Brief profile of Louis Hall by Don Ambrose

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Player:

L Hall

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HALL, Louis.
Professional.
Born at Batley, Yorkshire, 1st November 1852.
Died at Morecambe, Lancashire, 19th November 1915.
He learned his cricket in the Batley area and joined the Batley Club when it was formed in 1871, being coached by John Smith of Yeadon. He was tried for Yorkshire in 1873 without much success and went to Perthshire as a professional, scoring the first ever century on the North Inch. He was tried again for Yorkshire in 1878 and held his place until 1892, as a slow scoring opening batsman. He played in 315 first-class matches 1873-94, 279 of them for Yorkshire, which side he captained in the absence of Lord Hawke. On his retirement from the first-class game he coached at Uppingham School and stood as umpire 1894-99 and in 1904. He was a steward and loyal member of Hick Lane Wesleyan Chapel and a lay preacher in the Batley area. He was a liberal councillor for nine years. Chairman of the Yorkshire Cricketers’ Benevolent Fund, in 1890 he deferred his own benefit so that the badly injured Bates could have a clear field for his. He was still playing for Batley after the age of 50. He was for a time Secretary of the Batley Rugby Club.
In the 1881 Census he was living at Central Street, Batley, Yorkshire, aged 28, a woollen merchant, with his wife Amelia, aged 26, and son Harold L. aged one.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Don Ambrose)