Funeral date of former Yorkshire paceman Foord announced

The funeral for former Scarborough CC and Yorkshire CCC player Bill Foord will be held at St Saviour’s Parish Church, Gladstone Road on Thursday July 23, 1pm.
Pictured in 2010, former Scarborough and Yorkshire bowler Bill Foord (right) presents his book to Scarborough Cricket Club chairman Bill Mustoe.Pictured in 2010, former Scarborough and Yorkshire bowler Bill Foord (right) presents his book to Scarborough Cricket Club chairman Bill Mustoe.
Pictured in 2010, former Scarborough and Yorkshire bowler Bill Foord (right) presents his book to Scarborough Cricket Club chairman Bill Mustoe.

The fast-medium pace bowler passed away at his Scarborough home last week at the age of 91.

He played in 51 first class matches for Yorkshire between 1947 and 1953, claiming 126 wickets at 27.07 runs apiece, and he was one of the first of the great Fred Trueman’s bowling partners with the county.

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But he will always be remembered as one of Scarborough Cricket Club’s most loyal servants – and one of their greatest ever bowlers. In a playing career at North Marine Road which spanned 30 years from 1941-71 he captured 1,071 wickets at an average of 15.07.

Until the very end of his life, he was passionately interested in the development of young Scarborough cricketers. He coached the youngsters himself for many years and around 20 years ago he founded and funded the Bill Foord Cricket Coaching Scholarship Scheme, a three-year course which currently has over 40 young players on its books.

Foord was an honorary life member of Scarborough Cricket Club as well as being their senior vice-president.

The funeral will be followed by a private internment, and the funeral tea will be at Scarborough Cricket Club.

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Foord’s association with Scarborough CC had begun at a very early age and the family home was on the corner of Dean Road and Clifton Street, just a stone’s throw from the ground.

A splendidly accurate bowler who wasted little energy in his short run-up, he had the ability to move the ball both ways and he may well have enjoyed a longer career with Yorkshire had he not decided to continue his teaching career rather than trying to attain professional status with his native county.

He taught for most of his working life at Friarage Infants and Primary School and his work commitments prevented him from turning out for Yorkshire on a regular basis.

On his Yorkshire debut against Hampshire he took 1-67 while in the second innings he claimed 3-67.

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Six years later, the sides met again at Bournemouth in the last championship match of the season and this time he enjoyed his career-best return of 6-63, Yorkshire going on to win by an innings and 45 runs.

It also proved to be Foord’s last match in what was his most successful season with 62 wickets at 25.83 apiece.

During his career he took five wickets or more in an innings on five occasions.