Page:Jubilee Book of Cricket (Second edition, 1897).djvu/422

400 of amateurs, comprising the following: I. Fairclough, J. White, E. B. Rowley, J. Beaton, B. J. Lawrence, G. H. Grimshaw, S. H. Swire, J. Rowley, F. H. Gossage, W. Robinson, and T. T. Bellhouse.

The first Inter-county match was against Middlesex in July the following year, and in this Lancashire were victorious by 62 runs, this time assisted by the professionals Roger Iddeson and F. R. Reynolds. The latter player I have known now and played with for many years. He was a good, steady, right-hand bowler, and became identified with the club in its infancy. He has occupied an official position almost since the club's formation, and the fine condition and excellence of the Old Trafford ground is a splendid monument to his industry and ability.

I went to Harrow in 1862, and obtained a place in the eleven in seasons 1864 and 1865, playing against Eton each year. It was in 1867 that I first played in an important match, and that was for Lancashire against Yorkshire, at Whalley, near Blackburn, in 1867. My first real connection, however, with the County Palatine began in 1869, and pleased I was at the end of that season that I had happened to obtain the highest aggregate and head the batting averages. It was in 1871 that the county unearthed two wonderful cricketers, as the sequel proves, in the persons of Barlow and Watson. Then we had Arthur Appleby, one of the finest natural left-hand bowlers I have ever seen; and with E. B. Rowley, J. Makinson, J. F. Leese, Hickton, Reynolds, and Coward, there began to combine an eleven of exceptional strength.

In 1872 the only matches Lancashire played were home and home with Derbyshire and Yorkshire, all of which engagements were won. The cricketing status of the county was now fully assured, and, progressing satisfactorily for many years, we reached our greatest ambition in 1881, when in county cricket our record was untarnished. Derbyshire, Kent, Surrey, and Yorkshire were doubly beaten, one each were won and drawn against Gloucestershire, and the only match with Middlesex was drawn. It was a triumphal season I shall ever regard with pride, for, taking part in all the matches, it was my privilege to record my first 1000, runs in any one season. Since then Lancashire has developed in every direction in a manner altogether wonderful. I have tried to sketch its early history: that of more modern times is known to all who follow the interests of the game.

The committee are mainly composed of men who in the past liberally aided it practically and financially, and from the time, some twenty-five years back, when an annual deficit was