Page:Jubilee Book of Cricket (Second edition, 1897).djvu/436

414 early as 1835, and with Kent in 1840, the first great match at Trent Bridge ground being between Notts and Sussex, July 27 and 28, 1840. Some curious combinations appeared to play at Nottingham in 1842 and 1843—viz., "Six Gentlemen of Nottingham and Five Players of England, and Eleven Players of Nottingham," and "Seven of Hampshire and Four Players of England against Eleven of Nottingham."

William Clarke remained proprietor at Trent Bridge ground until 1847, and was then succeeded by J. Chapman, Mr Wildey, Mr J. Hickling, and Mr Jameson, in the order named. About the year 1859 or 1860 Mr John Johnson became secretary to the club, and, owing mainly to his exertions, the foundation was laid of the present club, and the Notts County Cricket Club may be said to date from that time. Mr Johnson resigned the secretaryship in 1869, and was succeeded by Mr G. B. Davy, of Colston Bassett. The latter gentleman filled the office until 1874, when Captain Holden was elected. Captain Holden resigned in 1882, when his great services to the club were acknowledged by a banquet being given in his honour at the George Hotel. Mr Henry Bromley (son of the late Sir Henry Bromley, a devoted member of the Notts Club) was the next secretary, and he was succeeded by Mr W. H. C. Gates in 1885, the latter acting until his death, which took place ten years later.

After the death of Captain Gates in March 1895 an entire change was made in the management, Mr William Wright being appointed honorary secretary, and Mr Henry Turner, a member of the committee, being asked to take the secretaryship of the club. The membership was then 1030, and a debt of £5400 rested heavily on the club. The two secretaries at once set to work to alter the state of affairs, and by an excellent business arrangement regarding the Trent Bridge Inn removed the debt without materially affecting the income of the club. In the balance-sheet presented at the annual meeting in January 1896 a balance in hand of £19S was able to be shown; and so successfully have the affairs of the club been carried on, that in the balance-sheet presented in January 1897 a surplus of over £1300 was shown. Great improvements have been made at Trent Bridge in the way of entirely enclosing the ground by walls, erecting a handsome covered stand, building bicycle-stores, and making a bowling-green. A club and ground staff has also been engaged, which promises well for the training of young cricketers. Mr Turner, on accepting the secretaryship, said that to make the club financially sound there must be 2000 annual subscribers.