Birmingham and District Premier League

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The Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League is the oldest club cricket league in the United Kingdom, formed in 1888.[1] It was the first ECB Premier League, being designated such in 1998, and is one of the strongest of the ECB Premier Leagues.


Geography[]

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 United Kingdom, 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, , Birmingham and went about setting up the first Club Cricket League in the UK, 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 was not 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 was formed later, but never became part of the Birmingham League set-up until the restructuring of Midlands Club cricket in 1998. who played in , West Bromwich, and originated from the Spring Works of the same name, resigned from the league after just one season. In 1890, 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, 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 joining the League in 1893, Stourbridge in 1894 and Kidderminster in 1895. 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 folded shortly afterwards, handing their cash balance over to the league benevolent fund.

The second XI competition, perhaps stronger than any of the lower level 1st XI competitions which existed in the region until the restructuring of 1998, was 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 (, , Kidderminster, Mitchells and Butlers, Moseley, Old Hill, Smethwick, Stourbridge, Walsall, West Bromwich Dartmouth), stayed the same until 1975. In 1975, the league expanded 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 (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, took on their 1st XI fixtures too, as they were forced to pull out of the league. also struggled with the on-field standards, and when support from the company's Social Club was reduced they too were forced to pull out of the competition, and were replaced by another Worcester-based side in 1982, . Many other changes took place in the league throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and they are summarised below:

Year Outgoing Club Reason Incoming Club
1977 Worcestershire Struggled to field sides due to small County staff
1982 Works Social Club decreased funding and club struggled with the standard of cricket
1985 Ground caved in and club was forced to fold Coventry and North Warwicks
1990 Warwickshire Struggled to commit to League cricket with increased County 2nd XI programme
1992 Club folded
1995 Mitchells and Butlers Brewery decided to sell off ground so club folded Barnt Green

In 1998 the Birmingham League included Promotion & relegation for the first time. The 12 teams of the Birmingham League formed the Premier Division, The 2 other big leagues (Midlands Combined Counties League & Midlands Club Cricket League) formed the lower divisions. Teams increased over time to 48 (4 1st XI divisions of 12 clubs: Premier, Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3, with accompanying 2nd XI divisions: Premier, Division 1, Division 2 West and Division 2 East). In 2017, under pressure from the ECB, the league's clubs voted to cut the league down to 2 divisions of 12 by 2019, and disband the 2nd XI competition.

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 were later replaced by a Second Division and a Third Division.

Only one club was promoted in the first year of the new structure, which was while , a founder member of the league, were the first club to be relegated. Since 1999, two clubs have been relegated and two promoted each season.

Following the 2018 season the Second and Third divisions were abolished, along with all four 2nd XI divisions, and the league was reduced to two divisions. The relegated 1st and 2nd XIs now compete in the four West Midland county feeder leagues.

The winners of the four feeder leagues now enter a ‘round robin’ playoff at the end of each season with the top two teams being promoted (replacing the two relegated sides from Premier Division Two) and the bottom two going back to their feeder leagues.

The 2020 competition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A replacement competition was arranged for the later part of the season when cricket again became possible, but with its winners not to be regarded as official league champions.

Clubs for 2022[]

For the 2022 season, the clubs in Premier Division One are: Barnt Green, Berkswell, Halesowen, Kenilworth Wardens, Kidderminster, Knowle & Dorridge, Leamington Spa, Moseley, Ombersley, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Smethwick.

The clubs in Premier Division Two are: Barnards Green, Bridgnorth, Bromsgrove, Dorridge, Harborne, Himley, Lichfield, Walsall, Wem, West Bromwich Dartmouth, Wolverhampton, Worfield.

Across the two divisions, the league currently includes:

7 Warwickshire clubs (Berkswell, Dorridge, Harborne, Kenilworth Wardens, Knowle & Dorridge, Leamington Spa, Moseley)

6 Staffordshire clubs (Himley, Lichfield, Smethwick, Walsall, West Bromwich Dartmouth, Wolverhampton)

6 Worcestershire clubs (Barnards Green, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove, Halesowen, Kidderminster, Ombersley)

5 Shropshire clubs (Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Wem, Worfield).

Winners[]

  • * – denotes a shared title


Championships won[]

  • Clubs still in the League
    Wins Club
    18 Moseley[a]
    Walsall[b]
    17 West Bromwich Dartmouth[c]
    8 Kidderminster[d]
    4 Barnt Green
    4 Berkswell
    3 Shrewsbury
    2 Knowle & Dorridge
    2 Smethwick
    2 Wolverhampton
    1 Halesowen
  • Clubs no longer in the League
    Wins Club
    8 Mitchells & Butlers[e]
    6 Aston Unity[f]
    Dudley[g]
    4 Handsworth Wood[h]
    Old Hill
    3 Stourbridge
    Warwickshire
    2 Wellington
    1 Cannock
    Coventry & North Warwickshire
    Stratford upon Avon
  1. ^ Moseley have had 3 shared titles.
  2. ^ Walsall have had 3 shared titles.
  3. ^ West Bromwich Dartmouth have had 2 shared titles.
  4. ^ Kidderminster have had 2 shared titles.
  5. ^ Mitchells & Butlers have had 2 shared titles.
  6. ^ Aston Unity have had 3 shared titles.
  7. ^ Dudley have had 2 shared titles.
  8. ^ Handsworth Wood have had 1 shared title.

