Description
Keyworth, Nottinghamshire born right back Arthur Pike was from a large sporting family of (mainly) cricketers and footballers, and he was known first and foremost as a cricketer.
As a cricketer he was known as a brilliant wicket-keeper/batsman, he made his first class debut for Nottinghamshire CCC in June 1894 after Mordecai Sherwin’s retirement, after outstanding performances for the Nottinghamshire Colts team in the same year. Featured in 1895, it was said of him that he “has already made a name for himself as one of the rising wicket keepers of the day. Strong and active, he has any amount of pluck withal, and as he is particularly quick he has not yet perhaps reached his best”.
He went on to play 66 first class matches through to 1901, scoring 1,128 runs at an average of 13.93, took 102 catches and made 30 stumpings. His highest score with the bat came in 1896 when he made 66 against Middlesex at Trent Bridge. He was described in the Nottingham Daily Express as “a very good local wicket-keeper and a sound batsman who drives very hard” who played as a professional with Nottingham Commercial CC, Melton CC and at Leyland CC in the Lancashire League. He was on the M.C.C. staff at Lord’s from 1895 to 1906.
As a footballer Pike started with Keyworth F.C. and played right back for Nottingham Forest on 3 occasions between 1887 and 1890. He was one of three Pike’s from Keyworth who all played for Nottingham Forest in one match against Sheffield Wednesday on 4th January 1890 (together with centre half Harry and left winger Horace). He then returned to play for Keyworth where he converted to centre half before eventually retiring with a knee injury. He was also selected to represent The Nottinghamshire F.A. against The London F.A. in matches held at Trent Bridge in 1883 and 1884.
He was a cousin of Nottingham Forest players Horace Pike, who played for the club between 1886 and 1896, and Harry Pike, who made 11 appearances for the club between 1886 and 1891.