Storer Bill Image 1 Derby County 1896

Description

Butterley, Derbyshire born inside forward Bill Storer began his football career with Derby Midland and made his senior debut in an FA Cup tie at Notts County in November 1888, which Derby Midland lost 2-1. He joined Derby County in 1891, making his Football League debut at Stoke that September, and over 2 seasons with the club he scored 11 goals in 27 appearances before joining Loughborough in 1893. He then joined Glossop North End in 1894 before retiring from football to concentrate on cricket.

As a cricketer Storer played first-class cricket for Derbyshire from 1887 to 1905. He was a specialist wicket-keeper who was reputed to stand up to the wicket against fast bowlers. He was also a highly skilled batsman at a time when wicket-keeper batsmen were rare and twice averaged over fifty in a season. His first-class record of 216 not out came for Derbyshire against Leicestershire in the 1899 season and he was the first professional to score two hundreds, against a strong Yorkshire side, in a match. He was also a competent leg spinner, taking 232 first-class wickets at 33.89. Storer also appeared for London County.

Storer toured Australia for England, making his international debut in the 1897 Test at Sydney and played against the tourists at home, his last Test coming at Trent Bridge in 1899 when he was also named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. His six Test appearances were limited by the selectors preference for Dick Lilley.

Storer was ‘serverly reprimanded’ for ‘objectionable language’ during the 1898 test match where he was overheard to say “You are a cheat, and you know it”, during the luncheon on the final day of the 5th test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

His younger brother was Harry Storer, who also played cricket for Derbyshire in 1895 but was more famous as a goalkeeper with among others Arsenal, Liverpool and Hibernian. His nephew Harry Storer (Jr) inherited his father’s football and cricket skills, featuring for Derby County and Derbyshire, and playing football for England, and he later became a football manager in charge of Coventry City, Birmingham and Derby County in the Second and Third Division (North) from 1931 to 1963.