Welcome to the History page of the Ossett & Horbury CGBA
The association was founded on 23 July 1914 with 9 clubs enrolling, Horbury Conservative club, Horbury Liberal club, Horbury Old BC, Horbury WMC, Ossett C & AC, Ossett Flying Horse, Ossett Railway Tavern, South Ossett WMC and Wakefield West End. The President being A M Langley and the Secretary F W Spencer.
The First Individual Merit being won by H Schofield of Ossett Flying Horse there being 86 entries.
The association did not play during 1917 and 1918, we would assume that the Great War had something to do with this but it did recommence in 1919 with once again 9 clubs. The league continued to operate with fluctuating numbers in single figures until around 1947.
One remarkable feat during this period should be mentioned in that a Mr B. Peach started as President in 1923-1929 and then moved to secretary from 1930 until 1944 when Les Wain joined him presumably as co secretary. A remarkable 21 years in service to the Association.
The associations first Bank account was opened in 1932 at the Yorkshire Penny Bank in Ossett. Following this the first association rules were compiled and voted in typed and issued in 1936.
In 1943 a new rule allowed a club to enter more than 1 team and in 1945 the playing night was altered to Thursday nights.
1949 saw the introduction of 2 divisions with a pairs merit being started to run with the already successful individual merit.
1960 saw the introduction of the Beverley cup and the J T Mitchell followed in 1963.
From 1966 the association went from strength to strength with the introduction of 3 divisions followed in 1969 with 4 sections, 1976 5 sections, 1980 with 6 and 1994 with 7 sections and only 10 teams per section allowed. The sections were also renamed in this year to Premier and divisions 1- 6.
1995 saw the introduction of 2 new trophies the John Salmon trophy ( the losers of the first round Beverley cup were moved to this) and the Les Wain Memorial trophy. This trophy originally played for by all the division winners plus the best runner up. In the last few years awarded to the team from any division with the highest average.
During the period of 1944 to 1991 an extraordinary feat of service to the association took place in that the Secretarys role was carried out by Les Wain. During the associations history there have been some very commendable and dedicated people doing the officials roles but this must be outstanding in any sense of the word.
I must also add the name of E T Richardson who served the association as vice presdent from 1971-1992 then President from 1993 until my records run out in 2001 some 30+years in dedication to the association. Quietly in the background not seeking recognition what great chaps these have been.
There are so many accomplishments just to many too put down on this short draft but it would be remiss to not name the officials over the years other information such as trophy winners can be found elsewhere in this site.
Presidents Secretary/Treasurer
1914 : 1918 A. M. Langley 1914 : 1922 F.W. Spencer
1919 : 1922 F W Whittaker 1923 : 1929 E. Audsley
1923 : 1929 B. Peach 1930 : 1944 B. Peach
1930 : 1931 G.W. Speight 1944 : 1991 L. Wain
1932 : 1935 H. Eley 1991 : 1999 E. Hainsworth
1936 : 1946 C.H. Hampshire 2000 : 2012 J.C. Micklethwaite
1947 : 1949 W. Worfolk 2013 : 2019 A R Gardner
1950 Cr. H.S. Crooke Life Members
1951 Cr. J. Tyler 1955 A. Howarth
1952 - 1954 A. Howarth 1972 H. Eley &C.H. Hampshire
1955 : 1957 E. Wattam 1977 L. Mathers
1958 : 1976 L. Mathers 1991 L. Wain
1977 : 1993 J.L. Nettleton 1994 S. Ward & S. Butterworth
1993 : 2001 E.T. Richardson2012 2010 E. Hainsworth
2002 - 2020 A. Jennings 2012 K Schofield & P Johnson
2021 - J Scholey 2019. A R Gardner