George Glossop Walker
Encyclopedia
George Glossop Walker was an English Cricket
er who played for Derbyshire
between 1881 and 1898.
and later was at Broomback House School, Sheffield
. He took every opportunity to watch W. G. Grace
play against Yorkshire
. By 14 he was playing cricket for Whitwell and by 1880 for Whitwell he had a batting average of 27 and a bowling average of just 4. He was also winning prizes as a sprinter.
Walker had a county trial for Derbyshire at Chesterfield when he was 18, but he did not play for the side then. He played for the Gentlemen of Sheffield in 1879, but his first appearance in first class cricket for Derbyshire was not until 1881. At that time, he was at living with his parents at the Manor House, Whitwell, Derbyshire where his father farmed 415 acres (1.7 km²), and he became a farmer himself. He was made a vice-president of Whitwell Cricket Club in 1881. 'G G' Walker with James Stubbings
and Samuel Malthouse
performed notably for the club in the 1880s and all three also played for Welbeck.
was against Yorkshire when he never had the chance to bowl and scored 2 runs in each innings. He did not play again in that season nor in the 1882 season
, and only played in two games in the 1883 season
. In the 1884
and 1885 season
, when William Cropper
lead the bowling, he played more frequently and in 1885 took 7-105 against Nottinghamshire
in one match and 5-87 in the other. In 1886 Walker was selected for two Gentlemen of England teams, in one of which against Australia he was in the team with his hero W.G. Grace. For the county he took 6-26 against MCC
, and 7-38 and 5-75 in the same match against Surrey
. In the 1887 season
] Walker took 5-54 for Derbyshire against Lancashire
and 5-49 against Surrey. He continued playing regularly for the Derbyshire club between 1888
and 1893
when it was without first-class status. In 1894 took 7-108 for Gentlemen against Players with W. G. Grace in the side again although he never had the opportunity to bowl against him in any of his first class games. He also took 5-24 for Derbyshire against Lancashire. In the 1896 season
he took 9-85 against Leicestershire
although his average was deteriorating. He played four games in the 1897 season
and six in the 1898 season
by which time his bowling made little impression, while Billy Bestwick
was beginning to star.
Walker was a left-arm bowler and took 202 first-class wickets at an average of 25.06 and a best performance of 9-68. He was a left-hand batsman and played 128 innings in 75 first class matches with a top score of 66 and an average of 10.97.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
between 1881 and 1898.
Early life
Walker was born at Harthill Grange, Yorkshire, the son of George Walker a farmer. His father maintained a diary which noted after his fifth birthday "Mr Hudson sent Georgy a cricket bat and stumps". Walker then went to school, boarding at WhitwellWhitwell
Whitwell can be a place name in the UK:*Whitwell House, County Durham*Whitwell, Derbyshire*Whitwell Common, Derbyshire*Whitwell, Hertfordshire*Whitwell, Isle of Wight*Whitwell & Reepham railway station, Norfolk*Whitwell, North Yorkshire...
and later was at Broomback House School, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. He took every opportunity to watch W. G. Grace
W. G. Grace
William Gilbert Grace, MRCS, LRCP was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, having a special significance in terms of his importance to the development of the sport...
play against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. By 14 he was playing cricket for Whitwell and by 1880 for Whitwell he had a batting average of 27 and a bowling average of just 4. He was also winning prizes as a sprinter.
Walker had a county trial for Derbyshire at Chesterfield when he was 18, but he did not play for the side then. He played for the Gentlemen of Sheffield in 1879, but his first appearance in first class cricket for Derbyshire was not until 1881. At that time, he was at living with his parents at the Manor House, Whitwell, Derbyshire where his father farmed 415 acres (1.7 km²), and he became a farmer himself. He was made a vice-president of Whitwell Cricket Club in 1881. 'G G' Walker with James Stubbings
James Stubbings
James Stubbings was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire between 1880 and 1885....
and Samuel Malthouse
Samuel Malthouse
Samuel Malthouse was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1890 and 1895.Malthouse was born in Whitwell, Derbyshire, the son of John G. Malthouse, a mason, and his wife Ann...
performed notably for the club in the 1880s and all three also played for Welbeck.
Derbyshire cricketer
Walker's debut match for Derbyshire in the 1881 seasonDerbyshire County Cricket Club in 1881
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1881 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for ten years. The team played nine first class matches and won two of them-1881 season:...
was against Yorkshire when he never had the chance to bowl and scored 2 runs in each innings. He did not play again in that season nor in the 1882 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1882
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1882 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for eleven years. The team played eight first class matches and won one of them-1882 season:...
, and only played in two games in the 1883 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1883
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1883 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twelve years. They won two first class matches out of ten.-1883 season:...
. In the 1884
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1884
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1884 represents the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for thirteen years. They lost all ten county matches and their only victory was against MCC.-1884 season:...
and 1885 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1885
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1885 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for fourteen years. They won three first class matches out of eleven.-1885 season:...
, when William Cropper
William Cropper
William Cropper was an English cricketer and football player who played cricket for Derbyshire CCC between 1882 and 1888 and football once for Derby County...
lead the bowling, he played more frequently and in 1885 took 7-105 against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
in one match and 5-87 in the other. In 1886 Walker was selected for two Gentlemen of England teams, in one of which against Australia he was in the team with his hero W.G. Grace. For the county he took 6-26 against MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
, and 7-38 and 5-75 in the same match against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
. In the 1887 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1887
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1887 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for sixteen years and was the last season before they lost first class status for seven years.-1887 season:...
] Walker took 5-54 for Derbyshire against Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
and 5-49 against Surrey. He continued playing regularly for the Derbyshire club between 1888
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1888
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1888 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for seventeen years and it was the first season they lost first class status.-1888 season:...
and 1893
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1893
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1893 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twenty two years. Derbyshire's matches were not considered to be first class in this season. The club had lost first class status after 1887 and did not regain it until the following...
when it was without first-class status. In 1894 took 7-108 for Gentlemen against Players with W. G. Grace in the side again although he never had the opportunity to bowl against him in any of his first class games. He also took 5-24 for Derbyshire against Lancashire. In the 1896 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1896
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1896 represents the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twenty five years. It was their second season in the County Championship and they came seventh.-1896 season:...
he took 9-85 against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
although his average was deteriorating. He played four games in the 1897 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1897
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1897 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twenty six years. It was their third season in the County Championship and they came fourteenth after failing to win a match..-1897 season:...
and six in the 1898 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1898
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1898 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twenty-seven years. It was their fourth season in the County Championship and they won three matches to finish ninth in the Championship table.-1898 season:Derbyshire played...
by which time his bowling made little impression, while Billy Bestwick
Billy Bestwick
William Bestwick was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1898 and 1926. He was a demon medium-fast bowler who took over 1400 wickets for the county, including 10 in one innings...
was beginning to star.
Walker was a left-arm bowler and took 202 first-class wickets at an average of 25.06 and a best performance of 9-68. He was a left-hand batsman and played 128 innings in 75 first class matches with a top score of 66 and an average of 10.97.