Born on 11 March 1845 in Hucknall Torkard, Thomas Shooter was a right-hand batsman and right-arm fast bowler. He was first selected as a Colt in 1873, being already 28 years old, winning the prize ball from the match. He was then selected in the Next XV versus Notts when he was again in good form, taking 5-21 in the XI’s first innings. A second contest Next XV versus XI was played in August 1873 and he improved on his previous figures with 8-58 in the XI’s first innings. In 1874 he again represented the XXII Colts but was not called upon to represent the county until July 1879. It was a non-First-Class fixture versus MCC at the Duke of St Albans Ground at Bestwood Park, Shooter taking 4-18 in the MCC first innings. In 1881 he appeared twice in First-Class matches for Notts. Firstly at the Oval versus Surrey on 21 and 22 July, where he scored 0 and 5 and took 0-36 as Notts fell to an innings and 22 run defeat. The following game saw Shooter retained in the eleven as Notts beat Sussex by 36 runs at Hove, Shooter scored 15 not out and 3 and bowled 0-21.
His known professional engagements were: 1868 – Kelburn Club (Paisley), 1873 – Newark, 1874 – Castleton, 1875 – Loughborough and Great Harwood, 1878 – Bolton and Church. 1881 - Accrington
A miner in his native town, Thomas Shooter played his local cricket with Bestwood Park CC. He died in Hucknall Torkard on 4 July 1919 aged 74 years. His nephew, Walter Wright (1856-1940) played 289 First-Class matches from 1879 to 1899, representing Notts and Kent with great success.
July 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 176