DOYEN of the footballing cricketers was C B Fry who played both sports for England in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
In the 40s and 50s the immortal Leslie and Denis Compton followed suit. Up until the 1980s low wages meant combining football and cricket was commonplace. Most famous of all was Chris Balderstone who on September 15, 1975 scored 50 runs for Derbyshire, played football in the evening for Doncaster Rovers and the following morning completed his cricket century.
Steve Perrin today proves an exception to the rule (Swindon Advertiser, All rounder Steve eyes another Lord's venture, July 28).
N E GOUGH
Eldene
Swindon
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