Performance by season from 1998[]

Key
Gold Champions
Red Relegated
Blue Left League
Performance by season, from 1998
Club 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Aston Unity 12 9 12
Barnt Green 4 ? 7 7 5 2 2 1 9 7 4 8 4 1 8 8 2 8 8 5 8 3 5
Berkswell 4 6 3 2 1 3 1 1 1
Brockhampton 7 2 7 11 12
Bromsgrove 12
Cannock ? 1 8 4 9 12
Coventry & North Warwicks 8 ? 6 10 10 10 7 7 8 12
Dorridge 6 12 7 9 11
Halesowen 4 2 1 4 8 11
Harborne 11
Himley 2 8 4 2 4 3 2 5 6 3 2 4 12
Kenilworth Wardens 5 3 9 9 4 11 9 9 5 9 10 12
Kidderminster[a] 10 ? 8 12 10 5 7 7 3 9 5 5 8 4 2 11 7 3
Knowle and Dorridge 4 7 3 3 6 7 2 3 1 2 5 10 3 5 3 4 1 2 5 4
Leamington 12 10 11 8 11 12 2
Moseley 5 ? 3 7 5 10 5 10 8 10 9 11 6 8 8
Old Hill 9 ? 5 3 6 6 6 3 11
Ombersley 6 6 4 11 10
Shifnal 4 12 4 7
Shrewsbury 12 12 6 1 4 6 1 4 1 3 2 5 2 6
Smethwick 11 ? 12 8 12 4 9 9
Stourbridge 7 ?
Stratford upon Avon 6 ? 2 1 11
Walmley 8 6 3 12 10 10 7 11
Walsall 2 1 3 5 8 5 10 8 1 1 1 9 10 7 1 7 11 10 10 7 6 11
Water Orton 11
Wellington 1 1 9 6 11 5 2 12
West Bromwich Dartmouth 3 ? 9 11 9 4 2 6 11 10 9 9 1 5 9 6 3 10 12
Wolverhampton 1 ? 10 6 9 11 5 2 7 6 3 11 10 7 8 12
Wombourne 12
References [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23][b] [24]
  1. ^ Kidderminster were called Kidderminster Victoria until 2015.
  2. ^ Coronavirus pandemic forced a reduction in league activity.

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 fourteen players have ever managed it in the top division of the Birmingham League, one of them twice:

Player Club Year Runs
Alan Townsend Mitchells and Butlers 1961 1106
Alan Townsend Mitchells and Butlers 1970 1008
Colin Price 1975 1093
Graham Yallop Walsall 1975 1152
Doug Slade West Bromwich Dartmouth 1978 1407
Graeme Hick Kidderminster 1984 1234
Ian Stokes Moseley 1984 1236
Steven Dean Walsall 1993 1166
Jonathan Wright Old Hill 1993 1006
Andy Flower West Bromwich Dartmouth 1995 1018
Grant Flower Barnt Green 1995 1024
1996 1072
Kadeer Ali West Bromwich Dartmouth 2015 1079
Alex Keath Knowle and Dorridge 2015 1036
George Worker Knowle and Dorridge 2017 1569

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:

Club Year Opponents Winners/Runners-up
1973 The Mote (Kent) Winners
Moseley 1980 Gosport Borough (Hampshire) Winners
Shrewsbury 1983 (Sussex) Winners
Old Hill 1984 Bishop's Stortford (Hertfordshire) Winners
Old Hill 1985 Reading (Berkshire) Winners
Stourbridge 1986 Weston-super-Mare (Somerset) Winners
Old Hill 1987 Teddington (Middlesex) Winners
1988 Enfield (Middlesex) Runners-up
Old Hill 1989 Teddington (Middlesex) Runners-up(replay)
Walsall 1991 Teddington (Middlesex) Runners-up
Old Hill 1993 West Bromwich Dartmouth (Staffordshire) Winners
West Bromwich Dartmouth 1993 Old Hill (Staffordshire) Runners-up
Walsall 1996 Chorley (Lancashire)and Winners
1999 Teddington (Middlesex) Winners
Barnt Green 2002 Saffron Walden (Essex) Runners-up
Barnt Green 2005 Horsham (Sussex) Runners-up
Shrewsbury 2011 (Cambridgeshire) Winners

Famous players, and B&DPCL Club(s) represented[]

Many well known international players have played in the Birmingham League over the years:

England Players[]

Overseas players[]

ICC Full Member Nations[]

Australia

South Africa

West Indies

New Zealand

India

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe

Bangladesh

  • Enamul Haque Jr Wolverhampton

Ireland (& England)

ICC Associate Nations[]

Namibia

Netherlands

Scotland

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ Davis, Alex E (1988). First in the field: the history of the world's first cricket league: the Birmingham and District Cricket League, formed 1888. Brewin Books. ISBN 0-947731-34-2.
  2. ^ Birmingham and District Cricket League 1999 Handbook
  3. ^ Club Cricket Yearbook 2006
  4. ^ Club Cricket Yearbook 2006
  5. ^ Club Cricket Yearbook 2006
  6. ^ "Premier Division - 2003: Table".
  7. ^ "Premier Division - 2004: Table".
  8. ^ "Premier Division - 2005: Table".
  9. ^ "Premier Division - 2006: Table".
  10. ^ "Premier Division - 2007: Table".
  11. ^ "Premier Division - 2008: Table".
  12. ^ "Premier Division - 2009: Table".
  13. ^ "Premier Division - 2010: Table".
  14. ^ "Premier Division - 2011: Table".
  15. ^ "Premier Division - 2012: Table".
  16. ^ "Premier Division - 2013: Table".
  17. ^ "Premier Division - 2014: Table".
  18. ^ "Premier Division - 2015: Table".
  19. ^ "Premier Division - 2016: Table".
  20. ^ "Premier Division - 2017: Table".
  21. ^ "Premier Division - 2018: Table".
  22. ^ "Premier Division One - 2019: Table".
  23. ^ "Premier Division One - 2020".
  24. ^ "Premier Division One - 2021: Table".
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