Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

20 To Russia, with love Southwick, Sussex in about 1900 showing, at the southern end of Southwick Street, Jack’s childhood home; further up the street is his father’s smithy next to the pub. The map also shows the tramway depot where his father later worked and the tramway itself. At the foot of the map is Shoreham Harbour and in its top left corner, past the Sunday School, is Southwick Green where Southwick C.C. still play. Many of the buildings shown have been replaced. He knew that if he said no, he would not get a second chance of being a professional cricketer. Walt was also overjoyed as for many years he had hoped that Jack might get another chance with Sussex. Jack duly accepted the offer and in April 1919 he made his way to Hove to join the county’s small band of professionals, under the tutelage of head coach Arthur Millward, and to start his life as a paid cricketer. After the horrors of the war and those awful hours in France, the chance to be out in the open and the sunshine all day must have seemed heaven-sent and, as the 1919 season got underway, Jack eagerly looked forward to the next chapter in his life and, one day, taking to the field as a Sussex cricketer.