Lancashire player number 98 - Melling, John by Don Ambrose

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Player:

J Melling

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Lancashire 1874-76
Born 6.4.1848 Enfield, Clayton-le-Moors.
Died 31.1.1881 Keighley Green, Burnley.

 

Just over 5ft 7 inches tall and weighing eleven stone. A good right-handed batsman and a useful bowler at club level. He was professional at Rishton 1873-75 and at Burnley 1876-78.

 

In the early 1870s he lived at 79 Pickup Street, Enfield, but at the time he moved to Burnley took over as landlord of the Grimshaw Arms, Temple Street, Burnley.

 

He first played for Lancashire at Maidstone against Kent on 17th and 18th August 1874, when he scored 6 and 20 and took a catch. He also bowled four, four-ball, overs for 16 runs.

 

The following year he played against Derbyshire at Derby, as he did the following year.

 

In August 1878 he played for Eighteen of Burnley and District against the Australians, scoring 7 and taking two wickets Charles Bannerman and Tom Horan.

 

During his time at Burnley he was paid £50 for his first year, rising to £55 in his third and final year. In addition he was granted a benefit match each year. On his retirement he was taken on as groundsman and he continued to play for the club during 1879 and 1880 as an amateur.

 

He died suddenly, from heart disease, at the early age of 33. The Burnley newspaper stated that he had not played cricket for some time prior to his death, but he played for Burnley as late as September 1880 and had represented Burnley and District Eighteen against the United South of England Eleven in early August.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)