Bardsey sports had been for many years concentrated on the highest point of the village, beyond the village pond, in the field alongside the track leading to Wayside. The field’s boundary now contains a bungalow and farm buildings. Periodically, both hockey and football were played but cricket dominated from the early 1920’s to 1973. The small sloping field, the quaint pavilion with upstairs score-box and tea serving facilities, the impressive weeping tree which sheltered the open toilets, the large roller and the bench seats gave an impression of idyllic village cricket. In reality by 1970 everything was at the point of collapse and it was difficult to raise a single team.

By 1973 new houses had been built along the Keswick Lane boundary, and a new pavilion erected, a cricket pitch laid, and the outfield prepared. The first playing group to commit itself was an existing hockey club which included many local members and was seeking a permanent base. The second was a brand new Bardsey football team. The third group, some with apprehension, was the existing cricket club.

On the playing field, football started in 1973/74 followed by cricket and hockey in 1974. Within two years the football had 2 teams and boys, the hockey 4 teams, and the cricket 2 teams and boys. The field itself rapidly matured, trees were planted, the buildings and entrance road developed. The bar opened in 1976. With the support of many local volunteers success followed success, and by 1977 the Sports Club proudly hosted their first Bardsey Gala to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee. The future was bright.

Fast forward 46 years, and you will no doubt, be enjoying the new clubhouse, which began construction in 2009 and involved a very lengthy process headed up by Norman Overfield and Peter Goldie. We hope you will agree that it was well worth the effort and there are countless people and organisations who all contributed in one way or another to bring the project to fruition.

Both cricket and football sections go from strength to strength – the football section now run two teams in the West Yorkshire League and after a long period of dominance in the Wetherby League (no longer with us unfortunately) they now play in the Airedale & Wharfedale League, which has long been considered one of the stronger leagues in Yorkshire cricket.

Both sections operate superb junior teams from 6 years up to 18 years and continue to enjoy the transition of local juniors into fully fledged and very capable senior players.

Our most recent addition has been the Bardsey & East Keswick Running Club under the stewardship of Richard Baker and Jo Zalesinski. Their growth and success as a club, and as individuals, has been nothing short of phenomenal in such a short period of time. We are now represented on a regular basis in various races across the country. Running Marathons down to 5K parkruns, where the members have posted some truly remarkable achievements.