Sport and Recreation in Whiston |
Like many towns and villages sport in Whiston has mainly concentrated upon team games, especially football and cricket; and the love of these games continues among young and old Whistonians to this very day.
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Football has been played in Whiston for many years. A report in the Advertiser mentions a game in 1889 when the North End played the South End – all the players were over 45 years old; some of them were up to 80 years young; plus the crowd watching was one of the largest ever seen at Whiston. The South End won 2-0. Another mention comes in c.1900 when a grand match between the Millers and Sweeps was held for a number of years. This is mentioned by Mrs. Kimber in her book about the village. This particular match was usually played over a large area with countless numbers on each side – all suitably blackened or whitened and accompanied by musicians. Another early match took place in 1894 when the teams were named Oxford and Cambridge! Again the team members were at least 46 years of age and fancy costumes were worn – there were twelve players on each side and the match was drawn. “Proper” teams emerged at the start of 20th Century and in 1915 it was reported that Whiston Monsters FC won the Treeton League without losing a game! Whiston Football Club is a much more recent founding: starting in 1956. They played on a field at the Top of Guiltlhwaite Hill. In 1957 it competed in the second division of the Rotherham Association League. It gained promotion to the first division in its first season and a second team was entered in the second division. When the Motorway was constructed their playing field was lost. A fairly recent addition has been the Whiston Wildcats – who run junior teams of all ages in the local junior leagues with some success. |
Cricket was also played from the late Victorian times. In 1882 the village cricket club laid down a pitch on the lower Church field. There is a report of an 1883 match between Rawmarsh and Whiston – Rawmarsh scored 88, while Whiston replied with just 48 – J.Armitage top scored with 13 n.o. Included in the team was Rev. T.Atkinson who scored nine. Whiston’s best bowler in this match was J.Wright who took eight wickets. There is report of another match when Whiston beat Catcliffe – scoring 64 to their 26. J. Wright was again the top bowler taking five wickets. In 1904 the Whiston Parish Institute Cricket Club was formed under the leadership of the Rev. J. Whitehead. Facilities were improved by the Rev. J.Allton and it was his enthusiasm that led to the building of a club room in 1929. The grand opening was attended by the Bishop of Sheffield and the Mayor, P.Bancroft Coward, J.P. The club continues to flourish to this day and in recent times has introduced junior teams as well. The Methodist Church Cricket Club also still exists – founded in the 1920s. |
From time to time other sports too have featured in the life of the village: |