Clubs > Illingworth > Illingworth Sports and Social Club
Illingworth Sports and Social Club
The Illingworth Sports Club, or Mason Green as it is usually called, has been the home of sport in North Halifax since 1936 when John Crossley, the owner of the Crossley’s Carpet and textiles giant located at Dean Clough, Halifax. Opened the club for his employees and their families. John Crossley wanted them to have an outdoor space where they could breathe cleaner air away from the pollution pumped out into the atmosphere by chimneys in the Halifax town centre. This was also to provide them with the opportunity and facilities to participate in sports.
Illingworth ARLFC had become part of the Illingworth Sports Club in 1980. When the local Council bought the estate and clubhouse in 1982 becoming the Illingworth Sports and Social Club, Illingworth ARLFC finally had their own home and the Mason Green clubhouse has been their home ever since. This development at Illingworth came after the significant work of Malcom Haliday and Andrew Irkam who were the real driving force behind the move to Mason Green. They spent hours of their own time in meetings with accountants, breweries, council and other stakeholders over several months.
Initially, the club was home to football, rugby, cricket, tennis and crown green bowling. Sadly, over the years, bowling, cricket and tennis disappeared leaving football and Rugby League as the sole sports.
The last couple of decades have some seen challenging times at the club due to reduced local authority investment and the increasing financial constraints on local families. However, the committee of former football and Rugby League players has worked continuously to ensure success and to retain the sporting facilities and opportunities.
Having their own clubhouse with changing facilities and a bar to generate revenue at pitch-side, has been a significant factor in keeping the Illingworth club moving forward.
In late summer of 2019, , after ten years of applications, the club managed to secure a grant of £89,703 from the Premier League and Sport England to enable Calderdale Council to carry out redevelopment on the exist pitches and add a new pitch on site. The new playing surfaces of both rugby and football pitches are in line with the best in the area.
Future development will see the upgrading of the clubhouse facilities as these are now in serious need of repair and improvement after years of under investment and, sadly, the numerous acts of vandalism and robberies.
Future development will see the upgrading of the clubhouse facilities as these are now in serious need of repair and improvement after years of under investment and, sadly, the numerous acts of vandalism and robberies.