Jack Rowbottom, who died in Newark in February 2007 aged 88, was a member of the Nottinghamshire Playing Staff for the first four seasons after the Second World War.
An opening left-hand batsman and a very useful medium-slow left-arm bowler he had shown much promise with Newark CC in the late 1930s but the outbreak of hostilities in 1939 had a dramatic effect on his hopes of a career in professional cricket. Joining the armed forces, he ended as a prisoner-of-war in very grim circumstances for four years.
In May 1946 he had a trial at Trent Bridge and the following month was taken on the staff for the remainder of the summer. His contract was then renewed and extended to the end of 1949. In the hope of gaining further experience he, in 1947, signed for Enfield in the Lancashire leagues, at the same time having a regular place in the Notts Minor Counties Team.
Over three seasons he scored 613 runs, average 17.51 and took 20 wickets, average 29.65 in Minor Counties cricket. From 1950 he returned to club cricket with Newark and continued to support that club for the rest of his life. He was particularly valuable as a coach to the young cricketers and his great sense of humour helped him blend with people of all ages.
December 2020