Tong Park Esholt Cricket Club

Eight years ago saw the merger of 2 clubs (Tong Park CC and Esholt CC) to form one, a decision taken to secure the futures of both clubs. It resulted in a shift in focus from paying players to developing the local talent and youngsters who want to feel part of an open and friendly club.

We now run 3 senior sides playing on a Saturday, 2 in the Aire Wharf League playing from our main ground on Esholt Lane and our 3rd XI playing their home games at the picturesque Tong Park ground next to Tong Park Dam in the Dales Council League.

We now operate 3 junior teams with an Under 15s being started up last year to run alongside our Under 11s and 13s and we are looking to have an under 9s camp during the summer with the possible intention of starting an under 9s and under 17s in 2017. This successful development is largely due to the excellent coaching provided by one of our 1st XI players AJ Weerapulli who has established himself as a well-respected youth coach in the area working with local schools and running coaching sessions for youngsters of all ages. 

The club achieved the ECB Clubmark accreditation in 2015 and we aim to provide opportunities, through cricket, for all ages and abilities. This is proving increasingly popular with the local community, indeed we have recently established a link with Hoyle Court Primary School in Baildon to provide cricket coaching for it's pupils.

As well as the Cricket Club, our headquarters on Esholt Lane is also home to a popular camping and caravan site, has an excellent football pitch used by several local teams and the clubhouse is available to book for various functions and private parties.

Boxing Day 2015 saw the club hit by unprecedented and devastating flooding as the nearby River Aire burst it’s banks with water rising as high as 5ft above ground level causing much damage to the pavilion, equipment and the ground itself as caravans, debris and silt washed across the cricket field. 

Despite being insured the club was left with a bill in the region of £50,000 and a field that was deemed unplayable in 2016. We are currently still seeking assistance through grant funding and via our own efforts and are using our 2^nd ground to play our 1^st and 2^nd team and junior games whilst our 3^rd team are ground sharing with a local side. 

We are determined to come back a stronger club from this difficult situation with improvements to our playing, practice and social facilities all in place for 2017. 

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