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Birmingham and District Premier League

January 20, 2023

The Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League is the oldest club cricket league in the United Kingdom, formed in 1888.[1] It was the first ECB Premier League, being designated such in 1998, and is one of the strongest of the ECB Premier Leagues.

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League
Countries United Kingdom
FormatLimited Overs
First edition1888
Tournament formatLeague
Number of teams12 (Premier Division)
Current championSmethwick CC
Most successfulMoseley CC (18) and
Walsall CC (18)
Websitehttps://birminghamleague.org


Geography

The Birmingham League traditionally covered North Worcestershire, South Staffordshire and North Warwickshire, much of which is now the conurbation of the West Midlands. Since 1998, with the introduction of the ECB Premier Leagues, the pyramid system, and feeder leagues in the four counties (Shropshire Premier Cricket League, Staffordshire Club Cricket Championship, Warwickshire Cricket League and Worcestershire County Cricket League), the catchment of the league has spread to include the whole of Shropshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, as well as a large part of Staffordshire, although North Staffordshire clubs play in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire League. Herefordshire clubs, who play in the Worcestershire County Cricket League, can also be promoted into the league.

History

The Birmingham and District Cricket League is the oldest club competition in the United Kingdom, beginning league matches in 1888. The Birmingham and District Cricket Association had actually formed eight years earlier in 1880, but only ran a successful, if not controversial, cup competition for those first few years. On Friday 30 November 1888, representatives from local cricket clubs gathered at the Queen's Arms Hotel, Easy Row, Birmingham and went about setting up the first Club Cricket League in the UK, being inspired by the success The Birmingham County Football Association had had in organising local football competition and fixtures. With some representatives needing to consult their own committees before pledging their commitment to the league, and one or two prominent local clubs not being present, it was not until a second meeting on Friday 14 December 1888 that the league was actually, officially formed. There were initially seven clubs who decided to trial the league format the following season. They were:

Those early days saw many changes in the league's club make-up: Kings Heath moved to "The Reddings" Ground, joining with Moseley Cricket Club (and taking on that name). Another Kings Heath Club was formed later, but never became part of the Birmingham League set-up until the restructuring of Midlands Club cricket in 1998. Salters Cricket Club who played in Roebuck Lane, West Bromwich, and originated from the Spring Works of the same name, resigned from the league after just one season. In 1890, Wednesbury Cricket Club joined the league. In 1891, Smethwick Cricket Club, who had been involved in the Birmingham and District Cricket Association Cup competition in the 1880s, entered the league. Mitchells Cricket Club left the league between 1892 and 1896, due to some friction surrounding ineligible players, but shortly after they returned, they became Mitchells and Butlers Cricket Club when the two breweries amalgamated in 1898. In 1892, Small Heath Cricket Club joined the league and although their ground was amongst the best in the competition, the club was out of its depth in other aspects, and they resigned from the league 3 years later. In 1894, Warwickshire County Cricket Club entered the league after years of deliberation, but withdrew again in 1895 after being admitted to the County Championship. Over the next few years, the league's influence moved to the west, with Dudley Cricket Club joining the League in 1893, Stourbridge in 1894 and Kidderminster in 1895. Handsworth Wood who had performed creditably in the league until their Browne's Green ground was acquired by developers shortly after the First World War, spent one season playing at the County Ground, Edgbaston, but when no new ground could be found the following season either, they lost a narrow motion by the league (by one vote), and Old Hill Cricket Club replaced them in 1920. The Handsworth Wood Club folded shortly afterwards, handing their cash balance over to the league benevolent fund.

The second XI competition, perhaps stronger than any of the lower level 1st XI competitions which existed in the region until the restructuring of 1998, was formed in 1893. The league was suspended for the First World War between 1914 and 1918, but continued to play through the Second World War, and the League, now comprising 10 clubs (Aston Unity, Dudley, Kidderminster, Mitchells and Butlers, Moseley, Old Hill, Smethwick, Stourbridge, Walsall, West Bromwich Dartmouth), stayed the same until 1975. In 1975, the league expanded again as Warwickshire and Worcestershire decided the strength of the league could be utilised. Warwickshire entered a 1st and 2nd XI (basically a 1st/2nd team side and a 2nd/colts side), whilst Worcestershire only entered a 1st XI and Duport Cricket Club (A Dudley-based Furniture making company club) played their 2nd XI fixtures. Whilst Warwickshire established themselves in the competition and won it on a few occasions, Worcestershire struggled, and two years later, Duport took on their 1st XI fixtures too, as they were forced to pull out of the league. Duport also struggled with the on-field standards, and when support from the company's Social Club was reduced they too were forced to pull out of the competition, and were replaced by another Worcester-based side in 1982, Worcester City. Many other changes took place in the league throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and they are summarised below:

Year Outgoing Club Reason Incoming Club
1977 Worcestershire Struggled to field sides due to small County staff Duport
1982 Duport Works Social Club decreased funding and club struggled with the standard of cricket Worcester City
1985 Dudley Ground caved in and club was forced to fold Coventry and North Warwicks
1990 Warwickshire Struggled to commit to League cricket with increased County 2nd XI programme Wolverhampton
1992 Worcester City Club folded Stratford
1995 Mitchells and Butlers Brewery decided to sell off ground so club folded Barnt Green

In 1998 the Birmingham League included Promotion & relegation for the first time. The 12 teams of the Birmingham League formed the Premier Division, The 2 other big leagues (Midlands Combined Counties League & Midlands Club Cricket League) formed the lower divisions. Teams increased over time to 48 (4 1st XI divisions of 12 clubs: Premier, Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3, with accompanying 2nd XI divisions: Premier, Division 1, Division 2 West and Division 2 East). In 2017, under pressure from the ECB, the league's clubs voted to cut the league down to 2 divisions of 12 by 2019, and disband the 2nd XI competition.

