Lives in Cricket No 2 - Johnny Briggs

Chapter Three From Widnes to Old Trafford ‘He was a man into whose body the humours of summer entered day by day – sunshine, wind and refreshing dews.’ Neville Cardus Briggs was not re-employed for a third season at Hornsea in the wake of a measure of disquiet among some committee members who felt that he hadn’t put his whole heart and soul into the job. But, eighteen months later, Johnny Briggs was to make his first-class debut for Lancashire as a batsman/fielder. First though, Briggs’ burgeoning cricketing career took a sporting detour from their new home in Widnes, where Johnny’s father had accepted the position of professional at Widnes cricket club. Remarkably, he was to continue in that role for a further 15 years until he was 51. His longevity could have been something to do with the fact that, as part of the deal, he doubled up as landlord of the Cross Keys pub in Appleton village, where James, his wife Ellen, and their six children – Johnny, Joseph Banner, James Alfred, William Harold, Sarah and Alice – set up home. Appleton, recorded 12 Briggs took the wicket of his older brother, Joseph Banner Briggs, when the latter played for Nottinghamshire against Lancashire at Manchester in August 1888. Briggs had Joseph Briggs, batting at No.3, caught by Watson off his bowling for four in his only innings in the match. Joseph Briggs also bowled in Lancashire’s first innings, taking 0 for 21 off five overs in the match which was eventually drawn. Joseph Briggs had made his debut for Nottinghamshire in the previous month. He took 14 wickets first-class wickets at 12.00 during his short career. He died in Bramley, Leeds less than a year after Johnny Briggs, also in 1902, aged 42. Like his brother, Joseph batted right-handed and bowled slow left-arm. His best bowling analysis was 5 for 34, but he could rightly be described as a ‘rabbit’ as far as his batting was concerned with an average of a minuscule 2.36 from his 11 innings which brought him only 26 runs and a highest score of nine. The two brothers also played against each other at Harrogate in 1885.