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Evidence suggests that organised lacrosse has been
played in Cheadle since 1874.
1879
The first Cheadle Lacrosse Club was not founded until 1879
however, when meetings were held in several local hostelries,
and local farmers allowed use of their fields for a playing
area. The club played fixtures on a friendly basis against many
of the clubs such as Broughton, Stretford, Levenshulme and
Rushholme that thrived at that time in the Stockport and
Manchester areas.
1890's
By 1896 insufficient members were willing to play, but the club
name was retained by a group of gentleman who held meetings of a
purely social nature at the White Hart Hotel, in Cheadle's High
Street.
1900's
The playing side was revived in 1904, backed by the drive and
direction of Jimmy Nuttall, no doubt inspired by the 1902
touring team from Toronto.
Practices and games were held on the ground later occupied by
the `Cheadle Electric Cinema` - now a supermarket - on the
village High Street.
Later games were held at the Wilmslow Road Ground,
Brookfield.
Original Membership Card 1907-8
Note Rule 9 !
What year did Cheadle change colours to Green / Gold ?
1910's
Cheadle joined the 4th Division of the North of England Lacrosse
Association, losing their game 16-0 against Hyde, but eventually
gained promotion to the 3rd Division in the 1913-14
season.
Fixtures were suspended for the duration of the First World
War, a conflict which saw twelve members of the club lose their
lives. The North of England Competition was resumed in the
1919-20 season with Cheadle still in the 3rd Division.
1920's
The club played at several grounds in the area before
approaching Cheadle Cricket Club for the 1927-28 season. The
Cricket Club agreed. The rental was £15 and the Lacrosse
players were allowed the use of the pavilion, crockery and the
Primus stove, but had to make good all breakage's. The
groundsman was paid £1-10-0d ( £1-50 ) for his extra work, and
the lady who made the tea at home matches was paid 4 shillings
(20p) a week. Three teams were fielded during the 1928-29 season
and the following season, on 23 September 1929 won their first
Knock-Out trophy - the Cheshire County six-a-side
competition.
1930's
A
strong playing side was developing and in 1930-31 Cheadle won
the 3rd Division title and the Stockport Competition after being
runners up for three years. The Cup was displayed in the
"Electrical Showrooms". At the club meeting held at
the White Hart Hotel on 12 September 1932, it was reported that
in future the landlord intended to charge 3s 6d (17p) for the
use of his room. The landlord of the Horse and Farrier in Gatley
had promised the free use of a room, so future meetings were
held there.
On 3 April 1933, Cheadle defeated Offerton to win the Junior
Flags Competition and celebrated with their opponents at a Hot
Pot Supper later that year.
Recognise any faces from
1935?
We still have members that do !
Back Row : Frank
Smith, Len Martin, Harry Batty, Ted Read, Percy Holmes, ???,
Harry Darnell's Father
Front Row : ???, Vin Martin, Harry Darnell (Goal),
Spencer (Spenner) Smith, Jack Brookes
Anyone recognise the two we can't name ??
The 1935-36 season saw the Club reach the 1st Division
A letter of congratulations was received from Dr. F Webb
a
member of the club since 1882.
Close up of Club badge as worn in 1935
No one is too sure with the picture above, but
we can name four players -
Back Row: 1, 2, 3, Lem Martin, Vin Martin,
Percy Holmes, 7, 8, 9
Front Row: 1, 2, 3, Harry Batty
League competition was suspended
during the Second World War but club meetings were still held.
Several newsletters were produced to keep in touch with members
in the armed forces, three of whom gave their lives.
1940's
The
league programme resumed during the 1946-47 season and two years
later, having been relegated, the club returned to the 1st
Division. Despite several seasons in the lower half, the club
has been in the 1st Division to the present time.
1960's
Cheadle `A` team gained promotion to the 2nd Division and scored
a double success in the 1968-67 and 1969-70 season winning both
the Junior Flags and 2nd Division Championships. Cheadle won its
first 1st Division Championship in 1973-74, unfortunately losing
it in the following season to Urmston.
1970's
During the last few years, Cheadle has kept a tight grip on the
Championship, winning the Senior Flags and becoming English Club
Champions in the 1977-78 season. The same season saw them
scoring 373 goals and conceding only 99 in 22 league games. The
1970's saw a dramatic change in the fortunes of Cheadle Club,
brought about by a steady influx of extremely talented young
players from the local Broadway School, where the game was
encouraged by members of the teaching staff with affiliations to
the Cheadle Club.
Following the introduction of `10 - a - side` rules into English
Lacrosse in 1972, Cheadle won the North of England Championship
in the 1973-74 season, the first major honour in the Club's 95
year history.
League Division
1 Champions 1974
Over the following 16 years, Cheadle won the North of England
Championship on no fewer than eleven occasions, and in the
process broke the Mellor Club's seemingly unbeatable record of
six consecutive titles established in the 1960's, by winning the
Championship seven years running. Throughout this period the
Cheadle side set a standard in the English game others strived
to follow and international honours were gained by many of their
players including, Peter Condron, Steve Bevington, John Parker,
Jeff Mounkley, Paul Skarratt, Keith Flowers, David Holmes, Tony
Bartram, Dave Duxbury, Mick Murphy, Tony Battersby and Paul
Short.
In 1979, the club's centenary year, a party of 50 club members
travelled to the USA for a 14 day tour, when Cheadle, the then
English Champions, played six games breaking even.
1980's
The 1981-82 season saw Cheadle as a club attain the pinnacle of
achievement by winning the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisional
Championships. A feat unequalled by any other club in the
history of the game.
Cheadle 1st Team
1981/82 season
Cheadle Junior Team 1984/5 season
1990's
During the 1990's Cheadle have won the Premier Division, Senior
Flags and Junior Flags several times and still remain the top
English Lacrosse Club in the country. 
2000's
What a start to the new millennium..... Premier Division
Champions, Senior Flags winners, Berlin Open Winners.......
Cheadle 1st Team
1999/2000
and the Juniors did the club proud by winning
under 16's 6-a-side, Under 16's Junior School Cup, Under 16's
League winners and the Under 19's Plate.
With this sort of talent coming up through the
ranks, Cheadle Lacrosse Club should remain the top club in the
country for a long time to come.
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