William Storer (25 January 1867 – 28 February 1912) was an English footballer and a

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 six

Tests Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...

from 1897 to 1899, played first-class cricket for

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes much of the Peak District National Park, the southern end of the Pennine range of hills and part of the National Forest. It borders Greater Manchester to the nor ...

from 1887 to 1905 and played football for

Derby County Derby County Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Derby, Derbyshire, England. In 2022, it was announced that DCFC was acquired by Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, a Derbyshire-based property group. Founded in 1884 ...

. He scored nearly 13,000 runs for Derbyshire and achieved over 430 dismissals from behind the stumps. Storer was born at Ripley,

, the son of John Storer, an engine smith, and his wife Elizabeth. In 1881 the family were living at

Butterley Butterley is a village in the English county of Derbyshire near to Ripley. It is the site of the Midland Railway – Butterley, as well as the old Butterley Brickworks. Notable residents *Sir James Outram, hero of the Indian Mutiny, was born ...

Hill and he was a turner's apprentice. Storer was a specialist wicket keeper who was reputed to stand up to the wicket against fast bowlers. He was also a highly skilled batsman at a time when

wicket-keeper batsmen The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being watchful of the batsman and ready to take a catch, stump the batsman out and run out a batsman when occasion arises. Th ...

were rare and twice averaged over fifty in a season. His first-class record of 216 not out came against

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ; postal abbreviation Leics.) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East Midlands, England. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire t ...

in the 1899 season and he was the first professional to score two hundreds, against a strong Yorkshire side, in a match. He was also a competent

leg spinner Leg spin is a type of spin bowling in cricket. A leg spinner bowls right-arm with a wrist spin action. The leg spinner's normal delivery causes the ball to spin from right to left (from the bowler's perspective) when the ball bounces on the ...

, taking 232 first-class wickets at 33.89. Storer also appeared for London County. Storer toured Australia for England, making his debut in the 1897 Test at Sydney and played against the tourists at home, his last Test coming at Trent Bridge in 1899 when he was also named a

Wisden cricketer of the year The ''Wisden'' Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication ''Wisden Cricketers' Almanack'', based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season". The award began in 1889 with the naming ...

. His Test appearances were limited by the selectors preference for

Dick Lilley Arthur Frederick Augustus Lilley (28 November 1866 – 17 November 1929), variously known as Dick Lilley or A. A. Lilley, was an English professional cricketer who played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club from 1888 to 1911, and in 35 Test ma ...

. Storer was 'severely reprimanded' for 'objectionable language' during the 1898 test where he was overheard to say "You are a cheat, and you know it", during the luncheon on the final day of the 5th test match at the

Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test cricket, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and as ...

. Storer died in

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...

at the age of 45. His brother Harry Storer also played cricket for Derbyshire and football for

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Storer, Bill 1867 births 1912 deaths England Test cricketers People from Ripley, Derbyshire Derbyshire cricketers London County cricketers Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers Players cricketers Wisden Cricketers of the Year English footballers Association football forwards Derby County F.C. players English Football League players C. I. Thornton's XI cricketers English cricketers North v South cricketers A. E. Stoddart's XI cricketers Wicket-keepers

See also

References