SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN 



In the earlier days of the club's development 

 the management was practically in the hands 

 of Mr. T. Aucland, the hon. treasurer, and 

 Mr. F. T. Tebbutt, the hon. secretary, both 

 of whom were indefatigable in their exertions. 

 There were however great difficulties to con- 

 tend with, the chief of which was the need of 

 a central and enclosed county ground. Im- 

 portant matches were consequently played on 

 the open racecourse which was a splendid 

 natural ground, but as it was also a public 

 common, the taking of gate money was pre- 

 cluded save on very exceptional occasions. 

 Even then it was necessary at considerable 

 cost to place either canvas or boarding round 

 the playing area. 



It was on one of the occasions when the 

 ground was thus enclosed that the renowned 

 W. G. Grace paid his last visit to North- 

 ampton. He and his southern team had 

 been into town during the luncheon hour 

 to sign articles for one of the early visits to the 

 Colonies, and as a result they came on to the 

 ground a little late. When entering the gate 

 a local enthusiast brought W. G. to book, and 

 almost before the latter had time to explain, 

 struck him a severe blow in the face and 

 bolted. The result was that W. G. has never 

 since paid a visit to the county town, a greater 

 loss from a cricket point of view to the town 

 than to the great player himself. 



For many years Northamptonshire cricket 

 was confined practically to amateurs, although 

 Tom Plumb, the famous wicket-keeper (when 

 the four P's — Plumb, Pooley, Pinder, and 

 Phillips were renowned throughout England), 

 was the idol of the Northampton crowd, and 

 his contemporary, Joe Potter, who afterwards 

 played for Surrey, also had a large share in 

 gaining for Northamptonshire such little re- 

 cognition as it acquired. In those days the 

 best amateurs were perhaps Mr. J. Turner, 

 who did good service both for the M.C.C. 

 and his county ; Mr. G. J. Gulliver, who of 

 late years has assisted Beckenham, and Mr. 

 T. H. G. Welch, an indefatigable sportsman 

 whom Reigate has long claimed for its own; 

 the elder members of the Kingston family; the 

 late Rev. St. John Read, an old Oxford captain 

 and for some time head master of the Oundle 

 Grammar School ; Messrs. R. A. Beresford 

 and R. F. Winch. Mention must be made 

 also of Mr. J. Furley, a batsman of the 

 highest class, who chiefly played at Burghley 

 Park, where his century was a regular institu- 

 tion ; more than once it is locally believed 

 he was asked to represent the Gentlemen v. 

 the Players, but he seemed to fight shy of 

 important cricket, and the county only 

 obtained his services on the rarest occasions. 



Lord Burghersh, of Burghley Park repute, also 

 at this period assisted his county ; whilst Peter- 

 borough furnished Mr. Watson, a capable 

 left-hand bowler who was quite worthy of 

 first-class honours. 



Passing to the professionals of a later date 

 the county also brought to the front the 

 notable fast bowler Bowley, who afterwards 

 found a better financial harvest in the ranks of 

 Surrey, and the no less renowned Mold, who 

 was tempted to join Lancashire. It was an 

 unfortunate thing when Northamptonshire 

 obtained their two solitary trial matches with 

 the County Palatine, — they gained no credit 

 and lost their great bowler. 



Although efforts were made from time to 

 time, the difficulty of obtaining a county 

 ground was not overcome until Mr. J. H. 

 Vials, a local solicitor, took over the hon. 

 secretaryship, when on his initiative and with 

 the active co-operation of Sir H. Wake, the 

 Messrs. Markham and other leading county 

 gentlemen, a company was promoted with the 

 result that at last the county became possessed 

 of one of the finest grounds in England, 

 in the vicinity of the present Town Park. 

 Still the finances did not improve, for the 

 public were with difficulty weaned from their 

 privilege of seeing good matches for nothing 

 on the open course. The possession of the 

 ground however gave the county a better 

 standing, and as a result it quite upheld its 

 position amongst the second-class counties. 

 A good stafiF of professionals was engaged, 

 foremost among whom was W. A. J. West, 

 who has since become recognized by the 

 M.C.C. authorities as one of the most trust- 

 worthy umpires in the country; T. Alley, 

 by local enthusiasts judged as the equal 

 of Bowley, and the brothers Bull and Colson, 

 of Rushden, a village which has supplied 

 cricketers and footballers without number. 

 First-class honours however did not come 

 to the county although it more than held 

 its own for some time with Warwickshire 

 and Essex, both of which preceded it into 

 the front rank. The chief difficulty was 

 still the want of funds, but the county 

 was indebted for years to the M.C.C. for their 

 annual match, first played in July, 1873, which 

 afforded its best batsmen at least one oppor- 

 tunity yearly of trying their mettle against 

 some of the best bowlers in the country. In 

 further recognition of the great services the 

 M.C.C. has rendered, it is only just to state 

 that any application to it always met with 

 generous response. 



Following the retirement of Mr. J. P. 

 Kingston from the captainship, which he held 

 for some years. Lord Rosslyn accepted the 



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