You never now where archiving lend syou.This story started with Pat Benatmane allowing me very kindly to scan the minute books of Hunslet Cricket Club.Among the papes for 1933 was a the above press article about the history of the club.On reading the article it mentioned that Hunslet played a visiting Canadian side in 1880 which was captained by Thomas Jordan.As I did not now anything about the tour,I looked in the excellent book by Peter Wynne-Thomas called "The complete history of cricket tours at home and abroad".
In the book it states that the intial tour by the Canadians turned out to be a disaster,mainly because of the tourists captain, T.Jordan.
Looking at the press reports of the time via the Leeds Library web-site ,I was able to to get the life story of Jordan.It turn out he was born on the 25th December 1847 at Helmsley. His father was the chief herdsman to the Earl of Faversham at Duncombe Park.In the Huddersfield Chronicle on the 5th June 1880, it stated that Thomas Dale had enlisted in the Guards and soon became favorite amongst not only his comrades but the officers as well..He was a strong athletic young fellow and often engaged in contests of various games ,being proficent both in rowing and cricket. After one of the athletic contests he neglected to appear at the barricks and deserted. He shortly afterwards surrendered and his friends got him off with a slight imprisonment .He deserted a second time when next heard of he was in the Mounted Police in the United States engaged in driving the back the Mexican Rangers. He was known as jumbo by his team mates spent time as a professional in St. Louis and Cicargo before joining the Peninsular club in 1877.Also during this time he was married twice and had six children.
In 1880 cricket was the national sport of Canada and the first tour was organised to visit England under the leadership of Thomas Dale who had now changed his surname to Jordan.On the Candian web site it states that his wife was up set with Dale and reported his desertion to the police.The Canadians had played three matches in Scotland before arriving at Hunslet to play a two day match on the 31 May and 1 June. It rained the first day and Huslet batted first to score 128 with Jordan taking nine wickets.However Hunslet bowled them out for 71 and the team moved on to Leicester.Here in the Huddersfield Chronicle it states that Sergant Stray , of the Guards , indentified Dale and produced his discription.At the court case Dale admitted to the charge.
Later Dale was sentanced to 35 days in prison however he escaped from the guard room while waiting to be taken to jail.However he was caught running down Knightsbridge Street and returned to court and given another 336 days incarcaration for his sins.
Dale returned to America after his released from prison and immediately devorced his wife . In 1893 he played his only first class fixture for U.S.A against Gentlemen of Philodelphia.He deid on 21 August 1921.
So as you are having your Christmas dinner , I hope you think of Thomas Dale birthday.
P.S There are two cricket matches on Boxing Day at North Leeds and Pudset St. Lawerence Start at 10.30.
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