Bolton Cricket League
The Bolton Cricket League is a cricket league comprising fifteen teams in and around Bolton, Greater Manchester in North West England. The league runs competitions at First Team, Second Team, Under 18, Under 15, Under 13 and Under 11 levels. It expanded after the 2015 season, with nine clubs joining from in and around the area. However, the league lost two established clubs in the process, due to the formation of the Greater Manchester Cricket League in 2016.
In October 2022, the Bolton Cricket League and the Ribblesdale Cricket League merged to create the North West Cricket League. Bolton League Club, Little Lever CC, were 'Senior Premiership' champions in the inaugural season, 2023.
History
The league was established in 1930 after breaking away from the Bolton Cricket Association. The League Heahquarters is based at Barley Brook Meadow, Bolton, Lancashire. The League also hold the Hamer Cup competition; a knockout cup competition for first teams in the Bolton Cricket League. The most successful team to date is both Walkden and Farnworth who became league champions for the fourteenth time in 2019 and 2017 respectively.
Champions
| Year | Club |
| 1930 | Farnworth |
| 1931 | |
| 1932 | Tonge |
| 1933 | Heaton |
| 1934 | Farnworth |
| 1935 | |
| 1936 | Bradshaw |
| 1937 | Farnworth |
| 1938 | Eagley |
| 1939 | Tonge |
| 1940 | Westhoughton |
| 1941 | Westhoughton |
| 1942 | Westhoughton |
| 1943 | Eagley |
| 1944 | Eagley |
| 1945 | Bradshaw |
| 1946 | Little Lever |
| 1947 | Farnworth |
| 1948 | Walkden |
| 1949 | Farnworth |
| Year | Club |
| 1950 | Walkden |
| 1951 | Walkden |
| 1952 | Walkden |
| 1953 | Horwich |
| 1954 | Bradshaw |
| 1955 | Horwich |
| 1956 | Westhoughton |
| 1957 | Little Lever |
| 1958 | Heaton |
| 1959 | Farnworth |
| 1960 | Farnworth |
| 1961 | Walkden |
| 1962 | Walkden |
| 1963 | Bradshaw |
| 1964 | Farnworth |
| 1965 | Farnworth |
| 1966 | Little Lever |
| 1967 | Tonge |
| 1968 | Tonge |
| 1969 | Tonge |
| Year | Club |
| 1970 | Astley Bridge |
| 1971 | Westhoughton |
| 1972 | Little Lever |
| 1973 | Tonge |
| 1974 | Kearsley |
| 1975 | Kearsley |
| 1976 | Bradshaw |
| 1977 | Bradshaw |
| 1978 | Horwich |
| 1979 | Kearsley |
| 1980 | Westhoughton |
| 1981 | Little Lever |
| 1982 | Kearsley |
| 1983 | Horwich |
| 1984 | Farnworth |
| 1985 | Farnworth Social Circle |
| 1986 | Kearsley |
| 1987 | Farnworth Social Circle |
| 1988 | Greenmount |
| 1989 | Walkden |
| Year | Club |
| 1990 | Kearsley |
| 1991 | Farnworth Social Circle |
| 1992 | Bradshaw |
| 1993 | Kearsley |
| 1994 | Farnworth Social Circle |
| 1995 | Little Lever |
| 1996 | Tonge |
| 1997 | Tonge |
| 1998 | Tonge |
| 1999 | Tonge |
| 2000 | Kearsley |
| 2001 | Walkden |
| 2002 | Tonge |
| 2003 | Walkden |
| 2004 | Westhoughton |
| 2005 | Farnworth |
| 2006 | Walkden |
| 2007 | Walkden |
| 2008 | Walkden |
| 2009 | Farnworth Social Circle |
| Year | Club |
| 2010 | Farnworth |
| 2011 | Greenmount |
| 2012 | Farnworth |
| 2013 | Little Lever |
| 2014 | Farnworth Social Circle |
| 2015 | Egerton |
| 2016 | Farnworth Social Circle |
| 2017 | Farnworth |
| 2018 | Walkden |
| 2019 | Walkden |
| 2020 | League suspended |
| 2021 | Horwich RMI |
Notable players
A number of quality cricketers have played in the Bolton Cricket League including: