George Glossop Walker (1860–1908) 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 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 ...

between 1881 and 1898.

Early life

Walker was born 14 June 1860 at Harthill Grange, Yorkshire, the son of George Walker a farmer. His father maintained a diary, which noted after his fifth birthday, "Mr Hudson sent Georgy a cricket bat and stumps". Walker then went to school, boarding at Whitwell and later was at Broomback House School,

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

. He took every opportunity to watch

W. G. Grace William Gilbert Grace (18 July 1848 – 23 October 1915) was an English Amateur status in first-class cricket, amateur cricketer who was important in the development of the sport and is widely considered one of its greatest players. He played ...

play against

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

. By 14, he was playing cricket for Whitwell and by 1880 he had a batting average of 27 and a bowling average of just 4. He was also winning prizes as a sprinter. Walker had a county trial for Derbyshire at Chesterfield when he was 18, but he did not play for the side then. He played for the Gentlemen of Sheffield in 1879, but his first appearance in first-class cricket for Derbyshire was not until 1881. At that time, he was at living with his parents at the Manor House, Whitwell, Derbyshire where his father farmed , and he became a farmer himself. He was made a vice-president of Whitwell Cricket Club in 1881. 'G G' Walker with

James Stubbings James Stubbings (27 April 1856 – 17 July 1912) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire between 1880 and 1885. Life Stubbings was born in Whitwell, Derbyshire, the son of James Stubbings, a mason, and his wife An ...

and

Samuel Malthouse Samuel Malthouse (13 October 1857 – 7 February 1931) was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1890 and 1895. Malthouse was born in Whitwell, Derbyshire, the son of John G. Malthouse, a mason, and his wife Ann. Malthouse ...

performed notably for the club in the 1880s and all three also played for Welbeck.

Derbyshire cricketer

Walker's debut match for Derbyshire in the 1881 season was against Yorkshire when he never had the chance to bowl and scored 2 runs in each innings. He did not play again in that season nor in the 1882 season, and only played in two games in the 1883 season. In the

1884 Events January–March * January 4 – The Fabian Society is founded in London. * January 5 – Gilbert and Sullivan's ''Princess Ida'' premières at the Savoy Theatre, London. * January 18 – Dr. William Price atte ...

and 1885 season, when

William Cropper William Cropper (27 December 1862 – 13 January 1889) was an English cricketer and footballer who played cricket for Derbyshire County Cricket Club between 1882 and 1888 and football, as a centre forward, once for Derby County. He was one of ni ...

lead the bowling, he played more frequently and in 1885 took 7–105 against

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The traditi ...

in one match and 5–87 in the other. In 1886 Walker was selected for two

Gentlemen of England Cricket, and hence English amateur cricket, probably began in England during the medieval period but the earliest known reference concerns the game being played c.1550 by children on a plot of land at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Surrey ...

teams, in one of which against Australia he was in the team with his hero W.G. Grace. For the county he took 6–26 against

Marylebone Cricket Club Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club was formerly the governing body of cricket retaining considerable global influence ...

(MCC), and 7–38 and 5–75 in the same match against

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

. In the 1887 season Walker took 5–54 for Derbyshire against

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

and 5–49 against Surrey. He continued playing regularly for the Derbyshire club between

1888 In Germany, 1888 is known as the Year of the Three Emperors. Currently, it is the year that, when written in Roman numerals, has the most digits (13). The next year that also has 13 digits is the year 2388. The record will be surpassed as late ...

and

1893 Events January–March * January 2 – Webb C. Ball introduces railroad chronometers, which become the general railroad timepiece standards in North America. * Mark Twain started writing Puddn'head Wilson. * January 6 – Th ...

when it was without first-class status. In 1894 took 7–108 for Gentlemen against Players with W. G. Grace in the side again although he never had the opportunity to bowl against him in any of his first-class games. He also took 5–24 for Derbyshire against Lancashire. In the 1896 season he took 9–85 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 ...

although his average was deteriorating. He played four games in the 1897 season and six in the 1898 season by which time his bowling made little impression, while

Billy Bestwick William Bestwick (24 February 1875 – 2 May 1938) was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1898 and 1926. He was a medium-fast bowler who took over 1,400 wickets for the county, including 10 in one innings. From his wild tem ...

was beginning to star. Walker was a left-arm bowler and took 202 first-class wickets at an average of 25.06 and a best performance of 9–68. He was a left-hand batsman and played 128 innings in 75 first-class matches with a top score of 66 and an average of 10.97.

Later life

Walker was a leading member of the Whitwell community and his home and fields were used for local flower shows and other celebrations. He was an Overseer and a Guardian of the Poor.Whitwell Local History Group People
/ref> He died 11 January 1908 in Whitwell at the age of 48.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, George Glossop 1860 births 1908 deaths Derbyshire cricketers English cricketers Gentlemen cricketers North v South cricketers Gentlemen of England cricketers Cricketers from Yorkshire People from Whitwell, Derbyshire Cricketers from Derbyshire Lord March's XI cricketers