ECB Premier League

Since being designated an ECB Premier League in 1998 (the first Premier Cricket League in the Country), several changes have occurred in the league's structure. Initially, the 12 clubs in the old Birmingham League made up the Premier Division, and a First Division, Second Division East and Second Division West were made up from clubs in the old Midlands Combined Counties League, the Worcestershire League, the Warwickshire League and the Staffs League. The Second Division East and Second Division West were later replaced by a Second Division and a Third Division.

Only one club was promoted in the first year of the new structure, which was Cannock while Aston Unity, a founder member of the league, were the first club to be relegated. Since 1999, two clubs have been relegated and two promoted each season.

Following the 2018 season the Second and Third divisions were abolished, along with all four 2nd XI divisions, and the league was reduced to two divisions. The relegated 1st and 2nd XIs now compete in the four West Midland county feeder leagues.

The winners of the four feeder leagues now enter a ‘round robin’ playoff at the end of each season with the top two teams being promoted (replacing the two relegated sides from Premier Division Two) and the bottom two going back to their feeder leagues.

The 2020 competition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A replacement competition was arranged for the later part of the season when cricket again became possible, but with its winners not to be regarded as official league champions.

Clubs for 2022

For the 2022 season, the clubs in Premier Division One are: Barnt Green, Berkswell, Halesowen, Kenilworth Wardens, Kidderminster, Knowle & Dorridge, Leamington Spa, Moseley, Ombersley, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Smethwick.

The clubs in Premier Division Two are: Barnards Green, Bridgnorth, Bromsgrove, Dorridge, Harborne, Himley, Lichfield, Walsall, Wem, West Bromwich Dartmouth, Wolverhampton, Worfield.

Across the two divisions, the league currently includes:

7 Warwickshire clubs (Berkswell, Dorridge, Harborne, Kenilworth Wardens, Knowle & Dorridge, Leamington Spa, Moseley)

6 Staffordshire clubs (Himley, Lichfield, Smethwick, Walsall, West Bromwich Dartmouth, Wolverhampton)

6 Worcestershire clubs (Barnards Green, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove, Halesowen, Kidderminster, Ombersley)

5 Shropshire clubs (Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Wem, Worfield).

Winners

  • * – denotes a shared title


Championships won

  • Clubs still in the League
    Wins Club
    18 Moseley[a]
    Walsall[b]
    17 West Bromwich Dartmouth[c]
    8 Kidderminster[d]
    4 Barnt Green
    4 Berkswell
    3 Shrewsbury
    3 Smethwick
    2 Knowle & Dorridge
    2 Wolverhampton
    1 Halesowen
  • Clubs no longer in the League
    Wins Club
    8 Mitchells & Butlers[e]
    6 Aston Unity[f]
    Dudley[g]
    4 Handsworth Wood[h]
    Old Hill
    3 Stourbridge
    Warwickshire
    2 Wellington
    1 Cannock
    Coventry & North Warwickshire
    Stratford upon Avon
  1. ^ Moseley have had 3 shared titles.
  2. ^ Walsall have had 3 shared titles.
  3. ^ West Bromwich Dartmouth have had 2 shared titles.
  4. ^ Kidderminster have had 2 shared titles.
  5. ^ Mitchells & Butlers have had 2 shared titles.
  6. ^ Aston Unity have had 3 shared titles.
  7. ^ Dudley have had 2 shared titles.
  8. ^ Handsworth Wood have had 1 shared title.

