Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

39 Chapter Five Marriage and a move to Liverpool Northern and back It is not now known exactly when it became clear that Johnny would not become favoured at Yorkshire despite the positive feelings about him of Hirst and Sutcliffe, but it was at this time or soon after that he started to look for another county – considering first Leicestershire before eventually he began qualification for Somerset. Johnny wrote: “I wanted to play First Class Cricket and did not seem to have a chance to play for Yorkshire, although George Hirst and Herbert Sutcliffe thought I was good enough. [We can surmise that Hirst though coach was not a selector and note that at this time Sutcliffe was still a player.] Herbert recommended me for full-time professional to Northern Cricket Club, Liverpool, for 1938. I signed at the end of 1937 season after going for a trial match. That winter I went for a trial to Leicestershire at the indoor nets, Grace Road. George Geary was there and bowled to me. I could have gone to Leicestershire, but Northern Cricket Club did not want to release me from my contract and I did not press them as I was advised Leicestershire were in a bad way financially. Also Herbert Sutcliffe said he would get me a trial with Somerset which he thought was a better county.” Johnny married the love of his life Mary in April 1938 and then moved with his newly-wed to Liverpool to spend one season at the Crosby club, Liverpool Northern. The club was a wealthy one who tempted Johnny with improved payment and had good well-prepared wickets, to the extent that it was Johnny’s batting talents which featured more – statistically, at any rate – than his bowling for once. His name remains proudly on the centuries board in the pavilion at Moor Lane to this day for two not out efforts of