Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

Chapter three University and plenty of sport On conclusion of the cricket season Lionel went up to Oxford, and went to Oriel College. As he started, his family was hit by another loss. This time, it involved an uncle, the Reverend CH Palairet who was killed while crossing a road at Norton St Philip, which is halfway between Bath and Frome, where he was the vicar. Lionel often spent his holidays with him. He was struck by a horse and cart that was being driven by a young boy. In the inquest that followed, it was stated that the boy lost control of the cart and although the boy was shouting to warn passers-by, Mr Palairet still walked in front of the cart and was killed almost instantly. Accidental death was the verdict. Although at Oxford, on the weekends Lionel travelled back to Somerset. On October 5 there is the first record of him playing football, for newly formed Bath AFC. Lionel played in their inaugural match on the North Parade Ground in Bath against Trowbridge. The side lost 9-4; the local newspaper did not record who scored the goals. Lionel played as a forward and the local press commented that he was ‘a capable player noted for his swift of foot and speed of foot work’. His prowess led in December to him being selected for a county match for Somerset versus Wiltshire at Swindon Croft. With 800 spectators in attendance Somerset won 3-2 with Lionel scoring the first for Somerset. It must be noted that football was only starting to get popular in the country. The Football League was only in its second year; professional football had only been legalised in 1885. All founder members of the league were based in the Midlands, Lancashire or Yorkshire. Some counties consisted only of a few clubs; this is well illustrated by the Wiltshire side as ten of the team played for Swindon Town. The Somerset team was made up of players from several clubs around the county. On December 21, he played again for the county at Bristol against Gloucestershire. In front of a crowd of 2,500 (according to the Western Daily Press ), Somerset lost a good game 6-4 with Lionel scoring twice. His brother Richard also played; he generally was a winger or midfielder and was noted for his 18