Performance by season from 1998

Key
Gold Champions
Red Relegated
Blue Left League
Performance by season, from 1998
Club 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Aston Unity 12 9 12
Barnt Green 4 ? 7 7 5 2 2 1 9 7 4 8 4 1 8 8 2 8 8 5 8 3 5 2
Berkswell 4 6 3 2 1 3 1 1 1 5
Brockhampton 7 2 7 11 12
Bromsgrove 12
Cannock ? 1 8 4 9 12
Coventry & North Warwicks 8 ? 6 10 10 10 7 7 8 12
Dorridge 6 12 7 9 11
Halesowen 4 2 1 4 8 11 8
Harborne 11
Himley 2 8 4 2 4 3 2 5 6 3 2 4 12
Kenilworth Wardens 5 3 9 9 4 11 9 9 5 9 10 12 4
Kidderminster[a] 10 ? 8 12 10 5 7 7 3 9 5 5 8 4 2 11 7 3 10
Knowle and Dorridge 4 7 3 3 6 7 2 3 1 2 5 10 3 5 3 4 1 2 5 4 7
Leamington 12 10 11 8 11 12 2 12
Moseley 5 ? 3 7 5 10 5 10 8 10 9 11 6 8 8 3
Old Hill 9 ? 5 3 6 6 6 3 11
Ombersley 6 6 4 11 10 6
Shifnal 4 12 4 7 11
Shrewsbury 12 12 6 1 4 6 1 4 1 3 2 5 2 6 9
Smethwick 11 ? 12 8 12 4 9 9 1
Stourbridge 7 ?
Stratford upon Avon 6 ? 2 1 11
Walmley 8 6 3 12 10 10 7 11
Walsall 2 1 3 5 8 5 10 8 1 1 1 9 10 7 1 7 11 10 10 7 6 11
Water Orton 11
Wellington 1 1 9 6 11 5 2 12
West Bromwich Dartmouth 3 ? 9 11 9 4 2 6 11 10 9 9 1 5 9 6 3 10 12
Wolverhampton 1 ? 10 6 9 11 5 2 7 6 3 11 10 7 8 12
Wombourne 12
References [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23][b] [24] [25]
  1. ^ Kidderminster were called Kidderminster Victoria until 2015.
  2. ^ Coronavirus pandemic forced a reduction in league activity.

1000 runs in a season

Although there have been many notable feats throughout the league's history, one of the most difficult achievements for a batsman is to score over 1000 runs in a club league season. Only fourteen players have ever managed it in the top division of the Birmingham League, one of them twice:

Player Club Year Runs
Alan Townsend Mitchells and Butlers 1961 1106
Alan Townsend Mitchells and Butlers 1970 1008
Colin Price Aston Unity 1975 1093
Graham Yallop Walsall 1975 1152
Doug Slade West Bromwich Dartmouth 1978 1407
Graeme Hick Kidderminster 1984 1234
Ian Stokes Moseley 1984 1236
Steven Dean Walsall 1993 1166
Jonathan Wright Old Hill 1993 1006
Andy Flower West Bromwich Dartmouth 1995 1018
Grant Flower Barnt Green 1995 1024
Deon Jordaan Wolverhampton 1996 1072
Kadeer Ali West Bromwich Dartmouth 2015 1079
Alex Keath Knowle and Dorridge 2015 1036
George Worker Knowle and Dorridge 2017 1569

National Knockout

The Birmingham and District Cricket League's strength as a competition has been proven throughout the years, by the presence of its clubs in the latter stages of the ECB National Club Cricket Championship (a cup Competition for all Clubs in the UK). Here are a list of clubs in the league structure who have won or been runners-up in the competition:

Club Year Opponents Winners/Runners-up
Wolverhampton 1973 The Mote (Kent) Winners
Moseley 1980 Gosport Borough (Hampshire) Winners
Shrewsbury 1983 Hastings and St Leonards Priory (Sussex) Winners
Old Hill 1984 Bishop's Stortford (Hertfordshire) Winners
Old Hill 1985 Reading (Berkshire) Winners
Stourbridge 1986 Weston-super-Mare (Somerset) Winners
Old Hill 1987 Teddington (Middlesex) Winners
Wolverhampton 1988 Enfield (Middlesex) Runners-up
Old Hill 1989 Teddington (Middlesex) Runners-up(replay)
Walsall 1991 Teddington (Middlesex) Runners-up
Old Hill 1993 West Bromwich Dartmouth (Staffordshire) Winners
West Bromwich Dartmouth 1993 Old Hill (Staffordshire) Runners-up
Walsall 1996 Chorley (Lancashire)and Winners
Wolverhampton 1999 Teddington (Middlesex) Winners
Barnt Green 2002 Saffron Walden (Essex) Runners-up
Barnt Green 2005 Horsham (Sussex) Runners-up
Shrewsbury 2011 Cambridge Granta (Cambridgeshire) Winners

Famous players, and B&DPCL Club(s) represented

Many well known international players have played in the Birmingham League over the years:

England Players

Overseas players

ICC Full Member Nations

Australia

South Africa

West Indies

New Zealand

India

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe

Bangladesh

Ireland (& England)

ICC Associate Nations

Namibia

Netherlands

Scotland

External links

  • Official website
  • play-cricket website

References

  1. ^ Davis, Alex E (1988). First in the field: the history of the world's first cricket league: the Birmingham and District Cricket League, formed 1888. Brewin Books. ISBN 0-947731-34-2.
  2. ^ Birmingham and District Cricket League 1999 Handbook
  3. ^ Club Cricket Yearbook 2006
  4. ^ Club Cricket Yearbook 2006
  5. ^ Club Cricket Yearbook 2006
  6. ^ "Premier Division - 2003: Table".
  7. ^ "Premier Division - 2004: Table".
  8. ^ "Premier Division - 2005: Table".
  9. ^ "Premier Division - 2006: Table".
  10. ^ "Premier Division - 2007: Table".
  11. ^ "Premier Division - 2008: Table".
  12. ^ "Premier Division - 2009: Table".
  13. ^ "Premier Division - 2010: Table".
  14. ^ "Premier Division - 2011: Table".
  15. ^ "Premier Division - 2012: Table".
  16. ^ "Premier Division - 2013: Table".
  17. ^ "Premier Division - 2014: Table".
  18. ^ "Premier Division - 2015: Table".
  19. ^ "Premier Division - 2016: Table".
  20. ^ "Premier Division - 2017: Table".
  21. ^ "Premier Division - 2018: Table".
  22. ^ "Premier Division One - 2019: Table".
  23. ^ "Premier Division One - 2020".
  24. ^ "Premier Division One - 2021: Table".
  25. ^ "Premier Division One - 2022: Table".

