The first cricket club to appear in Birstall was Birstall Albert Cricket Club, named after the Prince Consort. They played six matches per year, including Feast matches against Holmfirth.
Apparently, the team played near the Black Bull in Kirkgate as early as 1854. There is a certain amount of debate as to whether this is a direct ancestor of the current club. The club had a small membership of around 30 people, and these saw fit to change their name in 1860 to Birstall Victoria – in honour of the Queen.

In 1860 Birstall Victoria moved from near the Black Bull to a site behind the National Schools, in Scott’s Field. The team remained here for 10 years (occasionally competing under the name Birstall
Cricket Club) until notice was served for a housing development to take place. Therefore, a ground move had to take place yet again.

Eventually, the Club settled at its current location around 1870.

In 1883 Birstall Victoria embarked on a brief merger with Birstall Rugby Club. However, this was short-lived and the separation
of the two establishments in 1885 signalled the official birth of the Cricket Club as an entity.

Plans for a grandstand were passed in April 1887 and around 5,000 people were reported as attending that year’s Heavy Woolen Cup semi -final loss) against Dewsbury & Savile.

Money was ploughed into ground improvements and in 1892; the pitch was leveled out using pit waste from the local industries. This off-field investment seemed to have a knock-on effect on the field of play - one of the reasons (possibly) why the Club scooped the
Heavy Woollen Cup in 1892, defeating Batley in the final.

However, as the team walked home through Batley, some disgruntled opposition supporters pelted the team and the accompanying Birstall
Band with grass sods. This didn’t dampen the celebrations, which
lasted for a full week and, as one local historian states, ‘the cup was hardly ever empty of alcohol’.

The Club initially purchased the Leeds Road ground in 1896. However, problems with mortgage payments led to an appeal from the Club to potential local benefactors. A key local personality, Dr Forsyth, responded to the plea.

Following the 1909 Heavy Woollen Cup victory over Hopton Mills, a great reception was reserved for the successful Birstall players. The Dewsbury Reporter described the journey home thus:

"The winning team, who journeyed to Birstall by wagonette, displaying the cup en route, were met at the Smithies by Birstall Old
Band, and great crowds of people gathered to welcome the players. The wagonnette journeyed up Station Road, followed by the crowd, and then on Low Lane, where there was a monster assembly."

1932 – CUP WINNERS AGAIN
This time Thornhill were defeated in the final of the Heavy Woollen Cup. Club skipper on this occasion was J.E. Thurmand –

1935 – HEAVY WOOLLEN CUP CONTROVERSY - OSSETT SAGA
The Birstall v Ossett semi-final started on the Saturday and continued on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings without completion.
Ossett failed to turn up on the Friday evening, claiming an agreement to continue on Monday had been made. Birstall refused to continue the match on the Monday, claiming Ossett had failed to complete the match on the Friday. The match was awarded to Ossett!
After this dispute, the Club left the Heavy Woollen League and spent the 1936 season in the Leeds League before re-joining the Heavy
Woollen League for the 1937 season.