JEFF MOOR

Oakworth CC First XI 1976-1990

In the mid-1970s Oakworth's vaunted four-man bowling attack of Richard Harris, Jeff Hobson, David Greenwood and Dennis Bottomley was breaking up and new resource was required. One of the last places Oakworth might turn was perhaps Haworth Methodists, long term rivals, but that's whence one of Oaks greatest bowlers came forth. Jeff Moor was 29 and arguably at the peak of his career, which began some years earlier at Steeton.

Jeff made his Oakworth debut in the first match of 1976 on 24th April against guess who? - Haworth Methodists. He returned amodest 2-23 against his old team-mates. By 12th June he had his first Oaks five-for, 6-19 at Morton and his wicket-taking career was well and truly under-way.

Perhaps his proudest moment came in 1977 as a key member of the first Oakworth team to win a Cup competition. Our opposition came from Ingrow, who won the toss and asked us to bat. Openers Colin Greenwood and Barry Sayer put on 117 runs for the first wicket before Greenwood was out for 51 at 6.30pm. The match was affected by interruptions for rain and Barry was fourth out for a magnificent 88 at 7.15 pm. A late flurry of 31 in 27 minutes by Jeff Inman helped Oakworth to a total of 213 for 8 . Jeff Moor and Dennis Bottomley contained Ingrow beautifully with Moor having only 19 runs off his first 10 overs. Ingrow were all out the following day for 97 with Moor finishing with a fantastic 7 for 38 in 20.1 overs.

And so after 62 years the First XI had some more silverware with the Keighley Charity Cup was in pride of place in the Oakworth clubhouse.
Jeff Moor - All Matches for Oakworth
  years appeared inns no runs 4s 6s high balls runs wkts
First XI 1976-1990 248 151 38 1357 109 49 39 19206 8352 714
Second XI 1989-1989 1             36 19 2
Third XI                      
League career   249 151 38 1357 109 49 39 19242 8371 716
Wynn Cup 1979-1990 24 16 5 195 17 7 65 1769 684 57
Keighley Cup 1977-1990 28 20 9 223 19 4 50      
Cowling Cup                      
Club career 1976-1990 301 187 52 1775 145 60 65 21011 9055 773
OPPONENTS debut bow appearances balls runs wickets
Thornton-in-Craven 03/05/1980 01/09/1990 17 1529 698 53
Long Lee 07/08/1976 15/09/1990 19 1559 747 46
Haworth Methodists 24/04/1976 23/04/1988 13 1109 430 45
Foulridge 02/05/1981 09/09/1989 14 1191 464 45
Barrowford 18/08/1979 30/04/1988 10 822 311 37
Embsay 19/06/1982 18/08/1990 13 961 471 32
Haworth West End 01/05/1976 25/07/1981 9 746 322 32
Riddlesden 14/08/1976 11/06/1988 11 959 401 32
Upper Wharfedale 17/05/1980 19/05/1990 12 1078 583 31
Morton 12/06/1976 19/08/1978 5 350 123 28
Glusburn 10/05/1980 27/08/1983 5 431 151 27
Cowling 19/04/1980 08/07/1989 14 1180 601 27
Pendle Forest 26/04/1980 12/05/1990 9 751 332 26
Morton Banks 19/06/1976 26/08/1978 6 495 128 26
Airedale 28/06/1980 26/05/1990 8 602 243 25
Bradley 08/05/1982 16/09/1989 8 539 227 24
Cononley 24/05/1980 28/04/1990 10 762 436 20
Ingrow 08/05/1976 15/07/1978 5 489 211 19
Gargrave 13/05/1978 08/09/1990 10 675 283 19
Skipton CI 11/08/1979 14/05/1988 6 468 174 18
Eldwick & Gilstead 22/05/1976 29/07/1978 5 442 134 18
J Nelsons 16/05/1981 16/08/1986 6 385 162 18
Ingrow St Johns 26/06/1976 24/06/1978 5 398 170 16
Keighley TC 28/04/1979 29/08/1981 3 240 66 15
Sutton 06/09/1980 21/04/1990 3 278 114 13
Skipton BR 04/08/1979 05/07/1980 2 168 85 11
Harden 21/05/1977 12/08/1978 4 344 171 10
Cross Roads 24/07/1976 13/08/1977 2 108 46 3
Carleton 19/05/1979 11/07/1981 3 216 84 3

One year on his first 8-for came along an amazing 8 for 4 against Morton Banks at Cure Hill. 1978 brought 8-11 vs Eldwick & Gilstead. In 1979 Oakworth entered the Second Division of the Craven & District League and Jeff Moor led the attack with aplomb and by season's end he had bamboozled many of the Division's batsmen such that his eight five-fors eclipsed the club record of the J Hey 7 which had stood since 1904 (equalled by Richard Harris in 1967 & 1968).

Sadly now defunct Keighley Tech CC had reason to fear Jeff Moor for his 1981 8-for against them came at the cost of just 2 runs. It is the most deadly bowling ever witnessed from an Oakworth bowler.

Any record, which stands for 78 years, is truly a great record. To break it is a monumental feat and Jeff Moor did that once again in 1982. The Hey-Stobbs joint bowling record of 69 wickets in a season had withstood many attacks from all Oakworth's leading bowlers. But it fell to Jeff to do just that in the Oakworth second season in the First Division of the Craven & District League. Including 8-30 vs Glusburn, the tally of 73 wickets from 295 overs is one of Jeff's many achievements for Oakworth.

In 1984 Oakworth's Cup run facilitated Jeff taking 93 wickets, then a club record in another dominant season.

714 First Division wickets in 15 years testify his ability to roll over teams at a strike rate of one every 4 and a-half overs. His economy rate (45) didn't suffer either as his deadly in swing kept most batsmen in awe of his talent. 56 league (plus 13 in Cup matches) five-wicket hauls were streets ahead of all his rivals and all at a career average of 12 runs each.

Jeff's career includes a hat trick in 1980 v Gargrave and a 9-timer in 1983 v Pendle Forest.  Finally Jeff is one of only two Oakworth non-wicket keepers to have taken four catches in a match (23rd August 1986 v Bradley). Like Wilfrid and Barry he has two Cup Winners medals to add to his League bowling prize of 1979. Jeff is pictured above, 2nd from the right in the back row, as a member of the highly successful 1981 Division Two Championship winners. He is also in the picture above left, 3rd from the left back row, as a member of the 1984 Keighley Cup winning Oakworth team.