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So many first-class cricketers progressed from Sutton that the town had its own society for professional cricketers.

Thomas Heath (1808-1872)
Thomas was the first ever Ashfield-born player to play first-class cricket, making his debut for Nottinghamshire in 1835, playing 20 times for the county scoring 324 runs in total. Thomas emigrated to Calais in 1839, returning a rather more rounded figure than when he left. Thomas spent the rest of his time as a gateman at Trent Bridge.

Career statistics for Thomas Heath

James Coupe Shaw (1837-1888)
James Shaw made his Nottinghamshire debut in 1865, playing 115 matches and taking 642 wickets. Shaw was regarded by W.G. Grace as the best fast bowler of the period. Shaw began his career in the pre-test cricket days, although he did play representative cricket for the all England XI. Amazingly, Shaw played every consecutive Notts game over a ten year period. Shaw still has the best ever bowling figures for Notts, taking 10 wickets for 20 runs in a match against an England XI in 1870.

Career statistics for James Coupe Shaw

George Bennett (1867-1918)
Played only once against Derbyshire in 1889 in a non-competitive match. Later emigrated to the USA and played for Merian Cricket Club in Philadelphia.

Frank Henry Farrands (1835-1922)
More famous as a test umpire, Frank was also no mean cricketer playing 30 times for Notts and taking 128 wickets. Frank's name first appeared in a Sutton-in-Ashfield XI in 1855, but his first trial with Nottinghamshire Colts did not come unti1 1867. In 1866 he played for a Sutton-in-Ashfield XI vs. UEE in a bowling attack that also featured J.C. Shaw. Frank took 7 wickets and Sutton went on to win the match.

In 1868 he represented the Colts of England and made his Notts debut in 1871 against Yorkshire. Frank did not play consistently for Notts and the rest of his playing career saw him play at Oxford, Ashbourne and Blackburn. From 1868 until 1908 he was a member of the ground staff at Lords and a first-class umpire until 1900. During his time at Notts he did take all 10 wickets in an innings on three occasions.

During his test umpiring career between 1884 and 1888 he was at the stumps for 7 test matches, when W.G. Grace was playing for England. In his last test both Joseph Briggs and William Barnes played for England. In 1881 a benefit match was played for him at Lords, an Over Thirties against an Under Thirties match. For many years he was considered one of the best umpires in the country, officiating over 2,000 matches. By trade Frank was a framework hosiery knitter but later became landlord of the Staff of Life pub. Frank is interred in Sutton-in-Ashfield churchyard, his grave marked by a commemorative stone.

With contributions from Harry Wharmby, Sutton-in-Ashfield

Career statistics for Frank Henry Farrands

Dove Gregory (1837-1873)
Gregory only played four first-class matches for Derbyshire between 1871 and 1872, right at the end of his career. Dove had a long and distinguished career with the county, before they entered the first-class arena in 1871. In those four first-class games he still managed 25 wickets with his fast bowling.

Career statistics for Dove Gregory

Thomas Barnes (1849-1873)
Brother of William, Thomas Barnes looked a very promising batsman for Notts, but died from typhoid in 1873. During his short career from 1870 to 1872 he played only six matches.

Career statistics for Thomas Barnes

Fred Morley (1850-1884)
4 Test Matches
Although a considerable bowler, Fred was not rated very highly as a batsman, averaging only 5.4 runs for every first-class innings. He made his Notts debut in 1872 and by 1875 was described as the best fast bowler in England. In 1878 he became the first Notts bowler to reach l00 wickets in a season. Fred played in the test side when the first ever Australian team toured England and in his test career took 16 wickets between 1880 and 1883. During the 1882-1883 tour of Australia, Fred injured his ribs but bravely battled on to play four test matches. His health deteriorated very quickly afterwards and he died the day after his benefit match had started, which the players continued playing with black armbands on. Fred is buried in Sutton-in-Ashfield Parish Church.

Career statistics for Fred Morley

James Lindley (1844-1911 )
Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, James played only once for Notts in 1874 against Derbyshire in a non-firstclass match.

