The club was formed as Jer Lane Congregational Church Cricket Club in 1923. It was known as this until 1969 when it assumed it’s present title of Jer Lane Cricket Club. Shortly after this the church was demolished for a development of residential property this can be seen opposite the ground gates over Jer Lane. It was for some time a pre-requisite that only members of the church could become members of the cricket team, but this rule was gradually relaxed. Jack Watkinson a founder member of the club was to be the longest serving until he died in 1985. The original ground was adjacent to where Whernside Mount and Jer Grove now stand. In 1925 moves were made by the Drake and Fieldhouse families to purchase the present ground for the sum of £800, and place it in trust to ensure that cricket would continue to be played at Jer Lane. The area where the ground is situated was originally mined for coal and bell mines are still under the field albeit having been filled in. The club was a member of the Bradford Mutual Sunday School Cricket League until 1946, when it joined the Bradford Central Cricket League. In 1972 the club suffered a severe set back when the pavilion, which was an R.A.F. guard room was burned down, along with many of the club records. A massive fund raising effort took place to build the present pavilion which has since had numerous improvements added. The club has won numerous honours in all manners of competitions in both senior and junior cricket. The club has also participated in the Yorkshire Champions Trophy on numerous occasions and reached the final in 1989. In 1985 and 1990 the club have played host to Yorkshire County Cricket Club in aid of their captains benefit years. Phil Carrick and David Bairstow brought teams along to Jer Lane including Geoffrey Boycott, Arnie Sidebottom, Kevin Sharpe, Jim Love, Peter Hartley, Darren Gough to name a few. These events were a tribute to the committee and members of the club who put in so much effort in staging such prestigious events.
