Gentlemen and Players Amateurs and Professionals in English Cricket

The long and messy cricketing relationship between amateur and professional was about far more than who was paid and who played out of “love”. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

The Plausible Gardener The Wanderings of Richard Henry Abbott

In 1898, the six-year-old Richard Henry Abbott ran away from home in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and spent months in a Newcastle workhouse without revealing who he was. Instead he proved a talented teller of "untruths", a skill he carried forward into adulthood open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

The Plausible Gardener The Wanderings of Richard Henry Abbott

In 1898, the six-year-old Richard Henry Abbott ran away from home in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and spent months in a Newcastle workhouse without revealing who he was. Instead he proved a talented teller of "untruths", a skill he carried forward into adulthood open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

"Would have been quite at the forefront of cricket" The Unfulfilled Potential of William Cropper

William Cropper had the potential to reach the highest level, excelling for Derbyshire from a young age. But his career stalled amid the pressure of playing for a struggling team, and a tragic football accident meant that his promise would never be fulfilled. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

"Would have been quite at the forefront of cricket" The Unfulfilled Potential of William Cropper

William Cropper had the potential to reach the highest level, excelling for Derbyshire from a young age. But his career stalled amid the pressure of playing for a struggling team, and a tragic football accident meant that his promise would never be fulfilled. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

For any regular readers, oldebor.wordpress.com will no longer be updated, although it won't be deleted. But my regular in-depth cricket history pieces (and some revised older ones) will instead appear at oldebor77.substack.com. If you don't already subscribe, I hope you will!

The Actress at Houghton Place The Story of Ellen Augusta Rogers

When an actress, Ellen Augusta Rogers, died suddenly in Bradford in 1890 after a miscarriage, many would have passed judgement on the immorality of life on stage. But the real story was far more complicated both for Rogers and many like her. open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

For any regular readers, oldebor.wordpress.com will no longer be updated, although it won't be deleted. But my regular in-depth cricket history pieces (and some revised older ones) will instead appear at oldebor77.substack.com. If you don't already subscribe, I hope you will!

The Actress at Houghton Place The Story of Ellen Augusta Rogers

When an actress, Ellen Augusta Rogers, died suddenly in Bradford in 1890 after a miscarriage, many would have passed judgement on the immorality of life on stage. But the real story was far more complicated both for Rogers and many like her. open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

Charlie Absolom A "Wasted Life of Aimless Wandering"?

From Cambridge University to a strange death in Trinidad, via Washington state: the strange and inexplicable life of the English Test batter Charles Absolom. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

“The Tale of the Test Match”: The Breaking of Fred Tate The 1902 season was the best of Fred Tate's career, and the only one in which he was indisputably among the leading bowlers in England rather than just a hard-working journeyman. But this success brought nothing but infamy: after he was selected for the Old Trafford Test match, his dropped catch (and failure to hit the winnings runs) was blamed for England's narrow defeat. The game became known, with cruel irony, as "Tate's Match". But that is hardly a fair apportioning of blame…

Fred Tate reached his peak as a cricketer in 1902. As recognition for his form, he was selected for England for the Old Trafford Test against Australia. His life would never be the same.

“The Tale of the Test Match”: The Breaking of Fred Tate The 1902 season was the best of Fred Tate's career, and the only one in which he was indisputably among the leading bowlers in England rather than just a hard-working journeyman. But this success brought nothing but infamy: after he was selected for the Old Trafford Test match, his dropped catch (and failure to hit the winnings runs) was blamed for England's narrow defeat. The game became known, with cruel irony, as "Tate's Match". But that is hardly a fair apportioning of blame…

Fred Tate reached his peak as a cricketer in 1902. As recognition for his form, he was selected for England for the Old Trafford Test against Australia. His life would never be the same.

Before Old Trafford: The Making of Fred Tate Fred Tate remains notorious for his role in England's three-run defeat by Australia at Old Trafford in 1902. But before that, he had established himself as a good journeyman cricketer. Given his difficult background, that was quite an achievement in itself. But Tate had more going on in his life than cricket.

Fred Tate remains notorious for his role in England's three-run defeat by Australia at Old Trafford in 1902. But before that, he had established himself as a good journeyman cricketer. Given his difficult background, that was quite an achievement in itself.

Before Old Trafford: The Making of Fred Tate Fred Tate remains notorious for his role in England's three-run defeat by Australia at Old Trafford in 1902. But before that, he had established himself as a good journeyman cricketer. Given his difficult background, that was quite an achievement in itself. But Tate had more going on in his life than cricket.

Fred Tate remains notorious for his role in England's three-run defeat by Australia at Old Trafford in 1902. But before that, he had established himself as a good journeyman cricketer. Given his difficult background, that was quite an achievement in itself.

