De Trafford Charles Image 6 Leicestershire 1895

Description

Trafford Hall, Trafford Park, Manchester born Charles de Trafford’s family owned Old Trafford Cricket Ground. De Trafford joined the Lancashire in 1884 aged 20 and soon became known as a skilled cricketer, playing for Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) from 1885. In 1894 he moved to Leicestershire as captain, a position in which he remained for 13 seasons. He is largely credited with making Leicestershire into a first class club.

A man of great physical strength, de Trafford was an opening batsman and a big hitter who liked to attack from the first ball. He never wore batting gloves. For Leicestershire against the Australians in 1905, he made all the first 56 runs of the innings himself, and was out for 63 after a first wicket partnership of 69, when his partner was 2 not out.

He captained M.C.C. on the tour of New Zealand in 1906-07 after the original captain, Teddy Wynyard, returned home injured after the second match.

He made his highest first class score in 1913 when playing for Leicestershire against Derbyshire when he was 49 years old. After Leicestershire had been 11-4 on the first morning, he hit 137 in 120 minutes, and Leicestershire made 351 off 71 overs and went on to win by an innings on the second day. He continued to play for Leicestershire after the First World War before retiring in 1920.

In total de Trafford played 292 matches in first class cricket, scoring 6 centuries and 36 half centuries and averaging 18.67 with the bat, totalling 9,581 runs scored. He also took 2 first class wickets as an occasional bowler, taking 2-47 in his successful match, and took 98 catches in the first class game.

NB although this image was published in 1901, it is clearly taken from his 1895 photograph.