William (Billy) Barnes (1852-1899)
21 Test Matches
Billy played 21 test matches taking 51 wickets and making one century and five half-centuries. He made history by playing in the first ever test match on English soil in 1880 against Australia alongside Fred Morley. He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1890. Billy topped 1,000 runs a season five times and was the first Notts player to achieve this feat, scoring over 15,000 runs for Notts in total from 1875 to 1894. Billy's cricket was hampered by his fondness for a drink and he was often warned over his conduct. After his cricketing career ended with a spell of coaching at Lords, his vocation turned to his second love. He became a landlord at the Angel Inn in Mansfield Woodhouse.

Career statistics for William Barnes

John Kesteven (1849- ?)
Played only three times for Notts during 1876 scoring 24 runs. John became secretary of the Sutton-in-Ashfield Professional Cricketers' Society.

Career statistics for John Kesteven

Alfred James Brooks (1848-1911 )
A.J. Brooks played just twice for Nottinghamshire during 1877, taking five wickets in total. Although he never played another first-class game, his professional career continued with Somerset, Dorset and in Liverpool.

Career statistics for Alfred James Brooks

John Crossland (1852-1903)
Jack, born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, played in the same Lancashire team as John Briggs. In all he played 84 games for lancashire between 1878 and 1887, scoring 1,172 runs and taking 332 wickets. Jack's career was dogged with controversy, mainly for his bowling action, being labelled as a "thrower" despite never being no-balled for this. There was also controversy between Notts and Lancashire over Crossland's eligibility to play for Lancashire. In the end his career was finished when it was found he did not have permanent residence in Lancashire and was therefore ineligible to play for that county. Jack died in Blackburn in 1903.

Wilfred Flowers (1856-1926)
8 Test Matches
Although born in Calverton, Wilfred moved to Sutton-in-Ashfield at a very young age. He made his Nottinghamshire debut in 1877 and played until 1896. Wilfred was the first professional player to score 1,000 runs and take l00 wickets. He played in 8 test matches between 1884 and 1893 and appeared in 442 first-class games for Nottinghamshire, scoring over 13,000 runs and taking over 1,000 wickets. He was briefly a first-class umpire until his eyesight failed him. Wilfred finished his working life in the lace and hosiery trade.

Career statistics for Wilfred Flowers

William Marriott (1850-1887)
William was born in Huthwaite in 1850, making his debut for Nottinghamshire in 1880. He was to play only one further game for Notts in 1881, scoring 27 runs in his two games and taking two wickets. William was a considerable cricketer for Huyton near Liverpool, where he eventually died in 1887.

Career statistics for William Marriott

Charles Shore (1858-1912)
Making his debut in 1881, Charles represented the county on 10 occasions before moving to play for Lancashire, for whom he represented three times. Charles scored 159 runs and took 41 wickets with his slow left arm bowling. In 1889 he went to play Minor Counties cricket for Norfolk.

Career statistics for Charles Shore

George Banner (1864-1890)
George was yet another cricketer to have his career cut short by an early death at only 26 years of age. He played only one first-class game against Gloucestershire, taking two wickets with his fast bowling.

Career statistics for George Banner

George Bean (1864-1923)
3 Test Matches
Most of George's career was spent away from Nottinghamshire, for whom he only represented 5 times during 1885 before leaving for Sussex. George began his career aged 16 with the Sutton 'Dog and Duck' team and went on to have an illustrious career, including playing three test matches during 1891/1892 on tours to Australia and South Africa, scoring 92 runs in total. George, after making a handful of appearances for Notts, moved to Sussex where he stayed for thirteen seasons.

During that season Notts were made to regret letting Bean go when he scored 145 and 92 not out against his native county, receiving a silver cup from Sussex to mark the occasion. After his playing career, George joined the staff at Lord's and at the time of his death was the senior member of the ground staff and coach at Haileybury College. He spent two years as a first-class and minor counties umpire. George Bean was interred in Sutton Church yard.

