Gay Leslie Image 1 Corinthians 1893

Description

Double England football and cricket international Leslie Gay born at Brighton in 1871. As a footballer, he represented Clare College at Cambridge University as goalkeeper against Oxford University earning his Blue in 1892 and first appeared for England in an unofficial international against Canada at The Oval in December 1891, in a match England won 6-1, and won his first cap against Scotland at Richmond in April 1893. He played twice more, first against Wales at Wrexham in a 5-1 victory in March 1894, and a month later in a 2-2 draw against Scotland at Celtic Park. He played for the Old Brightonians and for The Corinthians between 1891 and 1894. In 1900, Gay joined Southampton as reserve to fellow England goalkeeper, Jack Robinson, although he never played for the first team.

An intermittent cricketer who had left the first class game by 1904, A right-handed batsman, Gay kept wicket for Cambridge University in the Varsity match against Oxford University in 1892 and 1893, and after four games for Somerset in 1894 he was picked for the 1894-95 tour to Australia under Andrew Stoddart. Chosen only for the first Test match in December 1894, which England won, he scored 33 and 4 and took three catches with one stumping behind the wicket.

He then disappeared from first class cricket other than playing for The M.C.C. until a brief 9 match return with Hampshire in 1900. In total he played 46 first class matches, scoring 1005 runs at an average of 15.46, with a high score of 60 not out, one of two fifties he made in the first class game. He also took 70 catches and made 20 stumpings. He also represented Devon at golf.