Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

I have an old cricket bat that has been in our family for probably 60 or 70 years minimum. It came from a relative who came here to the United States somewhere around the 1920's or 30's possibly. I don't know if they brought the bat with them or not. As I get older and begin to pass things on to my son I like to give him the story behind things.

There is a logo stamped on the bat that is in a circular pattern.
Starting at 9:00 to 12:00 is "E J. RILE" (THIS PART IS HARD TO READ)
12:00 to 3:00 is "LIMITED" (VERY CLEAR)
9:00 TO 3:00 is "ACCRINGTON" (GOING ANTI-CLOCKWISE)
(VERY CLEAR)
In the middle of the circle is "MAKERS" (VERY CLEAR)

A few inches above the circle is stamped "PERFECTION"



If anyone out there can give me any information on the company that made the bat, the age, or anything related to it, I would certainly appreciate it. Thank you in advance for any information you might have.

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

There is a new shop opening next to what used to be the Accrington Observer office that is selling all sorts of cricket gear they might be able to help
not sure on the name of the shop sorry

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

This will help a little initially Earthworm, but sure there will be lots of our members that are able to give you more personal memories on this company and their cricket bats, etc :-

EJ Riley - Specialists in Cue Sports, Snooker Tables, Pool Tables, Table Tennis, Football Tables, Darts, Air Hockey

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

That's very interesting really didn't know EJs made cricket bats, they were world renowned in the Snooker industry and were based in Accy until they move to Padiham in the late 70s early 80s. They had a shop on Little Blackburn Road when I as a kid in fact I think I bought my first cricket bat there myself, was a Gunn and Moor if I remember rightly

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

More than likely they were made to order and badged with the E.J. Riley logo.
They did'nt make much themselves besides Snooker and Billiard equipment. When snookers on tele, if you look, it still says Riley's Strachen on the table.
An Accrington Pal worked at E.J.Riley's, after the war he worked at various Riley's sites then came back to Accrington as Manager.
Clarence Glover.

Retlaw.

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

Just found an invoice header for E.J. Riley in Frank Watson/Bob Dobson's book 'Accrington's Changing Face'. It shows a sketch of Willow Works (they were very busy headings then), and also a sketch of a cricket bat, which I am pretty sure is the one that Earthworm describes.

Have no scanner, but maybe not allowed to put it up, perhaps Bob will be able to do this when he next logs in ?

It also has the words in the shape of an oval twice saying 'Specially selected'.

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

A good friend of mine worked for Riley's for many years Retlaw, he was more in the promotional side of things, Eric Parke. Can remember when I was managing Pool Pro Neil Payton, Eric invited us down to their Padiham works to look at a new Pool Table they were developing and we had a tour of the factory plus lunch, we had a very good day

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

I went to Sacred Heart in the 60s and our very old school football kit had EJ Riley labels in it. My dad reckoned it was the same one he wore in the early 30s - they don't make gear like that any more!!

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

[Hi Checkout www.basnooker.co.uk ex Rileys guys they have all sorts of information.

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

:: Norman Clare THE COLLECTION - Snooker Museum

has the bat info and great photos

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

did you play in the lancs- league jaysay?

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

I started at Church from an early age played for the under 18s and thirds and an odd game in the seconds, then went to Immanuel in the Ribblesdale league played there for a few seasons before work curtailed my Saturday afternoons of leather on willow:D

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

i ask as i started at woodbank cc, then went to rammy in 83 for 5 years, then followed my mate who became the pro- at greenmount in the bolton league, then retired to early due t work commitements, i must admit the lancs league was the best ever, the standard was different class, the crowds of thousands creating the atmosphere and crack, and the social side was so much great fun, after the game...
my highlight was the worsley cup final in 1983 v east lancs- we lost but will never forget that day .. :-) you prob- remember an aussie called brendan mcardle who im sure pro-de at church, what a great guy he was !!!

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

The Lancashire league years ago was second to none Wes Hall, Charlie Griffiths, Roy Gilchrist, Everton Weeks, Clyde Walcott, Frank Worrall, Larry Constantine, Conrad Hunt, Clive Lloyd, Chester Watson,(I actually saw the only appearance made by Garfield Sobers in the LL when he sub proed, for Chester Watson at Church), then of course later on there was Bob Simpson, Alan Border, Denis Lilly, Viv Richards, Michael Holden whispering death) even Shane Warne

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

yeh missed me dad off that lot.:D

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

you have missed one great west indian legend... COLLIS KING, we played colne in the semis, that man to me was a legend and loved by anyone who met him, he hit the ball very hard... a little story, whilst on 12 i dropped him down at fine leg of radders(Nei Radford) i cant repeat the language on here, to be frank i bottled it it went higher than the moon...
then it was my turn to bowl, i think it was about my 4 delivery, a big long hop, he played way to early and it bowled him, i was ecstatic and the whole team inc- radders were happy, as this great man destroyed teams in no time at all :-)

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

I actually knew Neil Radford, the South African, I used to be friendly with a landlord in Padiham (forgot the name) the guy was called Lawry, His Daughter was a nurse and had worked in SA and she came home and met up with Neil, I think they actually got married, but not sure. I also met Collis King, he did a presentation for the Pendle Pool League in around 1983 at the Fence Gate

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

they did im sure he settled in ossy for 4 years or more, i think she was called sally blonde hair and very atractive... radders great guy even tho- he loved himself

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

She was certainly Blond and very fit, but sally, Sarah or Susie maybe. I know he played for Lancs for a couple of seasons. I've remembered the landlords name it was Middleton, Lawry Middleton,sure is daughter was called Susie, she once picked me up from home and took me to a meeting at the pub and drove me home again, really nice lass

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

who was your father?

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

twas me sense of humour, he only played fer accy 1sts, 8 times 2 pre war, 6 after, had a bad time as a PoW n lost interest from what me nan told me.

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

one off this countrys hereos what a man, how can we ever forget the strength and courage off your father and fellow comrades, i tilt my cap !!!

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

your prob- right with her name, fit oh yes very.. and she would have never broke her nose if she ever fell over with her hands in her pocket... more front than blackpool prom :-)))

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

This might interest you RHFOY some of the links from it are interesting too

The Professional Cricketers' Association

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

cheers ill have a look :-)

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

i forgot id bowled callen, kevin curran was my best wicket and got 5 for on rawtenstall, one sad mistake is that it states ste ratcliffe,(pecker) bowled collis, i will double check that my wicket wasnt in the league, im sure it will bw on here.:-)

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

sorry jaysay it was in the league 6th august 1983, i felt terrible for a minute, great site you can learn so much on here,

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

You might be familiar with my younger brother Mr Foy...David Ormerod.:dflam:

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

Hi, yes ive read about him in the local press/cricket sites, to win the wisdom award proves how good he is... im very friendly with a guy called Mark aspin who also was a great player for accy,along with David/Graham lloyd, im sure you know Mark?

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

Collis used to lodge across the street from me in Nelson. We had a few early mornings in the Trop, happen as well they used to shut at 2am or we might not have been home for days.:D

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

did you play at colne or nelson? in the 80s.

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

Collis was at Nelson at the time so it was more lilely mid/late 70's from memory ( which was blurred at the best of times in those days :D ). Used to live on one of the streets above Seedhill.

I never played at that level, Burnley Under 18's was the top of my cricket ladder, Joe Fletcher was my coach at the time.

John Beaumont from Bacup was also one of my teachers in years gone by

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

Yes Collis was a great character,great guy.im sure you had many great nights with him:)

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturer?
 

The Trop was a hell of a place in its day Dave used to go down most Friday nights in the early 70s, when did it close:confused: