THE NOTTS CRICKETER WHO INVENTED FOOTBALL SHIN PADS

Sam Weller Widdowson is hardly a household name when it comes to Nottinghamshire cricket, but he did make one particularly important contribution to sport… albeit in football.

Like a number of players of other players such as John Dixon, Harry Daft, Arthur and Henry Cursham, James Iremonger, Billy Gunn, Walter Keeton, Cyril Poole and Mordecai Sherwin, the man born in Hucknall (then Hucknall Torkard) played both professional football and first-class cricket.

And while a number of the aforementioned names made more of an impact at international level in one sport or another than Widdowson, who could boast just one England football cap against Scotland at Hampden Park in 1880, his legacy will arguably be far further reaching.

That’s because it was he who, in 1874, came up with the idea of cutting down a pair of cricket pads and strapping them over his socks to prevent damage to his legs and ankles when playing football as a burly forward.

Like so often with the best ideas, it was ridiculed at first, yet, before too long, other players were following suit, realising the shin guard, which now must be worn in a competitive game under the FA’s jurisdiction, was well worth employing. These days, you wouldn’t get Lionel Messi or Christiano Ronaldo risking injury without them.

He came out to bat again and was caught off the bowling of none other than WG Grace

Widdowson has been frequently acknowledged for his prowess on the football field, where he had a worthy career for Nottingham Forest after previously playing across the Trent for Notts County. He was a founder member of the Reds in 1866 and later captained the side between 1873 and 1885, acting as chairman between 1879 and 1884.

Much less is documented about his cricket exploits, however, most likely because he didn’t have the same kind of success, only playing four senior matches, three of them for his county.

The fast round arm bowler, born in April 1851 and educated at the People’s College in Nottingham, is recorded as having played in a match in July 1878 between Melton Mowbray and the United South of England XI, which featured a number of oddities.

Firstly, the home side for the three-day match played at Saxby Road saw Melton include 22 players in their line-up, compared to the South’s more conventional 11. The numerical advantage, however, did not prevent the visitors dominating the game, even though it eventually ended in a draw.

Melton batted first and were dismissed for 211, thanks in large part to 62 not out from Chris Harrison as Widdowson, not recognised as a particularly accomplished batsman, was one of 10 victims for James Southerton, bowled for a duck.

In reply, The South team posted a 43-run lead as they were all out for 254, with Walter Gilbert making 129. Widdowson bowled 10 overs for just 13 runs, but was not among the wickets and his luck was out when he came to bat again, too, caught off the bowling of none other than WG Grace, who took 11 wickets in the innings before Melton were 175 all out.

The South were close to victory as England’s Grace hit 57 not out, but they finished on 91-2, 41 runs short, when time ran out.

Widdowson made his first-class cricket debut later that month as he played for Notts at Old Trafford where Lancashire compiled 152 on a low-scoring wicket, thanks in large part to Allan Steel’s 78 as Alfred Shaw took 6-41 and Frederick Morley 4-76.

Notts were skittled for 43 as Widdowson made 5 batting at eight and then, following on, did slightly better with 140 as he this time made 11. Lancashire, though, knocked off the runs needed easily to finish on 26-0 and win by 10 wickets.

Widdowson’s next outing was a non first-class match at Grace Road against Leicestershire, and this time it was more successful for his side, even if he had little part to play.

Notts piled up 348 all out with Billy Barnes scoring 98 and Frederick Wyld 74, which proved more than enough to win by an innings as the hosts were routed for 87 and 75 as Richard Daft took 7-39 in the first innings and Alfred Shaw 7-7 in the second. How Notts bowlers would love either of those bowling figures in a 2018 Specsavers County Championship game.

A final game for Widdowson at senior level came in July 1879 when he played for Notts against the MCC at the Duke of St Albans Ground in Bestwood Park.

The ‘Sam Weller’ part of Widdowson’s unusual name was derived from his father’s favourite Dickens character

The two-day match was dominated by the hosts, but eventually ended in a draw. Notts batted first and posted 112, with Widdowson finishing on 9 not out. Thomas Shooter and William Oscroft then claimed four wickets apiece as the MCC crumbled to 63 all out.

The lace warehouseman by trade did even better in the second innings of Notts innings of 219 as he made a solid 25, but time ran out for the hosts, with the MCC on 18-1 when the captains shook hands.

The ‘Sam Weller’ part of Widdowson’s unusual name was derived from his father’s favourite Dickens character Sam Weller, of the Pickwick Papers.

Having gone on to be a football referee after finishing his playing career, he officiated in the first game to use nets on the goals and also coached at Repton School in the 1890s, as well as being a Member of the FA Council.

In 1912, Widdowson had the first cinema built in Beeston, the Picture Palace, which was the town where he died in May 1927 at the age of 76 after contracting pneumonia.

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