Charles Alcock

MR. CHARLES WILLIAM ALCOCK, J.P., who was born at Sunderland on December 2nd, 1842, died at Brighton on February 26th. He was educated at Harrow, but, not enjoying very good health, did not obtain a place in the eleven. In later years, however, he played occasionally for the Gentlemen of Essex, the Butterflies, Harrow Wanderers, and Incogniti, and once had the curious experience of captaining France against Germany in a match at Hamburg. Scores and Biographies describes him as a steady bat, a fair change fast bowler, and an excellent long stop or long field. On February 6th, 1872, on the strong recommendation of Mr. V. E. Walker, he was appointed secretary to the Surrey County C.C., a position he held until the time of his death. Of his work for Surrey cricket it would be difficult to speak too highly, for he was at all times both willing and anxious to do all in his power to further its welfare. He was a most voluminous writer on the game, and in 1882 founded Cricket, of which he was editor from the first until the day of his death. For twenty-nine years he edited James Lillywhite"s Cricketers" Annual, and was the chief contributor to Surrey Cricket: Its History and Associations, published in 1902. For many years he arranged the fixture-list of teams visiting England, and it was due principally to him that the first meeting between Englandand Australia in this country-at the Oval in 1880-took place. Mr. Alcock"s connection with Association Football was so prominent that it is not too much to say that he more than anyone else made the game. He captained England against Scotland in 1875, and it was under his leadership that the Wanderers won the Football Association Cup in 1872 and in four subsequent years. He was hon. Secretary of the Football Association from 1867 until 1890, secretary from 1891 until 1896, and a vice-president from the last-mentioned year until his death.