January 20, 2023
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The Birmingham amp District Premier Cricket League is the oldest club cricket league in the United Kingdom formed in 1888 1 It was the first ECB Premier League being designated such in 1998 and is one of the strongest of the ECB Premier Leagues Birmingham amp District Premier Cricket LeagueCountries United KingdomFormatLimited OversFirst edition1888Tournament formatLeagueNumber of teams12 Premier Division Current championSmethwick CCMost successfulMoseley CC 18 and Walsall CC 18 Websitehttps birminghamleague org Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 ECB Premier League 4 Clubs for 2022 5 Winners 5 1 Championships won 6 Performance by season from 1998 7 1000 runs in a season 8 National Knockout 9 Famous players and B amp DPCL Club s represented 9 1 England Players 9 2 Overseas players 9 3 ICC Full Member Nations 9 4 ICC Associate Nations 10 External links 11 ReferencesGeography EditThe Birmingham League traditionally covered North Worcestershire South Staffordshire and North Warwickshire much of which is now the conurbation of the West Midlands Since 1998 with the introduction of the ECB Premier Leagues the pyramid system and feeder leagues in the four counties Shropshire Premier Cricket League Staffordshire Club Cricket Championship Warwickshire Cricket League and Worcestershire County Cricket League the catchment of the league has spread to include the whole of Shropshire Worcestershire and Warwickshire as well as a large part of Staffordshire although North Staffordshire clubs play in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire League Herefordshire clubs who play in the Worcestershire County Cricket League can also be promoted into the league History EditThe Birmingham and District Cricket League is the oldest club competition in the United Kingdom beginning league matches in 1888 The Birmingham and District Cricket Association had actually formed eight years earlier in 1880 but only ran a successful if not controversial cup competition for those first few years On Friday 30 November 1888 representatives from local cricket clubs gathered at the Queen s Arms Hotel Easy Row Birmingham and went about setting up the first Club Cricket League in the UK being inspired by the success The Birmingham County Football Association had had in organising local football competition and fixtures With some representatives needing to consult their own committees before pledging their commitment to the league and one or two prominent local clubs not being present it was not until a second meeting on Friday 14 December 1888 that the league was actually officially formed There were initially seven clubs who decided to trial the league format the following season They were Aston Unity Handsworth Wood Kings Heath Mitchells Salters Walsall West Bromwich DartmouthThose early days saw many changes in the league s club make up Kings Heath moved to The Reddings Ground joining with Moseley Cricket Club and taking on that name Another Kings Heath Club was formed later but never became part of the Birmingham League set up until the restructuring of Midlands Club cricket in 1998 Salters Cricket Club who played in Roebuck Lane West Bromwich and originated from the Spring Works of the same name resigned from the league after just one season In 1890 Wednesbury Cricket Club joined the league In 1891 Smethwick Cricket Club who had been involved in the Birmingham and District Cricket Association Cup competition in the 1880s entered the league Mitchells Cricket Club left the league between 1892 and 1896 due to some friction surrounding ineligible players but shortly after they returned they became Mitchells and Butlers Cricket Club when the two breweries amalgamated in 1898 In 1892 Small Heath Cricket Club joined the league and although their ground was amongst the best in the competition the club was out of its depth in other aspects and they resigned from the league 3 years later In 1894 Warwickshire County Cricket Club entered the league after years of deliberation but withdrew again in 1895 after being admitted to the County Championship Over the next few years the league s influence moved to the west with Dudley Cricket Club joining the League in 1893 Stourbridge in 1894 and Kidderminster in 1895 Handsworth Wood who had performed creditably in the league until their Browne s Green ground was acquired by developers shortly after the First World War spent one season playing at the County Ground Edgbaston but when no new ground could be found the following