The Sixties and Seventies

Having entered the sixties on a high by winning the Kerridge Cup, 1961 saw the club almost repeat the feat, being beaten in the final by Middlesbrough.

This was a rare highlight during the decade in terms of NYSD success. Without a doubt some good cricketers were in the side, as has always been the case at Blackhall, but it would seem the strength in depth for a league as strong as the NYSD was not there. Applications for re-election had to be made in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967. In 1966 the 1st team's only victory came on the last day of the season.

Professionals employed during this period were

1961 - Stuart Young
1962 - Peter Shenton
1963-5 - Doug Ferguson
1966 & 7 - No professional
1968 - Freddie Allen
1969 - John Glassford

Glassford had previously played at the club as an amateur and was another to be added to the list of players who had been selected for Durham during his time at the club.

The second team fared little better in the same period, a second place finish in 1963 being the only highlight.



A major change in the 1960s was the withdrawal of the Miner's Welfare Organistaion from providing the funds for the club. It was now up to the club itself to be self-financing, a bit of a culture shock. The flipside to this was that the club committee structure could be revamped, with the main jobs being held by players, rather than Welfare officials. Tales abound of selection committees in the old days consisting of 32 people, so the beauracracy in the club was reduced.

The decade ended on a low point. Cec Clayton, a long standing playing member, died shortly after a cup game in 1968, and in 1969 a coach transporting players and supporters to a bowls match on Tyneside suffered a brake failure on a steep hill and crashed, with many on board losing their lives. The memorial you see in the Park between the groundsman's house and the playground is dedicated to this event.

Amongst the victims of the crash were my Grandfather, Bill Smith (snr) (mentioned earlier) a stalwart of the 1930s side and Bob & Eva Humphrey. Bob was a stalwart member of the bowls club and his wife had been heavily involved with the Ladies Tea Committee for a number of years.

As a result of this the club established the Smith-Humphrey Memorial Shield for the 1970 season, a competition still running today, and played for by many sides in the immediate area.

If the Sixties was a difficult decade, the seventies was even harder. A Welfare Organisation who were increasingly under financial pressure were struggling to keep the ground in good repair, the changing rooms were showing definite signs of age and the club itself were struggling to finance the running of the teams, a situation which would not have been helped by an introduction of a third team.

Only in 1972 and 1973 did we finish in the top half of the table, and in 1977, 78 and 1980 we had to apply for re-election. During the decade the scorebox was destroyed by fire, resulting in the building of a new box in 1977. Perhaps the playing highlight was the second team winning the Haith Cup for the 2nd time in 1978.

Professionals in the 1970s were

1970 - Alim-ud-Din
1971/2/3 - Mike Nicholson
1974-1980 - Derek Soakell.

Alim-ud-Din was the first player to represent Blackhall who had played test cricket, for Pakistan. He sustained an eye injury during a cup game against Crook, and as a result he eventually lost the sight in that eye, bringing his cricket career to a close.

Applications for re-election were becoming more commonplace, and there were teams with a first XI  in the B Division who were desperate for their chance to replace someone. Blackhall had to be the prime candidates to drop out, having had 3 applications in the space of 4 years and just avoiding the bottom two in 1979.

The league meeting of 1980 was a skin-of-the-teeth affair, and as a club we were indebted to Thornaby CC who intervened on our behalf to help keep our A Division status. Things had to change.

Fortunately there were people involved in the running of the club who saw the way forward. They made what was probably the biggest decision in the history of the club. The Social Club. The idea was mooted in late 1978, may meeting were held with the Welfare to overcome all of the red tape surrounding the land etc, but eventually the go-ahead was given.

The club was built by club members. Players, supporters, friends of friends all mucked in. We were fortunate to have many club members who were skilled in the building trade, those who weren't shovelled. Foundations were dug, building materials appeared via the pit, everyone did their bit to ensure the club got built and that the budget was the minimum possible, and within the loans that the Whitbread Brewery had given us to help establish it.

Too many people were involved to name individually, and naming one without naming all would be unfair, but I do not think I am overstating the case to say you all played a part in making happen the thing that changed the fortunes of Blackhall Cricket Club. It was a pretty basic wooden building which served a limited selection of (very good) beers, but it was ours, and more importantly, so were the profits.

The Social Club opened in late January 1980, with the official opening taking place just before the start of the 1980 season.