THIS year Todmorden Cricket Club celebrates its 175th anniversary, and monthly events are planned. The year of 1837 is the club’s official birthdate, although an early account book indicates an existence before 1835.

Founded by cotton manufacturer Samuel Fielden, the club moved to his Centre Vale estate in 1850 and grew as the town expanded and in the wake of new railway networks and the 1850 Factory Act, which freed up Saturday afternoons.

When 22 of Todmorden and District played the United England XI in 1864, it was the biggest event the town had ever seen. Visits by the All England XI in 1868 and WG Grace, for the South v the North in 1874, were equally popular.

By 1890 Todmorden was playing Manchester at Old Trafford, Leeds at Headingley and Bradford at Park Avenue.

Over the next two years they were founder members of the Lancashire League and of the Central Lancashire League. Todmorden left the CLL in 1896 to rejoin the Lancashire League in 1897.

Lancashire League title success did not arrive until 1927, galvanised by England pace bowler Bill Hitch. Another England bowler, Fred Root, helped Todmorden to break Nelson’s monopoly of the title in 1933.

The Worsley Cup followed in 1935 and 1937 and the coveted double was achieved in 1938, Todmorden posting their record score of 411 to beat Haslingden by an innings and 71 runs in the title play-off.

Five amateurs graced county cricket in the 1940s – Kenneth Fiddling (Northants), Dick Horsfall (Essex and Glamorgan), Peter Greenwood (Lancashire) and Harold Dawson and Derek Shackleton (both Hampshire).

Shackleton and, in 1960, Peter Lever, both left Todmorden and went on to open the bowling for England.

Australian test all-rounder Jim Burke inspired Todmorden to a second double in 1954, and the 1957 title was decided on the final day when, defending a meagre 87 all out, Todmorden dismissed Rishton for 48.

Big name professionals Frank Tyson, Mohsin Khan, Brian close, Farnie do Villiers and Paul Allott, plus sub-pros Gary Sobers and Kevin Pietersen have graced the Todmorden team, which remains with East Lancs the only club never to finish outright bottom.

Todmorden’s only trophies since 1963 are cup triumphs in 1982 in a last-ball finish at Haslingden, and in 2000, when professional Dan Marsh hit a half century in every round.