season either they lost a narrow motion by the league by one vote and Old Hill Cricket Club replaced them in 1920 The Handsworth Wood Club folded shortly afterwards handing their cash balance over to the league benevolent fund The second XI competition perhaps stronger than any of the lower level 1st XI competitions which existed in the region until the restructuring of 1998 was formed in 1893 The league was suspended for the First World War between 1914 and 1918 but continued to play through the Second World War and the League now comprising 10 clubs Aston Unity Dudley Kidderminster Mitchells and Butlers Moseley Old Hill Smethwick Stourbridge Walsall West Bromwich Dartmouth stayed the same until 1975 In 1975 the league expanded again as Warwickshire and Worcestershire decided the strength of the league could be utilised Warwickshire entered a 1st and 2nd XI basically a 1st 2nd team side and a 2nd colts side whilst Worcestershire only entered a 1st XI and Duport Cricket Club A Dudley based Furniture making company club played their 2nd XI fixtures Whilst Warwickshire established themselves in the competition and won it on a few occasions Worcestershire struggled and two years later Duport took on their 1st XI fixtures too as they were forced to pull out of the league Duport also struggled with the on field standards and when support from the company s Social Club was reduced they too were forced to pull out of the competition and were replaced by another Worcester based side in 1982 Worcester City Many other changes took place in the league throughout the 1980s and 1990s and they are summarised below Year Outgoing Club Reason Incoming Club1977 Worcestershire Struggled to field sides due to small County staff Duport1982 Duport Works Social Club decreased funding and club struggled with the standard of cricket Worcester City1985 Dudley Ground caved in and club was forced to fold Coventry and North Warwicks1990 Warwickshire Struggled to commit to League cricket with increased County 2nd XI programme Wolverhampton1992 Worcester City Club folded Stratford1995 Mitchells and Butlers Brewery decided to sell off ground so club folded Barnt GreenIn 1998 the Birmingham League included Promotion amp relegation for the first time The 12 teams of the Birmingham League formed the Premier Division The 2 other big leagues Midlands Combined Counties League amp Midlands Club Cricket League formed the lower divisions Teams increased over time to 48 4 1st XI divisions of 12 clubs Premier Division 1 Division 2 and Division 3 with accompanying 2nd XI divisions Premier Division 1 Division 2 West and Division 2 East In 2017 under pressure from the ECB the league s clubs voted to cut the league down to 2 divisions of 12 by 2019 and disband the 2nd XI competition ECB Premier League EditSince being designated an ECB Premier League in 1998 the first Premier Cricket League in the Country several changes have occurred in the league s structure Initially the 12 clubs in the old Birmingham League made up the Premier Division and a First Division Second Division East and Second Division West were made up from clubs in the old Midlands Combined Counties League the Worcestershire League the Warwickshire League and the Staffs League The Second Division East and Second Division West were later replaced by a Second Division and a Third Division Only one club was promoted in the first year of the new structure which was Cannock while Aston Unity a founder member of the league were the first club to be relegated Since 1999 two clubs have been relegated and two promoted each season Following the 2018 season the Second and Third divisions were abolished along with all four 2nd XI divisions and the league was reduced to two divisions The relegated 1st and 2nd XIs now compete in the four West Midland county feeder leagues The winners of the four feeder leagues now enter a round robin playoff at the end of each season with the top two teams being promoted replacing the two relegated sides from Premier Division Two and the bottom two going back to their feeder leagues The 2020 competition was cancelled because of the COVID 19 pandemic A replacement competition was arranged for the later part of the season when cricket again became possible but with its winners not to be regarded as official league champions Clubs for 2022 EditFor the 2022 season the clubs in Premier Division One are Barnt Green Berkswell Halesowen Kenilworth Wardens Kidderminster Knowle amp Dorridge Leamington Spa Moseley Ombersley Shifnal Shrewsbury Smethwick The clubs in Premier Division