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

40 the only three Northern centuries scored by any players in that season. There is no board for bowling contributions and much of the bowling statistics were lost due to a wartime bomb destroying many of the records but from newspaper reports his bowling was not quite as exceptional in result form as with the other clubs he played for – no doubt because the wickets in this league and particularly Northern’s home track were of exceptional batting quality. It is interesting that class divisions were so great still in 1938 that the Liverpool Daily Post did never give the professional ‘Lawrence’ an initial – let alone a first name or a photograph. Liverpool Northern’s other centurion of the season, G.A. McEntyre, had his photograph in the paper whilst the pro’, Johnny, who scored two centuries, was neglected. Yet Johnny had not only scored a century that day against Wallasey; he had taken six wickets and also taken, the newspaper reported, ‘a finely-judged running catch’. However that same paper did speak up for the pro’ when it commented that when Johnny’s benefit match on July 16 was a wash-out there was no apparent compensation. He did take wickets – his best being six for 32 at Birkenhead Marriage and a move to Liverpool Northern and back Almost certainly Liverpool Northern in 1938; Johnny smiles, standing far left.