Lives in Cricket No 19 - Frank Sugg

club in its area of Lancashire. In the mid-1880s a number of cricket leagues were beginning to be established, culminating in 1892 with the formation of the Lancashire League, arguably the premier of all cricket leagues. In 1882 the Burnley Football Club was formed and the footballers were encouraged by the cricket club to use a field at Turf Moor adjoining the cricket ground. Walter Sugg was Burnley Cricket Club’s professional and, no doubt on his recommendation, Frank was invited to play for the club during the town’s Annual Fair celebrations, 10 to 13 July 1885. Against Keighley he scored 46, against Nelson 61, and against Macclesfield and District 107, Burnley winning all three matches. Frank was promptly offered attractive terms to continue playing for Burnley for the rest of the season when his county commitments allowed and also to play for the football club in the winter. Moreover, he was offered a secretarial position at the club. His absences from his office duties at Derby to play football in the winter had already led to criticism from his employer and the acceptance of Burnley’s offer brought Frank’s secretarial responsibilities at Derby to an end. He had also complained to the Derbyshire committee of irregularities by one of the county’s officials, a complaint that was not acted upon. Frank accused the same official of refusing to hand over the money collected for Frank after his 187 against Hampshire in August 1885 and even, on occasions, to pay his match fee. 36 There is no way of establishing if these criticisms were justified, but they would not have endeared him to the committee at Derby while at the same time souring Frank’s feelings towards the club, his employer. Frank accepted Burnley’s offer without hesitation and decided to live in the town, a decision that was to lead to his qualification to play for Lancashire. Frank confessed later he had ‘just a little notion of this’ at the time, 37 though he no doubt kept the implications of the thought to himself. He was to enjoy three successful seasons with Burnley where his big hitting and fast scoring made him a great favourite with the club’s followers. According to one report, ‘the glaziers’ services were frequently required to repair damaged windows in Belvedere Road resulting from Sugg’s hard hits.’ 38 38 Playing for Yorkshire and Derbyshire 36 Ibid . 37 Athletic News , 2 August 1887. 38 Burnley CC Centenary Bazaar Handbook , 1935, p 59.