George Glossop Walker

Walker's debut match for Derbyshire in the 1881 season was against Yorkshire when he never had the chance to bowl and scored 2 runs in each innings. He did not play again in that season nor in the 1882 season, and only played in two games in the 1883 season. In the 1884 and 1885 season, when William Cropper lead the bowling, he played more frequently and in 1885 took 7–105 against Nottinghamshire in one match and 5–87 in the other. In 1886 Walker was selected for two Gentlemen of England teams, in one of which against Australia he was in the team with his hero W.G. Grace. For the county he took 6–26 against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and 7–38 and 5–75 in the same match against Surrey. In the 1887 season Walker took 5–54 for Derbyshire against Lancashire and 5–49 against Surrey. He continued playing regularly for the Derbyshire club between 1888 and 1893 when it was without first-class status. In 1894 took 7–108 for Gentlemen against Players with W. G. Grace in the side again although he never had the opportunity to bowl against him in any of his first-class games. He also took 5–24 for Derbyshire against Lancashire. In the 1896 season he took 9–85 against Leicestershire although his average was deteriorating. He played four games in the 1897 season and six in the 1898 season by which time his bowling made little impression, while Billy Bestwick was beginning to star.

Walker was a left-arm bowler and took 202 first-class wickets at an average of 25.06 and a best performance of 9–68. He was a left-hand batsman and played 128 innings in 75 first-class matches with a top score of 66 and an average of 10.97.^[4]

Walker was a leading member of the Whitwell community and his home and fields were used for local flower shows and other celebrations. He was an Overseer and a Guardian of the Poor.^[5] He died 11 January 1908 in Whitwell at the age of 48.