Owen Robert Dunell (15 July 1856 – 21 October 1929) was a South African cricketer who captained his country in its first

Test match Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to: * Test cricket * Test match (indoor cricket) * Test match (rugby union) * Test match (rugby league) * Test match (association football) ...

in 1888/89, as well as an early association footballer who played for

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...

at the

1877 FA Cup Final The 1877 FA Cup Final was a Association football, football match between Wanderers F.C., Wanderers and oxford University A.F.C., Oxford University on 24 March 1877 at The Oval, Kennington Oval in London. It was the sixth final of the world's ...

Education

Although born in Port Elizabeth, Dunell was educated in England at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

and at

Trinity College, Oxford (That which you wish to be secret, tell to nobody) , named_for = The Holy Trinity , established = , sister_college = Churchill College, Cambridge , president = Dame Hilary Boulding , location = Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BH , coordinates ...

, where he graduated BA in 1878 and Master of Arts in 1883.

Cricket career

He played only three first-class games, two of them Test matches, although he was captain only in the first, being replaced by William Milton for the second game. His only other first-class match was for Port Elizabeth against

Natal NATAL or Natal may refer to: Places * Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil * Natal, South Africa (disambiguation), a region in South Africa ** Natalia Republic, a former country (1839–1843) ** Colony of Natal, a former British colony ( ...

the following year.

Football career

He also played football in his youth, in position of full back, for Oxford University as well as two matches as a football 'Blue' with Cambridge University in 1877 and 1878.

C.W. Alcock Charles William Alcock (2 December 1842 – 26 February 1907) was an English sportsman, administrator, author and editor. He was a major instigator in the development of both international football and cricket, as well as being the creator of ...

described him as "a very safe and neat kick; a thoroughly reliable back, though a little wanting, perhaps, in pace". He appeared in the 1877 FA Cup Final against Wanderers at Kennington Oval, which his team lost. He was a member of the Football Association committee in 1878.

Later life

Dunell spent some time in business in Natal, but settled in England, living at

New Alresford New Alresford or simply Alresford ( or ) is a market town and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is northeast of Winchester and southwest of the town of Alton. New Alresford has independent shops, a ...

, Hampshire, ultimately in

South Kensington South Kensington, nicknamed Little Paris, is a district just west of Central London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Historically it settled on part of the scattered Middlesex village of Brompton. Its name was supplanted with ...

, London. He died, while visiting, in

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...

, France, at the age of 73. His son,

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

, also played first-class cricket.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunell, Owen 1856 births 1929 deaths Cricketers from Port Elizabeth South African soccer players South African expatriate soccer players Expatriate footballers in England Eastern Province cricketers South Africa Test cricketers South Africa Test cricket captains South African cricketers People educated at Eton College Alumni of Trinity College, Oxford Oxford University A.F.C. players Association football defenders FA Cup Final players