Percy Christopherson
Encyclopedia
Percy Christopherson was an English
sportsman who played rugby union
as a threequarter for Blackheath and represented England
at international level. Christopherson also played cricket
for Oxford University
, and represented Kent
in a single First Class match. He was employed as a teacher at Wellington College, Berkshire
.
. He played in three Varsity Matches
, from 1886 to 1888 winning his sporting 'Blues'. All three matches ended in loses for Oxford, and in the final season, under Christopherson's captaincy, the university team entered the Varsity encounter with a poor record; having lost as many games as they had won. In late 1888, Christopherson was selected for county team Kent, to face the 1888 touring New Zealand Natives. Kent lost 4-1.
After leaving university, Christopherson joined first class English club Blackheath, and it was while representing the senior team that he was approached to join the newly formed invitational touring side Barbarian F.C.
, making him one of the clubs founding members. The next season, Christopherson was selected by the Rugby Football Union
to represent England in the opening game of the 1891 Home Nations Championship
. Under the captaincy of Frederic Alderson
, England's first match of the tournament was away to Wales. Christopherson had an excellent game, scoring two tries
in the first half. The first was set up by half back William Leake
which Christopherson scored after eluding Billy Bancroft
. The second was a solo effort, scored after a fast, dodging run. Despite a promising start, Christopherson was not part of the team that travelled to Ireland a month later; being replaced by fellow Barbarian Piercy Morrison
. Christopherson's final match for England was the tournament decider against Scotland. The match ended in victory for the Scots, and Christopherson never represented his country again.
who played in one Test match for England. Percy Christopherson is noted as playing cricket for Oxford University during his student years, but he did not take part in any of the annual University Match
and therefore did not secure a 'Blue' for cricket.
In July 1887, Christopherson made his one and only First Class county appearance, for Kent against Sussex, alongside his brother Stanley. Christopherson, a right-handed batsman and medium pace bowler, took to the field to bat at middle order in the first innings. He scored 27 with the bat, the third highest in Kent's first innings, caught by Jesse Hide off the bowling of his brother Arthur
. Sussex went into bat chasing a first innings total of 214. Christopherson was one of three bowlers elected by Kent, and finished with respectable bowling statistics of 5 wickets taken for 43 runs from 37 overs. Kent regular, Jimmy Wootton
took the other five wickets. With only 79 runs scored, Sussex were forced to follow on, and although Christopherson's bowling was more expensive in the second innings, Kent needed just 108 to take the match after Sussex were bowled out. Kent reached the target without Christopherson taking the crease
again.
Christopherson's only other First Class appearance, was for Oxford University against the Gentlemen of England in 1889, though he played in two Minor County Championship
for Berkshire
in 1887 and 1889. During his cricket career Christopherson also played for Shropshire
, Gentlemen of Kent and Blackheath. His most unusual match took place on the Rectory Field
against Blackheath in 1888, when he was part of a team made up of himself, his father and his nine brothers, named 'The Christophersons'.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sportsman who played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
as a threequarter for Blackheath and represented England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
at international level. Christopherson also played cricket
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...
for Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
, and represented Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in a single First Class match. He was employed as a teacher at Wellington College, Berkshire
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
.
Rugby career
Christopherson first came to note as a rugby player when he represented Oxford UniversityOxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
. He played in three Varsity Matches
The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
, from 1886 to 1888 winning his sporting 'Blues'. All three matches ended in loses for Oxford, and in the final season, under Christopherson's captaincy, the university team entered the Varsity encounter with a poor record; having lost as many games as they had won. In late 1888, Christopherson was selected for county team Kent, to face the 1888 touring New Zealand Natives. Kent lost 4-1.
After leaving university, Christopherson joined first class English club Blackheath, and it was while representing the senior team that he was approached to join the newly formed invitational touring side Barbarian F.C.
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
, making him one of the clubs founding members. The next season, Christopherson was selected by the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
to represent England in the opening game of the 1891 Home Nations Championship
1891 Home Nations Championship
The 1891 Home Nations Championship was the ninth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 3 January and 7 March...
. Under the captaincy of Frederic Alderson
Frederic Alderson
Frederic Hodgson Rudd Alderson was an English international rugby union threequarter who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Hartlepool Rovers...
