RAWTENSTALL CC 1900 -1920

From the 1900's the club was limited to one professional, Rawtenstall released Foster who had been an adequate replacement for Nicholson, but kept on Hardstaffe. Hardstaffe retired a year later after eight seasons of great service to the club.

A new professional came called George Ramsbottom (who regularly downed 3 pints before a match) had a sensational start in his first match at Lowerhouse he took 9 for 15 and caught the remaining batsman. Fred Pickup had consecutive scores of 85*, 70 and 110* and later on 130 versus Nelson, his final average was 45 placing him at the top of the league averages.

In the next season professional Ben Taylor bowled the club to its customary third place. The 1903 and 1904 seasons were disastrous in which they finished rock bottom. Rawtenstall turned the table entirely upside down and finished top even though they had lost six matches.Stringer bowled exceptionally well and had an average of five wickets per match. His best figures being 8 for 32 v Church, 8 for 30 v Enfield and 9 for 32 v Todmorden. The big batting guns were Disley (807) and Towler (670). Rawtenstall had clinched the championship against Colne but celebrations did not start until the last match of the season versus Burnley. On the way back from the match the roads were lined with enthusiasts as far as Crawshawbooth welcoming the team home.

Sadly the next few years were mainly uneventful, Stringer faded badly in 1905. Peach wasn't a success and George Ramsbottom returned as professional for three years. The 1910 was the season of individual batter W Disley who had one of his best seasons ever achieving consecutive scores in the nineties and above. New faces like Fred Pewtress, Stephen Howarth and Harold Clegg made their first fifties which was a sign of something big to come. In the bowling medium pacer Bob Waller and Fred Howarth had considerable success and tried their hands as professionals in the lower leagues. The giant George Leach at 6'4" took 102 wickets and in one match he took 9 for 23 all clean bowled, 8 middle stump.

The war interfered with cricket in 1915 with several players joining up, but the club managed to battle through. The situation was deteriating, in 1916 there were no professionals and in 1917 no cricket.

Cricket returned in 1919 but some of the players did not, like Fred Howarth and J Stansfield. Rawtenstall coped well considering they were pro-less for most of the season, because F Barber was injured and substitutes had to be found every week. In 1920 Fred Pewtress brought honour to the club being selected by his county.

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Honours : Past Professionals : Hall of Fame