Alfort Smith
Encyclopedia
Alfort Smith was an English
cricket
er who kept wicket for Lancashire
in 1867 and 1871 and for Derbyshire
between 1873 and 1880.
Smith was born in Bank Lane, near Bury
Lancashire
, but his parents moved to Glossop
shortly after his birth. He became a cotton weaver, and started playing for Glossop cricket club in 1863 at the age of 16. He was a respected batsman and wicket-keeper at the club. He made his debut for Lancashire in 1867 against Yorkshire when he scored 2 and was not out for zero and held three catches behind the stumps. However, he did not play again until the 1871 season when he played against Derbyshire in their first outing. Smith was top scorer at 11 not out in Lancashire's record low innings score of 25, but his two catches and two stumpings were not enough to stave off defeat. He played two more matches for Lancashire and umpired one match.
After a year out of the game, Smith transferred his allegiance to Derbyshire and played one match in the 1873 season
which was a return match against his old side of Lancashire. In the 1875 season
Smith became Derbyshire's regular wicket-keeper, and playing with bowlers such as William Mycroft
, George Hay
and William Hickton
became reliable enough for the club to dispense with the services of George Frost
as long-stop. He played regularly every year until 1880.
Smith was a right-handed batsman and played 98 innings in 55 first class matches at an average of 4.76 and a top score of 30. As wicket-keeper, he took 70 catches and stumped 12 times. He also bowled 16 balls without a wicket.
In 1881 Smith was living with his family as a cotton weaver at Fitzallan Street Glossop Dale. He maintained his links with the game, umpiring several matches each year until 1901. He was given the Lancashire v Yorkshire match in August 1893 and after Yorkshire had been defeated by 5 runs, they complained because he had been born in Lancashire.
Smith died at Glossop at the age of 62.
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...
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...
er who kept wicket for 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...
in 1867 and 1871 and 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 1873 and 1880.
Smith was born in Bank Lane, near Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, but his parents moved to Glossop
Glossop
Glossop is a market town within the Borough of High Peak in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the Glossop Brook, a tributary of the River Etherow, about east of the city of Manchester, west of the city of Sheffield. Glossop is situated near Derbyshire's county borders with Cheshire, Greater...
shortly after his birth. He became a cotton weaver, and started playing for Glossop cricket club in 1863 at the age of 16. He was a respected batsman and wicket-keeper at the club. He made his debut for Lancashire in 1867 against Yorkshire when he scored 2 and was not out for zero and held three catches behind the stumps. However, he did not play again until the 1871 season when he played against Derbyshire in their first outing. Smith was top scorer at 11 not out in Lancashire's record low innings score of 25, but his two catches and two stumpings were not enough to stave off defeat. He played two more matches for Lancashire and umpired one match.
After a year out of the game, Smith transferred his allegiance to Derbyshire and played one match in the 1873 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1873
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1873 was the third cricket season which the English club Derbyshire played. Officials and supporters were disappointed that they had been unable to arrange further first-class fixtures than the two against Lancashire, but they managed to arrange an extra match...
which was a return match against his old side of Lancashire. In the 1875 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1875
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1875 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire played their fifth season. Nottinghamshire had played informal matches aggainst Derbyshire in previous seasons, and joined Lancashire and Kent to make a third County side playing first class matches...
Smith became Derbyshire's regular wicket-keeper, and playing with bowlers such as William Mycroft
William Mycroft
William Mycroft was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire and MCC between 1873 and 1886. He was a left-arm fast bowler with a great deal of spin and a dangerous yorker that was often believed to be unfair - which may explain why he was not considered for the earliest...
, George Hay
George Hay (cricketer)
George Hay was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1875 and 1886.Hay was born at Staveley and became a professional cricketer playing at Manningham, Bradford from 1873 to 1875...
and William Hickton
William Hickton (cricketer, born 1842)
William Hickton was an English cricketer who played for Lancashire between 1867 and 1871 and for Derbyshire between 1871 and 1878. He was a member of the team that played Derbyshire's first match in May 1871....
became reliable enough for the club to dispense with the services of George Frost
George Frost
George Frost was an American seaman, jurist, and statesman from Durham, New Hampshire. He was a delegate for New Hampshire in the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779....
as long-stop. He played regularly every year until 1880.
Smith was a right-handed batsman and played 98 innings in 55 first class matches at an average of 4.76 and a top score of 30. As wicket-keeper, he took 70 catches and stumped 12 times. He also bowled 16 balls without a wicket.
In 1881 Smith was living with his family as a cotton weaver at Fitzallan Street Glossop Dale. He maintained his links with the game, umpiring several matches each year until 1901. He was given the Lancashire v Yorkshire match in August 1893 and after Yorkshire had been defeated by 5 runs, they complained because he had been born in Lancashire.
Smith died at Glossop at the age of 62.