Two are Barnards Green Bridgnorth Bromsgrove Dorridge Harborne Himley Lichfield Walsall Wem West Bromwich Dartmouth Wolverhampton Worfield Across the two divisions the league currently includes 7 Warwickshire clubs Berkswell Dorridge Harborne Kenilworth Wardens Knowle amp Dorridge Leamington Spa Moseley 6 Staffordshire clubs Himley Lichfield Smethwick Walsall West Bromwich Dartmouth Wolverhampton 6 Worcestershire clubs Barnards Green Barnt Green Bromsgrove Halesowen Kidderminster Ombersley 5 Shropshire clubs Bridgnorth Shifnal Shrewsbury Wem Worfield Winners EditYear Champions1889 Aston Unity1890 Moseley and West Bromwich Dartmouth 1891 Moseley1892 Handsworth Wood1893 Walsall1894 Aston Unity1895 Moseley1896 Walsall and Aston Unity 1897 Handsworth Wood1898 Dudley1899 Kidderminster1900 Aston Unity1901 Kidderminster1902 Handsworth Wood1903 Handsworth Wood1904 Moseley1905 Dudley and Handsworth Wood 1906 Dudley1907 Moseley1908 Moseley Year Champions1909 Moseley and Mitchells and Butlers 1910 Aston Unity and Dudley 1911 Mitchells and Butlers1912 Walsall1913 Dudley1914 Mitchells and Butlers1915 League suspended1916 League suspended1917 League suspended1918 League suspended1919 Stourbridge1920 Moseley1921 Old Hill1922 Walsall1923 Moseley1924 Kidderminster1925 Mitchells and Butlers1926 Mitchells and Butlers1927 Aston Unity1928 Mitchells and Butlers Year Champions1929 Kidderminster1930 West Bromwich Dartmouth1931 Mitchells and Butlers1932 West Bromwich Dartmouth1933 West Bromwich Dartmouth and Walsall 1934 West Bromwich Dartmouth1935 Walsall1936 Walsall1937 Walsall1938 Moseley1939 Aston Unity and Mitchells and Butlers1940 Old Hill1941 West Bromwich Dartmouth1942 West Bromwich Dartmouth1943 West Bromwich Dartmouth1944 West Bromwich Dartmouth1945 West Bromwich Dartmouth1946 Kidderminster1947 Mitchells and Butlers1948 West Bromwich Dartmouth Year Champions1949 Aston Unity1950 Kidderminster1951 Smethwick1952 Dudley1953 West Bromwich Dartmouth1954 Mitchells and Butlers1955 West Bromwich Dartmouth1956 Moseley1957 Dudley1958 West Bromwich Dartmouth1959 Moseley1960 Old Hill1961 Moseley1962 Kidderminster1963 Moseley1964 Moseley1965 West Bromwich Dartmouth1966 Kidderminster and Walsall 1967 Moseley1968 Smethwick Year Champions1969 Moseley1970 Moseley1971 West Bromwich Dartmouth1972 Walsall1973 Kidderminster and Moseley1974 West Bromwich Dartmouth1975 Kidderminster1976 Walsall1977 Aston Unity1978 Warwickshire1979 Warwickshire1980 Walsall1981 Dudley1982 Walsall1983 Old Hill1984 Moseley1985 Moseley1986 Walsall1987 Stourbridge1988 Warwickshire Year Champions1989 Stourbridge1990 Wolverhampton1991 Coventry and North Warwickshire1992 Walsall1993 West Bromwich Dartmouth1994 Walsall1995 Barnt Green1996 Walsall1997 Barnt Green1998 Wolverhampton1999 Walsall2000 Cannock2001 Stratford upon Avon2002 Halesowen2003 Wellington2004 Wellington2005 Barnt Green2006 Walsall2007 Walsall2008 Walsall Year Champions2009 Knowle and Dorridge2010 Shrewsbury2011 Barnt Green2012 Walsall2013 Shrewsbury2014 West Bromwich Dartmouth2015 Shrewsbury2016 Berkswell2017 Knowle and Dorridge2018 Berkswell2019 Berkswell2020 League suspended2021 Berkswell2022 Smethwick denotes a shared title Championships won Edit Clubs still in the LeagueWins Club18 Moseley a Walsall b 17 West Bromwich Dartmouth c 8 Kidderminster d 4 Barnt Green4 Berkswell3 Shrewsbury3 Smethwick2 Knowle amp Dorridge2 Wolverhampton1 Halesowen Clubs no longer in the LeagueWins Club8 Mitchells amp Butlers e 6 Aston Unity f Dudley g 4 Handsworth Wood h Old Hill3 StourbridgeWarwickshire2 Wellington1 CannockCoventry amp North WarwickshireStratford upon Avon Moseley have had 3 shared titles Walsall have had 3 shared titles West Bromwich Dartmouth have had 2 shared titles Kidderminster have had 2 shared titles Mitchells amp Butlers have had 2 shared titles Aston Unity have had 3 shared titles Dudley have had 2 shared titles Handsworth Wood have had 1 shared title Performance by season from 1998 EditKeyGold ChampionsRed RelegatedBlue Left LeaguePerformance by season from 1998 Club 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Aston Unity 12 9 12Barnt Green 4 7 7 5 2 2 1 9 7 4 8 4 1 8 8 2 8 8 5 8 3 5 2Berkswell 4 6 3 2 1 3 1 1 1 5Brockhampton 7 2 7 11 12Bromsgrove 12Cannock 1 8 4 9 12Coventry amp North Warwicks 8 6 10 10 10 7 7 8 12Dorridge 6 12 7 9 11Halesowen 4 2 1 4 8 11 8Harborne 11Himley 2 8 4 2 4 3 2 5 6 3 2 4 12Kenilworth Wardens 5 3 9 9 4 11 9 9 5 9 10 12 4Kidderminster a 10 8 12 10 5 7 7 3 9 5 5 8 4 2 11 7 3 10Knowle and Dorridge 4 7 3 3 6 7 2 3 1 2 5 10 3 5 3 4 1 2 5 4 7Leamington 12 10 11 8 11 12 2 