Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

32 national publication, enthused “a score which would have been heavier but for the excellent work of Raikes . who saved a lot of warm shots. With this exception the entire display of the East Anglians was very poor indeed.” The Eastern Daily Press stated “ On dit that G.B.Raikes will play in some of the county matches in the near future, and that as soon as he has played the number of games required by Rule 13 he will be offered one of those silver medals which the committee may, upon certain recommendations, award to players for distinguished services. Raikes’ goal-keeping on Wednesday was the one redeeming point in the play of the Norfolk eleven .” Great praise, certainly! Is It Grim Up North? No! It’s Fortune-Making When Raikes went up to Magdalen College, Oxford, he wasted no time in establishing himself as the custodian for his college and then for the Varsity side. His defensive partnership with one of his full-backs, William Oakley, was soon identified as a bastion of strength for the Dark Blues. In the winter vacation, the Dark Blues retreated from their Northern tour, the Eastern Daily Press reporting that: “Oxford University can thank Norfolk’s champion goal-keeper for the small scores made against them during their recent tour. Sheffield United, Darwen, Derby County and Preston North Raikes’ Meteoric Rise as a Top Quality Footballer The Magdalen College Soccer XI of 1892/93, George Raikes’ first year at Oxford. Standing (from left): T.Salmon, A.D.Erskine, B.N.Bosworth-Smith. Middle row (from left): H.A.Arkwright, J.D.Peel, J.A.Walker, C.D.Hewitt. Front (from left): G.B.Raikes, F.A.Ebden, Lord Encombe, E.F.Buzzard.