Although Nottingham did not play any matches outside the county in 1836 the first bona fide North v South match was staged at Lord’s in July. Nottingham had seven men in the Northern team – Tom Barker, Emmanuel Vincent, George Jarvis, William Clarke, Bartholomew Good, Sam Redgate and Charles Creswell, the last being a young amateur whose bowling was fast round-arm and who was quite unexpectedly successful in this match. The North won by 6 wickets. Not only did Barker and Redgate make the highest scores for their side, but the Nottingham men took all the opposition wickets.
Clarke wanted to get the return match played in Nottingham, but was outmanoeuvred by Captain Cheslyn of Leicester. A public meeting of protest was held in Nottingham when this arrangement was discovered and a resolution drawn up which was forwarded to Lord’s. It was in vain. The reports stated that hundreds of spectators actually walked from Nottingham to Leicester for the match and then at the end of the day, finding the town full, had to trudge to Loughborough in search of accommodation. Clarke, presumably sulking, did not play in the Leicester match that was lost by 218 runs, due to a brilliant 125 by the Kent champion, Alfred Mynn. Mynn was so battered and bruised by the fast bowling of Redgate, that it was feared one of his legs would have to be amputated. As it was he travelled back to London strapped to the roof of a coach.
A minor, but interesting point during 1836 was an obituary in the Nottingham papers for George Petty, aged 67. In the brief notice it stated perhaps he scored in more matches in Notts and neighbouring counties than any other person. He is therefore the first in the list of Notts scorers.
October 2020