12Moseley 5 3 7 5 10 5 10 8 10 9 11 6 8 8 3Old Hill 9 5 3 6 6 6 3 11Ombersley 6 6 4 11 10 6Shifnal 4 12 4 7 11Shrewsbury 12 12 6 1 4 6 1 4 1 3 2 5 2 6 9Smethwick 11 12 8 12 4 9 9 1Stourbridge 7 Stratford upon Avon 6 2 1 11Walmley 8 6 3 12 10 10 7 11Walsall 2 1 3 5 8 5 10 8 1 1 1 9 10 7 1 7 11 10 10 7 6 11Water Orton 11Wellington 1 1 9 6 11 5 2 12West Bromwich Dartmouth 3 9 11 9 4 2 6 11 10 9 9 1 5 9 6 3 10 12Wolverhampton 1 10 6 9 11 5 2 7 6 3 11 10 7 8 12Wombourne 12References 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 b 24 25 Kidderminster were called Kidderminster Victoria until 2015 Coronavirus pandemic forced a reduction in league activity 1000 runs in a season EditAlthough there have been many notable feats throughout the league s history one of the most difficult achievements for a batsman is to score over 1000 runs in a club league season Only fourteen players have ever managed it in the top division of the Birmingham League one of them twice Player Club Year RunsAlan Townsend Mitchells and Butlers 1961 1106Alan Townsend Mitchells and Butlers 1970 1008Colin Price Aston Unity 1975 1093Graham Yallop Walsall 1975 1152Doug Slade West Bromwich Dartmouth 1978 1407Graeme Hick Kidderminster 1984 1234Ian Stokes Moseley 1984 1236Steven Dean Walsall 1993 1166Jonathan Wright Old Hill 1993 1006Andy Flower West Bromwich Dartmouth 1995 1018Grant Flower Barnt Green 1995 1024Deon Jordaan Wolverhampton 1996 1072Kadeer Ali West Bromwich Dartmouth 2015 1079Alex Keath Knowle and Dorridge 2015 1036George Worker Knowle and Dorridge 2017 1569National Knockout EditThe Birmingham and District Cricket League s strength as a competition has been proven throughout the years by the presence of its clubs in the latter stages of the ECB National Club Cricket Championship a cup Competition for all Clubs in the UK Here are a list of clubs in the league structure who have won or been runners up in the competition Club Year Opponents Winners Runners upWolverhampton 1973 The Mote Kent WinnersMoseley 1980 Gosport Borough Hampshire WinnersShrewsbury 1983 Hastings and St Leonards Priory Sussex WinnersOld Hill 1984 Bishop s Stortford Hertfordshire WinnersOld Hill 1985 Reading Berkshire WinnersStourbridge 1986 Weston super Mare Somerset WinnersOld Hill 1987 Teddington Middlesex WinnersWolverhampton 1988 Enfield Middlesex Runners upOld Hill 1989 Teddington Middlesex Runners up replay Walsall 1991 Teddington Middlesex Runners upOld Hill 1993 West Bromwich Dartmouth Staffordshire WinnersWest Bromwich Dartmouth 1993 Old Hill Staffordshire Runners upWalsall 1996 Chorley Lancashire and WinnersWolverhampton 1999 Teddington Middlesex WinnersBarnt Green 2002 Saffron Walden Essex Runners upBarnt Green 2005 Horsham Sussex Runners upShrewsbury 2011 Cambridge Granta Cambridgeshire WinnersFamous players and B amp DPCL Club s represented EditMany well known international players have played in the Birmingham League over the years England Players Edit Tom Banton Barnt Green Kabir Ali Smethwick West Bromwich Dartmouth C amp R Hawks Moeen Ali Smethwick West Bromwich Dartmouth Wolverhampton Dennis Amiss Ted Arnold Sydney Barnes Charles Barnett Ian Bell Coventry amp North Warwickshire Knowle amp Dorridge Joey Benjamin Mitchells amp Butlers David Brown Usman Afzaal Dougie Brown Barnt Green Freddie Calthorpe Nobby Clark West Bromwich Dartmouth Geoff Cook Nick Cook West Bromwich Dartmouth Tim Curtis Kidderminster West Bromwich Dartmouth Steve Davies Himley Kidderminster Phil DeFreitas Aston Manor Basil D Oliveira Kidderminster Tom Dollery Jack Flavell Stourbridge Walsall Frank Foster Reginald Tip Foster Stourbridge Alfred Tich Freeman Bruce French Jason Gallian Wolverhampton Norman Gifford Dudley Tom Goddard Alf Gover West Bromwich Dartmouth Tom Graveney Dudley Dean Headley Old Hill Eddie Hemmings Graeme Hick Kidderminster Robin Hobbs Duport Eric Hollies Old Hill West Bromwich Dartmouth Martin Horton Stourbridge Harry Howell Dick Howorth Old Hill Stourbridge Walsall Geoff Humpage Moseley Ashfield Kenneth Hutchings Richard Illingworth Barnt Green Old Elizabethans Worcester City John Jameson Roly Jenkins West Bromwich Dartmouth Arthur Jones Don Kenyon Stourbridge Sep Kinneir David Larter Wayne Larkins Leamington Dick Lilley Andy Lloyd Jim McConnon Tim Munton Phil Newport Kidderminster Victoria Morris Nichols Alan Oakman George Paine Charles Palmer Old Hill Reg Perks Dudley Kidderminster West Bromwich Dartmouth Kevin Pietersen Cannock Dick Pollard Willie Quaife Neal Radford Evesham Stratford upon Avon Steve Rhodes Dick Richardson Old Hill Stourbridge Peter Richardson