James Roy Sheffield (19 November 1906 – 16 November 1997) was an English cricketer, who kept wicket for Essex and Wellington between 1929 and 1939. A right-hand bat, Sheffield made 180 appearances, scoring 3,914 runs at an average of 16.51 including one century, and he took 196 catches and made 54 stumpings.[1]
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | James Roy Sheffield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19 November 1906 Barking, Essex, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 16 November 1997 (aged 90) Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1929–1936 | Essex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1938/39 | Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FC debut | 19 June 1929 Essex v Warwickshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last FC | 3 February 1939 Wellington v Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 22 December 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
During the winter of 1932–33 Sheffield took an extended trip in South America. For some time he followed the trail of Colonel Fawcett, and also worked as a cowboy in the Mato Grosso.[2] Then he canoed down the Paraguay River during the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia. He was arrested by the Paraguayans on suspicion of being a Bolivian spy, but was freed after British consular authorities intervened.[3][4] He wrote about these adventures in a book, Bolivian Spy? that was published in 1935.[5]
Sheffield moved to New Zealand in 1936, meeting his future wife, Ruby Norrie of Jersey, on the voyage over. They married at St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland, in November 1938.[6][4] His first job in New Zealand was as a guide at the Chateau Tongariro in Tongariro National Park.[7] In 1938 he was engaged on a three-year contract as the coach for the Wellington Cricket Association.[8] At the same time he was engaged on a three-year contract as the coach of the Wellington Football Association.[9]
In the 1940s Sheffield moved to Gisborne, where he taught physical education at Gisborne High School.[10] In 1947 he was appointed coach of the New Zealand football team for the series against the visiting South African team.[11] He played for Poverty Bay as a goalkeeper.[12]
Sheffield retained his enthusiasm for canoeing throughout his life. When he was in his eighties he competed in the 50-mile Waikato River Marathon.[4]
Bibliography
edit- Roy Sheffield (1935). Bolivian Spy?. Marchand Press.
References
edit- ^ "Player Profile: Roy Sheffield". CricInfo. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
- ^ Quivis (3 July 1937). "Travellers' Tales". Evening Post: 30.
- ^ "In the Public Eye". Evening Post: 21. 21 November 1936.
- ^ a b c Wisden 1998, p. 1439.
- ^ Library of Congress, Catalog of Copyright Entries. New Series: 1936, Part 1 scan
- ^ "Cricketer Married". New Zealand Herald: 3. 22 November 1938.
- ^ "Cricket". Auckland Star: 14. 4 December 1936.
- ^ "The Cricket Field: Sheffield for University". Evening Post: 23. 5 November 1938.
- ^ "Higher Standard: Soccer Football". Evening Post: 14. 30 March 1939.
- ^ "Ex-County Cricketer in Gisborne". Otago Daily Times: 2. 2 May 1946.
- ^ "Soccer Tour". Otago Daily Times: 6. 11 June 1947.
- ^ "Soccer Shield: Final rep. game". Gisborne Herald: 8. 3 October 1947.