With contributions from John Bean

Career statistics for George Bean

Thomas Morley (1863-1919)
The Morleys were another famous cricketing family, Thomas being a cousin of Fred. Thomas only played once for Notts, but went on to play Minor Counties Cricket for Norfolk. He died near Norwich in 1919.

Joseph Banner Briggs (1860-1902)
Between 1885 and 1888 Joseph played seven times for Nottinghamshire, taking 14 wickets. He is the older brother of John Briggs, and made his debut at the ripe age of 38. He died in 1902 in Bramley, Leeds.

John Briggs (1862-1902)
33 Test Matches
One of the local cricketers who never played for Nottinghamshire, Johnny enjoyed a distinguished career with Lancashire and England. He was a fine all-rounder scoring over 14,000 runs and taking 2221 wickets for Lancashire between 1879 and 1900.

He played 33 tests scoring 815 runs and taking 118 wickets. His figures are impressive enough but Johnny holds a number of Test cricketing records. He was the first test player to take over l00 wickets, holds the record for the most test wickets taken during a day (15) in the 2nd test of the 1888/89 series against South Africa, and is the only player to have taken a hat-trick and scored a century in test cricket. For his feats he was awarded the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1889.

His career began to decline sharply after suffering a seizure during the Headingley Test against Australia in 1899 when he was hit above the heart by a ball. He became afflicted with epilepsy, which eventually finished his career and took his life three years later at the age of 39. Over 3,000 mouners attended his funeral in Stretford, Manchester.

Career statistics for John Briggs

Tom George Buckland (1860-1915)
Making his debut in 1888, Tom only played twice for Nottinghamshire as a right arm fast bowler. He subsequently had various professional engagements over a 20 year period. He died in 1915 in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Edwin Woodward (1864-1953)
Born in Sutton, Edwin played for both Cheshire and Liverpool and District, playing two first-class matches between 1888 and 1890.

George Edward Wharmby (1870-1951)
George first played for Nottinghamshire Colts in 1891, going on to make his first-class debut for the county in that same year against the MCC at Lords, scoring just two runs. In his second first-class game he scored just one run in two innings, but George's story is one of persistence. Wharmby returned to the county side in 1893, but after representing a number of other clubs, moved to play for Manchester Cricket Club. His performances gained him a place in the Lancashire XI in 1894. Wharmby continued to have a long career in Minor Counties cricket for Bedfordshire, scoring almost 4,000 runs and taking 500 wickets. In 1914 he changed from a professional to an amateur cricketer, still with Bedfordshire. From 1925 until 1930 he was coach at Bedford school and afterwards at RAF Cranwell. In his early years George was the landlord at the Bull Inn in Sutton-in-Ashfield, but later moved to Leighton Buzzard. He died of heart failure in Rustington in 1951.

With contributions from Harry Wharmby, Sutton-in-Ashfield (no relation)

Career statistics for George Edward Wharmby

James Turner (1865-1945)
Born in Teversal, James only played twice for Nottinghamshire during 1894. James died in 1945 in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Joseph Bean (1876-1922)
Younger brother of Test Cricketer George Bean. Between 1895 and 1903 Joseph made 40 appearances for Sussex as a middle order batsman. He scored nearly 900 runs and took 35 wickets.

Career statistics for Joseph Bean

Thomas George Wass (1873-1953)
"Topsy" as he was affectionately known, had a long and successful career at Nottinghamshire between 1896 and 1920. Nottinghamshire's 1907 County Championship victory can be directly attributed to his bowling. In all he played 312 games for the county scoring over 2,000 runs and taking 1,666 wickets, making him Nottinghamshire's all time record wicket taker. During his trial for the county he dismissed the great Arthur Shrewsbury several times.

Despite playing in trial matches, an England XI selection and three Gentleman vs. Players matches, Wass never made the Test side. His earlier cricket days included playing as a professional at Edinburgh Academicals and Liverpool CC. During his time at Liverpool he qualified to play for Lancashire, but turned them down to play for Notts.

