Henry Bembridge’s cricketing achievements probably peaked in the Notts Colts match of April 1878 when he was presented with a prize bat as the only player to score double figures in each innings. In the same year he played for Bolton, probably whilst professional with Wigan, against the United South of England XI in which he scored 21 and 9, falling victim in each innings to WG Grace – as did most of the Bolton XVIII, Grace taking 20 of the 33 wickets to fall!
Bembridge represented the XXII Colts of England v the MCC at Lord’s and subsequently made his debut for Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire at Trent Bridge in June 1878. His only First-Class fixture was Notts v Yorkshire at Bramhall Lane; he scored 15no and 2 and bowled 16 wicketless four-ball overs for 34 runs.
He was born in Bulwell in 1849 and was a ‘fast right-arm straight bowler’ (not the last man from Bulwell to fit that description!), a fair bat and a short slip fielder. Originally a miner, he moved to Wigan and then to Bolton and was a professional with Bolton CC in 1883. Henry Bembridge died in Bolton in August 1920.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 160