Lives in Cricket No 29 - AN Hornby

25 Born with a silver spoon no time for a reply! In minor matches, Hornby compiled a further eight centuries. But Hornby’s appearances for East Lancashire were becoming rarer and rarer as Lancashire began calling on his services. Even though not a regular playing member at Alexandra Meadows, he was still instrumental in organising friendlies for the club and in 1886 he was elected a life member. In August 1879, Hornby was part of a Lancashire XI that took on Eighteen of East Lancashire in a benefit for James Shaw, who played ten seasons as a professional for East Lancashire. In a 21- year career, Shaw also played for Nottinghamshire and no fewer than 30 other teams, including An England XI, R.Daft’s XI and Christ Church, Oxford. On a ground that meant so much to him, A.N. would have wanted to do well, but he managed only one and three and to add further ignominy, a relatively strong Lancashire XI subsided to an eleven-wicket defeat. The fixture was repeated in the following year when the county side had rather the better of a draw, Hornby contributing 21 and 21 not out. The Lancashire team that drew with the East Lancashire Club in 1880. Standing (l to r), J.F.Armistead, C.A.G.Hulton, A.Appleby, A.Watson, G.Nash. Seated: R.Pilling, W.Robinson, E.B.Rowley, A.N.Hornby, Rev.V.P.F.A. Royle, O.P.Lancashire. On the ground: R.G.Barlow. James Fisher Armistead was a Blackburn landowner and JP, unrelated to the Armitstead brothers who played cricket with and against Hornby. Part of the Alexandra Meadows ground can be glimpsed in the background.