Chatterton, William - Football Pioneer and Cricketer Supreme

WILLIAM CHATTERTON - FOOTBALL PIONEER AND CRICKETER SUPREME

Among the footballers and cricketers featured in the Bygone Derbyshire archive are a number of the 'double breed' who played both games to a first-class level. Here Peter Seddon makes the acquaintance of William Chatterton, who in addition qualifies for our elite 'Derbyshire Double' category.

William Chatterton (1861-1913) is one of only 19 men to have achieved the 'Derbyshire Double' - that is, to have played at least one first team game for both Derby County Football Club and Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

He was born on 27 December 1861 in the village of Thornsett, Derbyshire, which adjoins Birch Vale in the High Peak.

After the formation of Derby County Football Club in 1884 Chatterton was one of the first signings. He played in the club's first ever FA Cup tie - away to Walsall Town on 8 November 1884 - when the Rams suffered a disastrous 7-0 reversal.

An inside-forward, he played many times in the pre-League era, and was still at the club when the Football League was formed in 1888. In the first Football League season - 1888-89 - Chatterton made his only League appearances for Derby County, five in number. His overall Rams record was six games and one goal.

His accomplishments at cricket were rather more impressive. He played for Derbyshire from 1882-1902, captaining the side whilst at the same time playing football for Derby County. He was primarily a soild right-hand batsman but also a decent bowler.

His influence on Derbyshire County Cricket Club was significant at a difficult time in their history, for he was largely responsible for Derbyshire's re-instatement as a first-class county in 1894 after they had earlier been denied that status.

In his 196 matches for Derbyshire which count as 'first-class' he made 7,587 runs at an average of 23.71, but in all matches for the county he scored over 11,000 runs. His highest score was 169.

As a bowler he took 128 wickets in first-class matches at an average of 24.05.

He played one test match for England, scoring 48 against South Africa in Cape Town in 1892.

William Chatterton died aged only 51 of consumption on 19 March, 1913, in Flowery Fields, Hyde, Cheshire.

The whereabouts of his grave have not been ascertained - but possibly in Flowery Fields.

Little more has been written of William Chatterton save these brief biographical notes - any more information may be added to the piece here. Just click 'edit' or 'discussion' to contribute further to the sporting archive.

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Chatterton, William - Footballer and Cricketer

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