Storer Bill Image 2 Derbyshire 1895

Description

Butterley, Derbyshire born Bill Storer played first class cricket for Derbyshire from 1887 to 1900. He was a specialist wicket keeper who was reputed to stand up to the wicket against fast bowlers, described at the time as having “all the pluck and resolution necessary for that onerous position”. He was also a highly skilled batsman at a time when wicket-keeper batsmen were rare and twice averaged over fifty in a season. His first class highest score of 216 not out came for Derbyshire against Leicestershire in the 1899 season and he was the first professional to score two hundreds, against a strong Yorkshire side, in a match. Storer also appeared for London County and represented The Players against The Gentlemen at Lords in 1894.

Storer toured Australia for England, making his international debut in the December 1897 Test at Sydney and played against the tourists at home, his last Test coming at Trent Bridge in 1899 when he was also named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. His six Test appearances were limited by the selectors’ preference for Dick Lilley.

Storer was ‘severely reprimanded’ for ‘objectionable language’ during the 1898 Test match where he was overheard to say “You are a cheat, and you know it”, during the luncheon on the final day of the 5th Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After 289 first class matches he retired in 1900 having scored just short of 13,000 runs at an average of 28.87, making 17 career centuries and 63 half centuries. He had 55 stumpings and 376 catches in his career, and was also a competent leg spinner, as a bowler he four times had 5-wicket innings with a best of 5-20 and a total of 232 wickets at just under 34 a piece.

Bill Storer also played professional football. An inside forward, Bill Storer began his football career with Derby Midland and made his senior debut in an FA Cup tie at Notts County in November 1888, which Derby Midland lost 2-1. He joined Derby County in 1891, making his Football League debut at Stoke that September, and over two seasons with the club he scored 11 goals in 27 appearances before joining Loughborough in 1893. He then joined Glossop North End in 1894 before retiring from football to concentrate on cricket.

His younger brother was Harry Storer, who also played cricket for Derbyshire in 1895 but was more famous as a goalkeeper with among others Arsenal, Liverpool and Hibernian. His nephew Harry Storer (Jr) inherited his father’s football and cricket skills, featuring for Derby County and Derbyshire, and playing football for England, and he later became a football manager in charge of Coventry City, Birmingham and Derby County in the Second and Third Division (North) from 1931 to 1963.