clubs in the latter stages of the ECB National Club Cricket Championship (a cup Competition for all Clubs in the UK). Here are a list of clubs in the league structure who have won or been runners-up in the competition:
Famous players, and B&DPCL Club(s) represented
Many well known international players have played in the Birmingham League over the years:
ICC Full Member Nations
Australia
South Africa
West Indies
New Zealand
India
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh
ICC Associate Nations
Namibia
Netherlands