United South of England Eleven
Encyclopedia
The United South of England Eleven (USEE) was an itinerant cricket
team founded in November 1864 by Edgar Willsher
, as secretary, and John Lillywhite
, as treasurer.
The USEE was founded at a time of protracted between northern and southern professionals when the public's demand for exhibition matches was in decline. This was due to an excess of supply, as there had been several predecessors, and the growing interest in county cricket that was developing in the 1860s. But the USEE did succeed in prolonging its existence when it signed cricket's main attraction W G Grace in 1870.
(UNEE) was founded in 1869, it soon established a regional rivalry with the USEE and the two teams met three times in 1870, the UNEE's first season. The UNEE got off to a flying start when they easily beat the USEE, including the Graces, at Lord's
in July 1870 by an innings and 70 runs. In the next match at Bramall Lane
, Sheffield, the UNEE won by an innings and 5 runs. The Graces did not play in this game. The teams met again at The Oval in August and this match was drawn, the USEE needing 33 more to win with eight wickets standing and W G Grace still in with 51 not out.
The teams did not meet in 1871 and their rivalry was renewed in 1872 when four matches were arranged although the last one at Leeds in September was cancelled. The first match at Bishop's Stortford
in June was drawn. In August, the UNEE won by 8 wickets at Hunslet
. In September, the tide turned and the USEE recorded its first win over the UNEE by 8 wickets.
The elevens did not meet in 1873 and there were two matches in 1874 at Todmorden
and Wellingborough
. At Todmorden in July, the USEE won convincingly by an innings and 30 runs, largely due to a century by Henry Charlwood
and ten wickets taken by W G Grace. The USEE won by 9 wickets at Wellingborough in September after the UNEE followed on.
There were no matches in 1875 and then the UNEE reasserted itself in 1876 with a win and a draw from two matches. The first at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield was won by 7 wickets after Andrew Greenwood
scored 111. In the second match at the Town Cricket Club Ground
in Hull
, the UNEE was saved by an innings of 108 not out by Ephraim Lockwood
but the highlight of the match was W G Grace's innings of 126 in a USEE total of only 159.
That was the last time the UNEE played the USEE although there was a curious footnote to the series when the USEE played against the official North of England cricket team
in 1880. The North's team in this match at Rotherham
bore little resemblance to the UNEE but, nevertheless, the official North hammered another nail into the coffin of the unofficial USEE with a 53 run victory.
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...
team founded in November 1864 by Edgar Willsher
Edgar Willsher
Edgar "Ned" Willsher was an English cricketer who is famous for being the catalyst in the shift from roundarm to overarm bowling....
, as secretary, and John Lillywhite
John Lillywhite
John Lillywhite was an English cricketer during the game's roundarm era....
, as treasurer.
The USEE was founded at a time of protracted between northern and southern professionals when the public's demand for exhibition matches was in decline. This was due to an excess of supply, as there had been several predecessors, and the growing interest in county cricket that was developing in the 1860s. But the USEE did succeed in prolonging its existence when it signed cricket's main attraction W G Grace in 1870.
USEE matches against the UNEE
When the United North of England ElevenUnited North of England Eleven
The United North of England Eleven was an itinerant cricket team founded in 1869 by George Freeman and Roger Iddison with the backing of Lord Londesborough who became the team's president. As its name suggests, its purpose was to bring together the best players of England's northern counties and...
(UNEE) was founded in 1869, it soon established a regional rivalry with the USEE and the two teams met three times in 1870, the UNEE's first season. The UNEE got off to a flying start when they easily beat the USEE, including the Graces, at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
in July 1870 by an innings and 70 runs. In the next match at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, Sheffield, the UNEE won by an innings and 5 runs. The Graces did not play in this game. The teams met again at The Oval in August and this match was drawn, the USEE needing 33 more to win with eight wickets standing and W G Grace still in with 51 not out.
The teams did not meet in 1871 and their rivalry was renewed in 1872 when four matches were arranged although the last one at Leeds in September was cancelled. The first match at Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
in June was drawn. In August, the UNEE won by 8 wickets at Hunslet
Hunslet
Hunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
. In September, the tide turned and the USEE recorded its first win over the UNEE by 8 wickets.
The elevens did not meet in 1873 and there were two matches in 1874 at Todmorden
Todmorden
Todmorden is a market town and civil parish, located 17 miles from Manchester, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the Upper Calder Valley and has a total population of 14,941....
and Wellingborough
Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a market town and borough in Northamptonshire, England, situated some from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's current flood plain...
. At Todmorden in July, the USEE won convincingly by an innings and 30 runs, largely due to a century by Henry Charlwood
Henry Charlwood
Henry Rupert James Charlwood played cricket professionally for England in the first two Test matches ever played, which were against Australia in 1877. Charlwood was a top order batsman and occasional lob bowler.-References:**-External links:*...
and ten wickets taken by W G Grace. The USEE won by 9 wickets at Wellingborough in September after the UNEE followed on.
There were no matches in 1875 and then the UNEE reasserted itself in 1876 with a win and a draw from two matches. The first at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield was won by 7 wickets after Andrew Greenwood
Andrew Greenwood
Andrew Greenwood was an English cricketer, who played in the first two cricket Tests. Greenwood was small in height, but a gutsy batsman, who was also noted for his fielding in the deep....
scored 111. In the second match at the Town Cricket Club Ground
Town Cricket Club Ground
The Town Cricket Club Ground on Argyle Street in Hull, England hosted four first class matches from 1875 to 1879.North and South England XIs clashed on three occasions while Yorkshire CCC played Surrey CCC in a county fixture in the last match held there....
in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, the UNEE was saved by an innings of 108 not out by Ephraim Lockwood
Ephraim Lockwood
Ephraim Lockwood was an English first-class cricketer, and captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the 1876 and 1877 seasons.-Life and career:...
but the highlight of the match was W G Grace's innings of 126 in a USEE total of only 159.
That was the last time the UNEE played the USEE although there was a curious footnote to the series when the USEE played against the official North of England cricket team
North of England cricket team
The North of England appeared in first-class cricket between 1836 and 1961, most often in the showcase North v. South matches against the South of England although there were also games against touring teams, MCC and others....
in 1880. The North's team in this match at Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
bore little resemblance to the UNEE but, nevertheless, the official North hammered another nail into the coffin of the unofficial USEE with a 53 run victory.
Further reading
- H S AlthamHarry AlthamHarry Surtees Altham, CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer who became an important figure in the game as an administrator, historian and coach. His Wisden obituary described him as "among the best known personalities in the world of cricket"...
, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962 - Derek BirleyDerek BirleySir Derek Birley was an English educator and writer who had a strong interest in sport, especially cricket.He was educated at grammar school in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, and at Queens' College, Cambridge University....
, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999 - Rowland BowenRowland BowenMajor Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970