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FRANK SUGG - SPORTING ALL-ROUNDER 'PAR EXCELLENCE'

Among the footballers and cricketers featured in the You & Yesterday archive are a number of the 'double breed' who played both games to a first-class level. Here Peter Seddon makes the acquaintance of Ilkeston-born Frank Sugg, who in addition qualifies for our elite 'Derbyshire Double' category.

Derbyshire in 1884 - the imposing figure of Frank Sugg stands second from right in the back row

Frank Sugg as a Lancashire cricketer, the county with which he achieved his greatest fame

Frank Howe Sugg (1862-1933) 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 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on 11 January 1862. Part of his early life was spent in Yorkshire, and on those grounds he was able to play cricket for Yorkshire in 1883.

However, he returned to his native county and played cricket for Derbyshire for three seasons spanning 1884 to 1886. A strong right-hand batsman and brilliant outfield, he appeared in 33 first-class matches for Derbyshire, scoring 1278 runs at an average of 20.61. His highest score for the county was 187.

During the same period in which he played cricket for Derbyshire, he appeared in many games for Derby County Football Club. Because these were in the pre-Football League era they are not listed in the record books as 'official' competitive appearances. So Sugg is noted in the Rams archives as having played just one game, Derby County's first-ever cup tie in 1884.

Sugg was a centre-forward - 6 feet tall and very strong - and had the honour of scoring Derby County's first competitive hat-trick, in a 3-0 away win at Stafford Road on 15 November 1884.

Sugg left Derby County to join Burnley. He also played for Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers in the pre-League era. His only Football League appearances were made with Everton - 10 games in 1888 and 1889.

His relocation to Lancashire from Derbyshire in 1886 enabled Frank Sugg to qualify via the residency laws to play cricket for Lancashire. This he did to great effect for thirteen seasons - 1886 to 1899 - and he scored over 10,000 runs for Lancashire at an average of 26.

Whilst a Lancashire player he played two tests for England, both against Australia in 1888, and both won by England with an innings to spare.

Some considerable time after he retired as a player Sugg became a first-class cricket umpire - he stood in 1926 and 1927.

He was by then a very well-known name throughout the world of sport. This he had achieved through his renowned sporting goods company Sugg and Co..

He had established the firm in a small way as Sugg Sports whilst still playing both cricket and football - it is thought in 1888. He made a great success of it, and expanded the company into a leading supplier of cricket, football and fishing equipment. There were manufacturing branches in Liverpool, Manchester and London. They also made model yachts for sale in the leading toyshops.

Sugg cricket bats were widely used by first-class and amateur player alike - such was the company's productivity that they owned their own 'plantation' of willow trees from which to craft their bats. And for many years a Sugg football was the ball of choice for the FA Cup Final.

The company continued in operation - although by then not in the Sugg family ownership - until 2002.

The provision of all-round sporting goods was a particularly appropriate business for Frank Sugg, for he was himself the all-round sportsman 'par excellence'.

He excelled as a long-distance swimmer and held the record for throwing the cricket ball. He reached the final of the Liverpool Amateur Billiard Championship and won prizes all over the country for rifle shooting and putting the shot. For good measure he was famed as a weight-lifter and considered one of the best British exponents at the American game of baseball!

Certainly Frank Sugg is one of the most interesting characters to grace the annals of both Derby County Football Club and Derbyshire County Cricket Club - as such he deserves a wider recognition in Derbyshire than he has generally been accorded.

Frank Howe Sugg died in Waterloo, Liverpool, Lancashire, on 29 May 1933, aged 71.

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County:  Derbyshire

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