Arthur Mold Reduced to a Cipher

One of cricket's most notorious "chuckers" was Arthur Mold. But there was far more to him than the straightness (or otherwise) of his elbow. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

The Robbery at Parr's Bank "Rarely Surpassed in the Annals of Crime"

In January 1899, £60,000 disappeared from a drawer in Parr's Bank, London. It was a huge sum and, apparently, a brilliantly audacious crime. But something was not quite right, not least when much of the money was returned a few days later…
open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

The Robbery at Parr's Bank "Rarely Surpassed in the Annals of Crime"

In January 1899, £60,000 disappeared from a drawer in Parr's Bank, London. It was a huge sum and, apparently, a brilliantly audacious crime. But something was not quite right, not least when much of the money was returned a few days later…
open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

Arthur Mold Reduced to a Cipher

One of cricket's most notorious "chuckers" was Arthur Mold. But there was far more to him than the straightness (or otherwise) of his elbow. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

I’ve got something in this issue about Charlie Buller, whose life reads like something from a novel. On sale now!

“Labouring under a defect of reason”: Murder, Miles Giffard and the Definition of Insanity In 1952, Miles Giffard murdered his parents and was hanged under the strict M’Naghten Rules despite clear suggestions that he was mentally ill. The story has fascinated the public for more than seventy years. A key part of the story is usually that Giffard was a cricketer, but that is something of a stretch.

In 1952, Miles Giffard murdered his parents and was hanged under the strict M’Naghten Rules despite clear suggestions that he was mentally ill. The story has fascinated the public for more than seventy years but the suggestion that Giffard was a cricketer is something of a stretch

“Labouring under a defect of reason”: Murder, Miles Giffard and the Definition of Insanity In 1952, Miles Giffard murdered his parents and was hanged under the strict M’Naghten Rules despite clear suggestions that he was mentally ill. The story has fascinated the public for more than seventy years. A key part of the story is usually that Giffard was a cricketer, but that is something of a stretch.

In 1952, Miles Giffard murdered his parents and was hanged under the strict M’Naghten Rules despite clear suggestions that he was mentally ill. The story has fascinated the public for more than seventy years but the suggestion that Giffard was a cricketer is something of a stretch

Bev Lyon The Iconoclastic Captain

Bev Lyon was an inspirational captain of Gloucestershire, turning an inconsistent team into Championship contenders. And yet he came so close to achieving even more.
oldebor77.substack.com/p/bev-lyon?r...

The Doctor and the Actress Morphia, Suspicion and a Double Death in London

A unexplained double death in Fulham in 1892: a young actress and a man calling himself her husband. A tragic accident? Or a murder-suicide?
open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

The Doctor and the Actress Morphia, Suspicion and a Double Death in London

A unexplained double death in Fulham in 1892: a young actress and a man calling himself her husband. A tragic accident? Or a murder-suicide?
open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

Bev Lyon The Iconoclastic Captain

Bev Lyon was an inspirational captain of Gloucestershire, turning an inconsistent team into Championship contenders. And yet he came so close to achieving even more.
oldebor77.substack.com/p/bev-lyon?r...

“A Want of Gratitude”: The Untidy Resolution of the Nottinghamshire Strike In 1881, Nottinghamshire’s “schism” moved from private correspondence to open conflict. Seven leading professionals challenged the authority of the County Committee, demanding guarantee…

In 1881, Nottinghamshire’s "schism" moved from private correspondence to open conflict. Seven professionals challenged the authority of the County Committee, demanding guaranteed selection and benefits. The confrontation ended in decisive defeat for the rebels oldebor.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/a...

“A Want of Gratitude”: The Untidy Resolution of the Nottinghamshire Strike In 1881, Nottinghamshire’s “schism” moved from private correspondence to open conflict. Seven leading professionals challenged the authority of the County Committee, demanding guarantee…

In 1881, Nottinghamshire’s "schism" moved from private correspondence to open conflict. Seven professionals challenged the authority of the County Committee, demanding guaranteed selection and benefits. The confrontation ended in decisive defeat for the rebels oldebor.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/a...

“Against the Wishes of the Committee”: Holden, Shaw, Shrewsbury and the Nottinghamshire Strike of 1881 During the later nineteenth century, there was a quiet revolution in cricket. As amateurs took control of the county game, professionals lost security and autonomy. There was surprisingly little resistance to the new status quo. Except in Nottinghamshire, where an 1881 dispute over "naming rights", selection and benefits exposed the fault lines, and became the last serious attempt by players to resist amateur domination.

During the later 19th century, when amateurs took control of English cricket from professionals, there was surprisingly little resistance to the new status quo. Except in Nottinghamshire, where an 1881 dispute became the last serious attempt to resist amateur domination.

“Against the Wishes of the Committee”: Holden, Shaw, Shrewsbury and the Nottinghamshire Strike of 1881 During the later nineteenth century, there was a quiet revolution in cricket. As amateurs took control of the county game, professionals lost security and autonomy. There was surprisingly little resistance to the new status quo. Except in Nottinghamshire, where an 1881 dispute over "naming rights", selection and benefits exposed the fault lines, and became the last serious attempt by players to resist amateur domination.

During the later 19th century, when amateurs took control of English cricket from professionals, there was surprisingly little resistance to the new status quo. Except in Nottinghamshire, where an 1881 dispute became the last serious attempt to resist amateur domination.

The Lonely Death of William Stiles Unanswered — and Unasked — Questions at an Inquest

In 1892, an independently wealthy man called William Stiles died in faintly murky circumstances. There were questions whether he had been held against his wishes, and whether he had been forced to change his will in favour of his possible captors.
open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...