Brief profile of William Attewell by Don Ambrose

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Player:

W Attewell

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ATTEWELL, William.
Professional.
Born at Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, 12th June 1861.
Died at Long Eaton, Derbyshire, 11th June 1927.
He began his career as a professional cricketer at the age of 16 with the Nottingham Commercial Cricket Club, at Trent Bridge, and got his first chance with the county eleven at the age of nineteen, during the Nottinghamshire players strike in 1881. He played for the county 283 times between then and 1899 and appeared in 429 first-class matches altogether, including ten Test Matches. His last first-class match was for the MCC in 1900 and he received benefits both at Trent Bridge and Lord’s. He was a first-class umpire 1902-07 and undertook professional appointments up to 1909. He had a butchers shop at Keyworth but retired to Long Eaton, where he died.
The 1881 Census shows him, aged 19 and still unmarried, living with his father, Samuel aged 55, a frame work knitter (cotton), and mother, Deborah aged 45, a dressmaker, in Keyworth. He is also described as a frame work knitter (cotton) as is his brother Samuel, aged 17. His brothers John, aged 13 and Thomas, aged 11, are scholars, as is his sister Jessie, aged 8. Thomas was also to become a professional cricketer. The only other occupant of the house is three year old Flora Walliss, a niece.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Don Ambrose)