Samuel France was a journeyman professional who was the first paid player to be hired by the South Wales Cricket Club. At the time, the Yorkshire-born bowler was the professional with Newport CC having previously played for Leeds CC between 1852 and 1855 before appearing for Holbeck CC.
His first major match for Newport was against the All-England Eleven in 1859 and, soon afterwards, appeared for the South Wales Cricket Club in their home and away matches with Clifton CC. The first match, at Clifton, saw Samuel take 5/34 and 5/58 with his right-arm seam bowling before he added three more in the rain-affected return match at Rodney Parade at Newport.
The following year, Samuel was hired by Llandovery CC and, besides playing for Carmarthenshire, the 32 year-old also appeared for the South Wales Cricket Club on their London tour taking five wickets in the match at Lord’s against the MCC, before returning figures of 5/42 and 6/42 against the Knickerbockers. He was on the move again in 1861 as he returned to Yorkshire and played for Barnsley, before subsequently joining Batley (1862), Otley (1863), Pudsey (1864), Dewsbury (1865), Middlesbrough (1865) and Holbeck (1866).
FRANCE, Samuel
Born – Huddersfield, 10 August 1828.
Died – Huddersfield, December 1904.