It all began with a couple of chaps, one local named Dudley Ackroyd, the other a Norwegian called Mathias Zdarsky. They were the pioneers who established the original Bradford Sports club, Bradford Slalom, in 1923, with the aim of combining Christian Fellowship, Rugby, Downhill Racing & the Giant Slalom.

Progress was initially very slow as there were not many God fearing Bradfordians who could afford both rugby boots & skis, & those that could, did not know how to strap on their skis & tie up their bootlaces, with many only managing one of each & therefore running round in circles whilst waiting for some snow.

The local Congregational Church was run by Dudley’s brother Verney with one of the first immigrants to Bradford and an early convert, Danish Wasir, although he was initially thought to be a Norwegian & would understand, both the language & the rules. This notion was very speedily disabused & Danish returned to his mother church. He then joined forces with the Ackroyds & they all became millionaires in the textile industry.

Originally members of the club participated in sporting activities other than rugby & slalom including cricket, football, tennis, crown green bowling, off piste fencing, & water polo. Salem Athletic Cricket Club still play on the old ground at Leylands Lane but the Salem Soccer Club sadly folded in the early 80's following a crucial shortage of local hairdresser & lacks of drama schools.
Eventually sanity prevailed and in September 1924 the first downhill ski race & slalom was arranged & cancelled until December 1925, due to lack of snow. A course using shoddy was attempted, but was found to be unsuitable, as the skiers pipes kept igniting the stuff & burning down the new pavilion

Although it was quite hard initially to attract players to a 'church' side, who believed that skiing & apres-ski were the Devils work, and that rugby was a toff’s game, played by public schoolboys. It took some time to convince the locals that this was just the England team & a side was formed
Over the next few months there was nowhere to change for home games as the third new pavilion wasn't ready. Fortunately, a local farmer offered Slalom the use of his cowshed! 6in nails were hammered into large beams for clothes hooks and a large tub used as a bath. The water was boiled in a pig swill container and after the visiting team had washed it was Salem's turn! The players would then catch a tram into Bradford for pie and mushy peas at Pie Toms. Although the tram conductors initially refused to allow the skis on board.

With such a dreadful dichotomy of “Skis or Peas “causing much soul searching, a vote was taken as to whether the Slalom course could survive & a vote was taking which decided that Rugby & Slalom were, in fact, pretty strange bedfellows & the skiing side of the club was abandoned.
With the production of the first club programme, the name also changed due to a printing error.

Please enjoy your afternoon