John Taylor was the professional for Beeston CC from 1874-76 and described as a medium-pace round-arm bowler, good bat and a reliable fielder in the deep. Little is known about his club cricket or any representative games that he might have played.
It is certain that in his only First-Class game he had the misfortune, as did so many young players of that era, to come up against the Grace brothers. In July 1876, playing for Notts against Gloucestershire, he was bowled by Edward Grace for 2 in the first innings and caught off the bowling of WG for nought in the second innings. Taylor did not bowl and took no catches; Gloucester won by six wickets and John Taylor’s all-too-brief sortie into top grade cricket was done.
He was born in Beeston on 2 July 1850 and his first trade was as a lacemaker; later, from about 1883, he was the proprietor of an off-licence in Wollaton Road, Beeston. John Taylor died in his home town on 2 March 1921.
July 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 150