, England's first match of the tournament was away to Wales. Christopherson had an excellent game, scoring two tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in the first half. The first was set up by half back William Leake
William Leake (rugby player)
William Ralph Martin Leake was an English rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and the Harlequins and international rugby for England. In 1890 Leake became one of the original members of the Barbarians Football Club.Leake also played cricket as a youth, representing...
which Christopherson scored after eluding Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft
Billy Bancroft was a Welsh international fullback who played club rugby for Swansea and a county cricketer for Glamorgan, becoming their first professional player in 1895....
. The second was a solo effort, scored after a fast, dodging run. Despite a promising start, Christopherson was not part of the team that travelled to Ireland a month later; being replaced by fellow Barbarian Piercy Morrison
Piercy Morrison
Piercy Henderson "Dolly" Morrison was an English rugby union three-quarter who played club rugby for Northern and Cambridge University and played international rugby for England.-Personal history:...
. Christopherson's final match for England was the tournament decider against Scotland. The match ended in victory for the Scots, and Christopherson never represented his country again.
Cricket career
Christopherson is most notable as a cricketer, not because of his first class record with Kent, but for coming from a strong sporting family of ten brothers, who all played cricket to varying levels. The most successful of his brothers was StanleyStanley Christopherson
Stanley Christopherson was the best of the ten Christopherson brothers who played the sport of cricket as an amateur in Kent in the late 19th century...
who played in one Test match for England. Percy Christopherson is noted as playing cricket for Oxford University during his student years, but he did not take part in any of the annual University Match
The University Match (cricket)
The University Match in a cricketing context is generally understood to refer to the annual fixture between Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club...
and therefore did not secure a 'Blue' for cricket.
In July 1887, Christopherson made his one and only First Class county appearance, for Kent against Sussex, alongside his brother Stanley. Christopherson, a right-handed batsman and medium pace bowler, took to the field to bat at middle order in the first innings. He scored 27 with the bat, the third highest in Kent's first innings, caught by Jesse Hide off the bowling of his brother Arthur
Arthur Hide
Arthur Bollard Hide was a first class cricketer and test match umpire . Born in Eastbourne in 1860, he played 115 games for Sussex as a left arm medium pace bowler between 1882 and 1890. He took 403 wickets at 19.19 with a best of 7 for 44. He took 5 wickets in an innings on 20 occasions. He then...
. Sussex went into bat chasing a first innings total of 214. Christopherson was one of three bowlers elected by Kent, and finished with respectable bowling statistics of 5 wickets taken for 43 runs from 37 overs. Kent regular, Jimmy Wootton
Jimmy Wootton
James 'Jimmy' Wootton was an English cricketer. Wootton was a left-handed batsman who bowled left-arm medium pace....
took the other five wickets. With only 79 runs scored, Sussex were forced to follow on, and although Christopherson's bowling was more expensive in the second innings, Kent needed just 108 to take the match after Sussex were bowled out. Kent reached the target without Christopherson taking the crease
Crease (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, the crease is a certain area demarcated by white lines painted or chalked on the field of play.The term crease also refers to any of the lines themselves, particularly the popping crease. Law 9 of the Laws of Cricket governs the size and position of the crease markings...
again.
Christopherson's only other First Class appearance, was for Oxford University against the Gentlemen of England in 1889, though he played in two Minor County Championship
Minor Counties Cricket Championship
The Minor Counties Cricket Championship is a season-long competition in England that is contested by those county cricket clubs that do not have first-class status...
for Berkshire
Berkshire County Cricket Club
Berkshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Berkshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and MCCA Knockout Trophy....
in 1887 and 1889. During his cricket career Christopherson also played for Shropshire
Shropshire County Cricket Club
Shropshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Shropshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
, Gentlemen of Kent and Blackheath. His most unusual match took place on the Rectory Field
Rectory Field
Rectory Field is a playing field in Blackheath, London. It was developed in the 1880s by Blackheath Cricket, Football and Lawn Tennis Company and became the home of Kent County Cricket Club and rugby union team Blackheath F.C....
against Blackheath in 1888, when he was part of a team made up of himself, his father and his nine brothers, named 'The Christophersons'.