Alfred Henry John Cochrane (26 January 1865 – 14 December 1948) was an English

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

er who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire between 1884 and 1886, and for Oxford University between 1885 and 1888. He subsequently made his name as a writer on sporting subjects and of light verse. Cochrane was the second son of Rev. David Crawford Cochrane, Master of

Etwall Hospital Etwall Hospital was a 94-bed rehabilitation centre in Etwall, Derbyshire, England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies north ...

(

almshouses An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) was charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the medieval era. They were often targeted at the poor of a locality, at those from certain ...

) and his wife Jane Tomlinson. He was born Moka, Mauritius where his father was at the time Chaplain to the Bishop. He was educated at Repton School and made his debut for Derbyshire in the 1884 season in August against Lancashire, when he took 6 for 51. He played two more matches for Derbyshire during the season. He also played football for Derby County in 1884 in its pre-league days. Cochrane went on to Hertford College, Oxford and played cricket more regularly for University over the next four years, taking part three times in the Varsity match. He played two matches for Derbyshire in the 1885 season, neither of which was against a first-class side, and played only in the Derbyshire match against the Australians in the 1886 season. In 28 first-class matches he took 103 wickets with his left arm medium pace, with a best performance of 7 for 66, at an average of just 18.99. Cochrane moved to Northumberland when he joined Armstrong Whitworth, becoming secretary of the company. There, he played minor county cricket for Northumberland. In January, 1910 he unsuccessfully contested Tyneside, and from 1912 to 1927 he served as a member of the

River Tyne The River Tyne is a river in North East England. Its length (excluding tributaries) is . It is formed by the North Tyne and the South Tyne, which converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Wate ...

Commission. Cochrane was a governor of his old school, Repton, from 1921 to 1944. Cochrane had a skill at writing light verse, and his writing had a graceful touch. He wrote of cricket – the "uncertain game" – and of "the man who snicketh the length ball." He was interested in the nineteenth-century writers of light verse, especially in J K S (

James Kenneth Stephen James Kenneth Stephen (25 February 1859 – 3 February 1892) was an English poet, and tutor to Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. Early life James Kenneth Stephen was the second son of Sir James Fitzjame ...

) and

Winthrop Mackworth Praed Winthrop Mackworth Praed (28 July 180215 July 1839)—typically written as W. Mackworth Praed—was an English politician and poet. Life Early life Praed was born in London, United Kingdom. The family name of Praed was derived from the marri ...

with whom his verse was compared.The Times, Obituary, 16 December 1948 Of football he wrote in the poem ''"To Anthea"''. :''I once admitted—to my shame—'' :''That football was a brutal game.'' :''Because She hates it.'' Later he recalled with nostalgia the expeditions in the Highlands of his youth, and lamented that "the way, though once it was short, is long." He contributed to The Times for many years on sporting topics, especially on cricket. Cochrane died at Batheaston, Somerset at the age of 83. Cochrane married in 1895 Ethel Noble youngest daughter of

Sir Andrew Noble, 1st Baronet Sir Andrew Noble, 1st Baronet (13 September 1831 – 22 October 1915) was a Scottish physicist noted for his work on ballistics and gunnery. Early life Born at Greenock, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and at the Royal Military Academy, ...

. He was the brother of Sir Arthur Cochrane a distinguished member of the College of Arms and

Charles Walter Hamilton Cochrane Charles Walter Hamilton Cochrane, MCS, CMG (3 August 1876 – 26 October 1932), was the 17th British Resident of Perak and Chief Secretary to Government of Malaya from 1929 to 1932. Career In 1899, Cochrane joined the Federated Malay Civil S ...

of the Federated Malay States service.

Publications

*"The Kestrel's Nest" 1894 *"Leviore Plectro" 1896 *"Told in the Pavilion" 1896 *"Collected Verses" 1903 *"The Sweeper of the Leaves" 1908 *"Later Verses" 1918 *"Records of the Harlequins" 1930 * and verses and articles for Newspapers and Magazines.

References

External links

cricinfo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cochrane, Alfred 1865 births 1948 deaths People educated at Repton School Alumni of Hertford College, Oxford Oxford University cricketers Northumberland cricketers Derbyshire cricketers Derby County F.C. players English writers English cricketers Gentlemen cricketers Men's association football players not categorized by position English men's footballers British Mauritius people