Lives in Cricket No 50 - Tom Emmett

106 In 1900, a lack of finances meant that Leicestershire could no longer engage a permanent coach, and Emmett departed. In his place, his old colleague Louis Hall took the players for two weeks’ coaching. Nevertheless, the Yorkshire Post stated that ‘tribute must be paid to his industry and willingness during the two years he has coached at Aylestone.’ The Leicestershire batsman, Charles de Trafford, praised Emmett in the magazine Cricket in 1900, saying that he had improved the side and could still bowl well. Nevertheless, a hint that Emmett’s strong-minded approach might not always have been appreciated is perhaps seen in de Trafford’s comments that Emmett ‘sometimes amused me by trying to persuade me to run out to hit instead of playing fast-footed, and to adopt a more careful game, while he wanted Wood to try to hit.’ Whatever his eccentricities, Emmett was still in demand and subsequently secured an appointment at Marlborough College, apparently through the influence of his old employer, the Bishop of Hereford (Dr Percival), and Lord Hawke. Free of his Leicestershire commitments, Emmett was appointed umpire for all Yorkshire Second Eleven matches in 1900. These games were now accorded more importance by Yorkshire and there were sufficient for The later years (1889-1904) A page from the guest book, Assizes Court Hotel, Strangeways, Manchester, July 1900 signed by Emmett and the Yorkshire Second XI. Emmett appears to have added the nicknames of the players and himself. (Ron Deaton)