Born on 12 July 1834 in Gotham, John Smith is sometimes shown in match scorers as John G. Smith, but it is believed that the initial ‘G’ is only used to distinguish him from others of the same name – in particular the John Smith of Ruddington who played two First-Class games for Notts in 1864. John Smith of Gotham made his debut for the County v the XXII Colts in April 1862, subsequently appearing in the same fixture in April and September 1863. He made his First-Class debut for Notts v Cambridgeshire at Fenner’s on 5, 6 and 7 June 1862, making 10 and 4. The following week, he played for Notts v Surrey at the Oval scoring 1. The following June he made his last Notts First-Class appearance against Yorkshire at Bradford, scoring 19 and 2. He made a First-Class appearance for the All England XI v Yorkshire at Barnsley in June 1862, making 2 not out and 0. He never bowled in First-Class cricket.
To add to the potential confusion with his namesake and contemporary, the two John Smiths were in the same Bradford side that played Sheffield, in June 1864; this John scored 35 and 4, the Ruddington John took 11 wickets in the match.
John G Smith played for Oxford and, from 1861 to 1865, Bradford CC and it is believed he took up residence in that town, dying there sometime in the first quarter of 1868. In 1861 he was a Police Constable living in Tynemouth, which ties with him having also played club cricket with North Shields.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 96
See John G Smith's career stats here