Foley Cyril Image 2 Cambridge University 1890

Description

Westminster, London born Cyril Foley was educated at Eton College, where he was a prominent cricketer, scoring 114 in the victory over Harrow in 1886. In 1887 he went up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, where he was again a leading cricketer, playing in three successive victories for Cambridge over Oxford from 1889 to 1891.

Foley was a patient opening batsman, sound in defence and strong on the off side. He scored his two first class centuries for Cambridge University: 113 against Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) in 1889, when Cambridge won by two wickets, and 117 against Sussex at Hove in 1890, when he added 214 for the fourth wicket with Gregor MacGregor when Cambridge University made its highest ever total of 703-9, and Cambridge won the match by 425 runs.

He appeared for Worcestershire in 1888, and played 57 first class matches for Middlesex between 1893 and 1906, and was also a regular member of M.C.C. teams from 1888 to 1906, playing 33 first class matches. At Lord’s in 1893 he was the centre of an unusual incident. In the match between Middlesex and Sussex he picked up a bail which had fallen and, on appeal, Henty, the umpire, gave him out; but, at the request of Billy Murdoch, the Sussex captain, Foley continued his innings.

He toured the West Indies with Lord Brackley’s XI in 1904-05, playing all of the 10 first class matches, scoring 239 runs at an average of 14.05, with a top score of 58 in the victory over Barbados. In a first class career of 123 matches, he scored 3,175 runs at an average of 16.62, and also took 1 wicket as an occasional bowler, holding 43 catches.

Foley was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in November 1888 while a student at Cambridge. After leaving Cambridge, he joined the staff of Lord Houghton, Viceroy of Ireland. He took part in the Jameson Raid of 1895-96 in the Transvaal, and later served with distinction in The Boer War, returning as temporary commander of the 3rd Royal Scots. During the First World War he commanded the 9th East Lancashire Regiment and was mentioned in dispatches. He also served in the Royal Flying Corps, gaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

NB in the photograph taken at Hove in 1890, Foley sits with white hat, alongside Cambridge University captain Gregor McGregor, with Francis Ford standing behind, all three having made centuries in Cambridge’s record innings score.