Photographs relating to this article, including those in this extract, may be found in Gallery 2.3
A survey map of 1897 shows a cricket ground at Low Prudhoe approximately 350 yards east of the present footbridge over the railway line. This became a football ground in 1921. In 1925 the cricket pitch was where the golf club is now and, according to the late Mr R Snowball, was “very rough”. The club then moved the pitch into Eastwoods Park and is now known as West Wylam Cricket Club.
In the 1940’s, the club was one of the first small clubs to engage a professional. Billy Bateman, was paid £1 per game and was the only professional the club ever had. A groundsman was also employed and subscriptions were paid by the players to pay his wages.
During the 1950’s Professor, Dr John Bell, played for the club. Dr Bell was a Lecturer at King’s College, Newcastle and lived at Broomhouse Farm. His grandfather was Johnny Bell (of Johnny Bell’s Lonnen fame). Later in life he became a First Class umpire. It is interesting to note that while the press listed other players by surname only he was always listed as “Dr Bell”. This was acknowledgement by the press and not on “Dr Bell’s” insistence. Mr Snowball recalls that Dr Bell used to tell them that one day man would walk on the moon and had his leg pulled for making such extravagant predictions!
In 1950 the Club joined the Northumberland League and won the Group Captain Home Cup in 1959, 60 and 61 and in 1961 won the Norman Newall Cup as winners of the West Area Cricket Knock-out Competition for the fifth year running.
One sad occurrence in the club’s history was in 1952 while playing Bedlington at West Wylam. Mr John Straker, the Bedlington captain, was struck by a cricket ball and died on August 20th, eighteen days later. At an inquest at Newcastle, the Coroner, Mr F A Waller, passed a verdict of accidental death, saying that accidents of this kind were rare and exonerated the West Wylam bowler of any blame.
In the 1940’s, the club was one of the first small clubs to engage a professional. Billy Bateman, was paid £1 per game and was the only professional the club ever had. A groundsman was also employed and subscriptions were paid by the players to pay his wages.
During the 1950’s Professor, Dr John Bell, played for the club. Dr Bell was a Lecturer at King’s College, Newcastle and lived at Broomhouse Farm. His grandfather was Johnny Bell (of Johnny Bell’s Lonnen fame). Later in life he became a First Class umpire. It is interesting to note that while the press listed other players by surname only he was always listed as “Dr Bell”. This was acknowledgement by the press and not on “Dr Bell’s” insistence. Mr Snowball recalls that Dr Bell used to tell them that one day man would walk on the moon and had his leg pulled for making such extravagant predictions!
In 1950 the Club joined the Northumberland League and won the Group Captain Home Cup in 1959, 60 and 61 and in 1961 won the Norman Newall Cup as winners of the West Area Cricket Knock-out Competition for the fifth year running.
One sad occurrence in the club’s history was in 1952 while playing Bedlington at West Wylam. Mr John Straker, the Bedlington captain, was struck by a cricket ball and died on August 20th, eighteen days later. At an inquest at Newcastle, the Coroner, Mr F A Waller, passed a verdict of accidental death, saying that accidents of this kind were rare and exonerated the West Wylam bowler of any blame.