William, known as ‘Jack’, Brown of Bingham played for the Notts Colts XXII in 1886 and 1887 and was chosen for an abandoned match of 1888.
Brown (mistakenly called John in some sources) was born illegitimately in Bingham Warehouse on 1 March 1861 and was a left-hand batter and left-arm medium pace bowler. He commenced his professional cricketing career for Skegness CC, making his First-Class debut for Notts v Yorkshire on 23 and 24 July 1888, when he scored 2 not out and 0 and bowled 0-11.
The next month he appeared in successive county games: against Gloucestershire at Trent Bridge, scoring 0 and 24 and bowling 0-4, and v Surrey at the Oval, scoring 3 and 4 not out. The latter was his final First-Class match.
Brown played for Burton-on-Trent Gentleman between 1888 and 1890, finding employment in the town as a brewer’s labourer, He played for Bacup in the Lancashire League in 1897 and 1898 and was a professional with Tunstall CC in the Staffordshire League for a season. Between 1890 and 1896 he played for Staffordshire CCC, including nine Minor Counties championship games, in his last two seasons taking 20 wickets @19.40.
During the latter part of his professional career he resided at Basford and for a time assisted at Cinderhill Colliery. In 1904 he moved to Shirebrook, Derbyshire, where he was employed as a coal miner. For 14 years he played with Shirebrook Colliery CC which twice won the championship of the Bassetlaw League during that period. He later became an engine fitter’s labourer.
‘Jack’ Brown died in Shirebrook on 4 February 1933 aged 71 years.
He was not related to Thomas Brown (1848-1919), also from Bingham, who played four games for Notts in 1881, though some sources do identify them as brothers.
March 2023
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 205