Promotion secured during the club’s landmark 150th-anniversary season means Lightcliffe’s 1st XI return to Bradford Premier League Division 1 in 2026.

The season begins with a fascinating clash away at Hanging Heaton, another side that gained promotion last year, making it an immediate test of how both clubs will adapt to the higher level.

The Villagers squad will have a familiar feel with many who secured promotion returning to Till Carr Lane but the team will be boosted by the return of Finlay Hill, someone who is a Villager through-and-through having played his junior cricket at Lightcliffe.

Another regular addition will be Monty Ramsden. The 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, a familiar face in Yorkshire colours in recent years and another product of our junior set-up, will be behind the stumps week-in, week-out.

The 2nd XI, also newly promoted, will welcome Pudsey Congs to Till Carr Lane for the first home fixture of this year’s campaign, kindly sponsored by John Brooke.

Rob Burton returns to captain the team with the familiar mix of experience with some of our brilliant young cricketers.

You'll also see a couple of new names - all-rounder, big-hitting Kiefer Hanman who has moved to Yorkshire from Worcestershire where he played at Stone CC, last year making an average of 64 with three centuries in 22 innings.

And, seam bowler Ivan Stark who joins us from Muff Field CC where he took 49 wickets in 2025, including a best performance of 5/43.

On Sunday, the 3rd XI and 4th XI begin their Halifax Sunday League campaign, both with new captains taking charge.

Gary Lewsley leads the 3rds as they welcome Sowerby Bridge while Neil Wood captains the 4ths as they travel to Sowerby Bridge Church Institute.

You can follow all the weekend’s action on the Play Cricket app and online at https://bit.ly/LCC-1819April26

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