Wass displayed the qualities of a tight-fisted northerner. On one occasion at the Oval, Topsy arrived with his wife, who was informed that she would have to pay to enter the ground. Wass retorted, "If this beggar (his wife) doan't coom in, this beggar doan't play!" Originally Wass was employed as a miner at several local pits and later became groundsman at the local grammar school. He is buried in Sutton-in-Ashfield cemetery.

Career statistics for Thomas George Wass

Hon. Mervyn Robert Howard Molyneux Herbert (1882-1929)
Son of the Earl of Carnarvon, Mervyn Herbert was born in Hampshire and played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Oxford University. The Carnarvon family donated the cricket ground in Teversal Village to the people of Teversal. His first-class career spanned 42 games between 1901, when he made his Notts debut and 1924, his last match for Somerset. In total he scored 854 runs.

Career statistics for Mervyn Robert Howard Molyneux Herbert

James William Barnes (1886-1963)
Son of William Barnes. Between 1908 and 1910, James Barnes made three appearances for Nottinghamshire as a right arm medium pacer, taking two wickets and making 19 runs. He later became coach at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Mansfield.

Career statistics for James William Barnes

George Reeves (1888-1962)
Although George never played first-class cricket, he is well worth a mention. He played professional cricket for Park Hill in Yorkshire, but it was in football he made his name -- playing for Barnsley, Aston Villa, Bradford Park Avenue and finally Blackpool.

George Arthur Buckley (1889-1935)
Born in Skegby, George played once for Derbyshire in 1921. He was selected for the Nottinghamshire game against Leicestershire in 1913 but had to withdraw because of injury. George also played for Cheshire as a young man. He became a director of Sheffield United Cricket and Football Club.

Bertie Marshall (1902-1991)
Bertie played local cricket for New Hucknall Colliery before playing three times for Nottinghamshire between 1923 and 1924. In 1925 he moved to Perthshire and enjoyed a successful career in Scottish County Cricket, so much so that Notts asked him to return for one last match in 1929. He died in Durham in 1991.

Career statistics for Bertie Marshall

Eric Oscroft (1933- )
Eric, a fast medium bowler joined the Nottinghamshire playing staff in 1949. He made his debut the following year. In total he played 9 games for Notts, taking 13 wickets.

Career statistics for Eric Oscroft

Robert Timothy Robinson (1958- )
29 Test Matches
26 One Day Internationals
Despite all the cricketing legends from Ashfield, Tim Robinson is the first local player to captain Nottinghamshire, from 1988 until 1995. Born in Skegby in 1958, but playing for the Dunstable Colts in Bedfordshire, he made his Notts debut in 1978 and never looked back. He went on to make his test debut against India in 1984, the first of 29 appearances with four centuries scored. Tim scored 175 in an Ashes match at Headingley in 1985. He also played in 26 One Day Internationals. Tim was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1986. His test career came to an end in 1988 when he chose to go to South Africa with Mike Gatting's rebel tour. He never represented his country again.

For Notts he played until 1999 playing 425 first-class games, amassing an impressive total of 27,571 runs including 63 centuries. Tim also played 397 limited overs games, scoring nearly 12,000 runs. Tim has twice achieved the feat of playing in an opening partnership that has made a first wicket stand of over 100 in both innings, once with his long-term Notts and England partner Chris Broad and once with Paul Pollard.

Outside of playing, Tim studied Accountancy at Sheffield University and is now studying to become a first-class umpire. He is also President of Kirkby Portland Cricket Club.

Career statistics for Robert Timothy Robinson

Thomas James New (1985-)
Tom is the latest Sutton cricketer to begin a county career. Tom started by playing Kwik Cricket and then joined Mansfield Hosiery Mills Cricket Club in Huthwaite. He captained the England Youth team to the semi-finals in the 2000 Costcutter World Cup and made his first-class debut with Leicestershire in 2004. Tom's father also has a local sporting connection as he was a goalkeeper with Mansfield Town.

With contributions from Mansfield Hosiery Mills Cricket Club

Career statistics for Thomas James New

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