Stourbridge Fred Root Dudley Fred Rumsey Kidderminster Frank Smailes Gladstone Small Knowle amp Dorridge Mike Smith Neil Smith Leamington Peter Smith West Bromwich Dartmouth Vikram Solanki Wolverhampton David Steele West Bromwich Dartmouth Olly Stone Barnt Green Maurice Tate Roy Tattersall Kidderminster James Taylor Kidderminster Victoria Shrewsbury Les Taylor West Bromwich Dartmouth Jonathan Trott Harborne Jim Troughton Stratford upon Avon Abe Waddington West Bromwich Dartmouth Arthur Wellard David Butch White Bob Willis Chris Woakes Walmley Bob Wyatt Moseley Overseas players Edit ICC Full Member Nations Edit Australia Greg Matthews Old Hill Tom Moody Simon O Donnell Chris Rogers Wellington Steve Waugh Smethwick Graham Yallop WalsallSouth Africa Peter Carlstein Old Hill Allan Donald Knowle amp Dorridge Clive Eksteen JP Fellows Smith West Bromwich Dartmouth Anthonie Ferreira Unofficial Claude Henderson Ryan McLaren Knowle amp Dorridge Brian McMillan Senuran Muthusamy Brockhampton Hugh Page Unofficial Sid Pegler Roy Pienaar Kidderminster Dewald Pretorius Moseley Mike Rindel Smethwick West Bromwich Dartmouth Herbie Taylor Thami Tsolekile Coventry amp North WarwickshireWest Indies Fabian Allen Worcester Carlos Brathwaite Knowle amp Dorridge Colin Croft Shane Dowrich Leamington Spa George Headley Ron Headley Dudley Old Hill Stourbridge Vanburn Holder West Bromwich Dartmouth Alvin Kallicharan Collis King Frank King West Bromwich Dartmouth Lincoln Roberts Himley Alfred Scott West Bromwich Dartmouth Phil Simmons Wellington Dwayne Smith Kington Jerome Taylor Barnards Green Alf ValentineNew Zealand Ian Butler Harborne Stewie Dempster Martin Donnelly Jamie How Walsall Warren Lees Bill Merritt Jimmy Neesham West Bromwich Dartmouth Michael Papps Walsall John Parker Kidderminster Dipak Patel Dudley West Bromwich Dartmouth Barry Sinclair Don Taylor West Bromwich Dartmouth Glenn Turner Stourbridge Roger Twose West Bromwich Dartmouth George Worker Knowle amp DorridgeIndia Sairaj Bahutule Wolverhampton Shiv Sunder Das Harborne Dilip Doshi Walsall Wasim Jaffer Himley Amar SinghPakistan Abid Ali West Bromwich Dartmouth Azhar Mahmood Smethwick Imran Khan Stourbridge Mohammad Akram Smethwick Mohammad Yousuf Smethwick Evesham Mushtaq Mohammad Old Hill Saqlain Mushtaq Evesham Sadiq Mohammad Shahid Saeed Evesham Shoaib Akhtar Berkswell Wasim Akram Smethwick Aston UnitySri Lanka Dinusha Fernando Brockhampton Somachandra de Silva West Bromwich Dartmouth Champaka Ramanayake West Bromwich Dartmouth Malinda Warnapura HalesowenZimbabwe Tendai Chisoro Fordhouses Dion Ebrahim West Bromwich Dartmouth Andy Flower West Bromwich Dartmouth Grant Flower Barnt Green Travis Friend Knowle amp Dorridge Trevor Garwe Wellington David Houghton West Bromwich Dartmouth Dougie Marillier Bedworth Kenilworth Wardens Gus Mackay Barnt Green West Bromwich Dartmouth Mpumelelo Pommie Mbangwa Coventry amp North Warwickshire Waddington Mwayenga Worcester Edward Rainsford Berkswell Paul Strang Barnt Green Tatenda Taibu Worcester Mark Vermeulen Fordhouses Dirk Viljoen Barnt GreenBangladesh Enamul Haque Jr WolverhamptonIreland amp England Boyd Rankin MoseleyICC Associate Nations Edit Namibia Jan Berry Burger Knowle and Dorridge Gerrie Snyman Tamworth Walsall Christi Viljeon Aston ManorNetherlands Ben Cooper Stratford upon Avon Tim Gruijters WalmleyScotland Navdeep Poonia Old Hill West Bromwich Dartmouth Calum MacLeod WalmleyExternal links EditOfficial website play cricket websiteReferences Edit Davis Alex E 1988 First in the field the history of the world s first cricket league the Birmingham and District Cricket League formed 1888 Brewin Books ISBN 0 947731 34 2 Birmingham and District Cricket League 1999 Handbook Club Cricket Yearbook 2006 Club Cricket Yearbook 2006 Club Cricket Yearbook 2006 Premier Division 2003 Table Premier Division 2004 Table Premier Division 2005 Table Premier Division 2006 Table Premier Division 2007 Table Premier Division 2008 Table Premier Division 2009 Table Premier Division 2010 Table Premier Division 2011 Table Premier Division 2012 Table Premier Division 2013 Table Premier Division 2014 Table Premier Division 2015 Table Premier Division 2016 Table Premier Division 2017 Table Premier Division 2018 Table Premier Division One 2019 Table Premier Division One 2020 Premier Division One 2021 Table Premier Division One 2022 Table Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Birmingham and District Premier League amp oldid 1134644983, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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