Memories
Springwood bowler Adrian Frain made the great suggestion of compiling a Huddersfield Hall of Fame which local bowlers could be inducted into based on their track records, personality and achievements. Adrian went on to make the first nomination to be added and produced the evidence to support his nomination of Gene Bardon and he provides a comprehensive case for inclusion below.
There is likely to be little opposition to this nomination but who else do you think deserves to be added? I spent an enjoyable hour tossing around possible names of local bowlers and discussing their credentials with a trio of 80+ bowlers at my bowling club and a number of names were suggested and either added or discarded. The premise being that bowlers still playing could not be considered until they had stopped bowling but that didn't stop some of those names being bandied around of potential later additions.
The names that did receive support for immediate inclusion extended from Gene Bardon to David Jenkins (until he got barred for playing in a Sunday competition), Tony Young, Paul Sigsworth, Vic Sugden, Brian Armitage (not only because he had a car!) and Philip Carter who retired from bowling when still in his 20's.
You may or may not agree with some or all of these and maybe reading these names has prompted you to recall other potential additions that deserve consideration. Let us know who else deserves further recognition just by sending us their names or you can make a full-blown nomination as Adrian has done below in supporting the case for Gene Bardon to be inducted to the Huddersfield Hall of Fame.
Huddersfield Hall of Fame 1st Nomination
GENE BARDON
Newsome BC, Almondbury Con BC and Yorkshire County team
Nominated by Adrian Frain
Gene Bardon was originally from Spen Valley but based in Huddersfield for many years, he was at the summit of Yorkshire bowling for three decades. He played for Newsome WMC and Almondbury Con and was the first player to make 100 appearances for Yorkshire going on to play 109 in all and scoring 70 victories after making his debut at Thrum Hall Halifax in 1965.
He wasn't just one of the best bowlers we've ever had in Huddersfield and Yorkshire, he was one of the best best bowlers full stop! Said former Examiner bowling correspondent Peter Muff. Bardon was a triple Yorkshire Merit winner taking the title in 1975, 1987 both while at Newsome and in 1992 when at Almondbury Cons. He always rated the first of those succeses when he beat Bob Wilby of Wath Athletic at Dodworth Welfare as his best moment in the game. He was also runner up in the Yorkshire Merit final in 1968 at Spen Victoria and qualified for the finals day on 13 occasions in all. Bardon was bred for crown green bowling playing in the Boy's Merit when he was only 10. His father Harry Bardon was a County man and won the News of the World handicap against a young Jack Horsfield in 1957.
Bardon junior went round as a lad marking his father's card and gained a comprehensive education from people like Tommy Martin and Fred Ingham both Yorkshire Merit winners, Hartley Brook and Joe Crowther at Spen Victoria.
Bardon put that knowledge to impressive use. He lived in Honley when he played for Newsome - leaving for a time to live in Lancashire before returning to run the Thurstonland post office. Among other major credits were the BBC2 Top Crown Masters as pictured with that trophy and in conjunction with Roy Nicholson BBC2 Crown Pairs at the Waterloo Blackpool.
Yorkshire supporters used to say at the time that Bardon was bringing so much back from Blackpool the Lancastrians ought chain him to the Tower promenade!! He also won the Bass Olympia and the local grand slam Huddersfield Merit, Huddersfield Champions of Champions and Colne Valley Merit.
Add to those the Mirfield Merit the Spen Valley Merit when only 17 years old the West Riding Merit the Gambart Baines at Scarborough when only 19 and the Jack Pearson spectacular at Meltham when he beat Brian Duncan in the final it's easy to realise why he is so revered. They were many other titles as well and when one highly knowledgeable player was asked to nominate the three best players in Yorkshire his answer was quick clear and concise - Bardon Bardon and Bardon!! Bardon retired from the county competition with Yorkshire after they won the Championship; in 1993 and two years later he was installed as president of the Yorkshire Crown Green Bowling. Association. He held that position for two years before retiring from working and moving to live in Rutland to be near his family. Gene died aged 71 on 18th June 2013 a True Crown Green Bowling Great!
Nominated by Adrian Frain (Springwood BC)
If you would like to nominate any Huddersfield bowler to add to our Hall of Fame then please feel free to do so using the form below. You need to back up that nomination with the reasons why you believe that they deserve such an accolade. Or maybe you would like to support any of the names listed higher up on this page for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you and learning who you think deserves to be included in this exclusive Hall of Fame.
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