22 Facts About Leslie Gay

Leslie Hewitt Gay was an English dual-international sportsman who played both cricket and football.

Leslie Gay's education was received at a variety of independent schools; first at St Mark's School in Windsor, then Park House in Reading.

Leslie Gay later attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire from 1885 to 1887, then Brighton College until 1889, after which he went up to Clare College, Cambridge.

Leslie Gay graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1893.

In 1890, Leslie Gay received praise for his performance in a match against Sussex ; helping Hampshire to a 164-run victory by scoring 63 not out in the first innings.

Leslie Gay eventually made his first-class debut for Cambridge against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Fenner's in 1891.

Leslie Gay made a further seven first-class appearances for Cambridge in 1892, but missed a couple of matches due to an injury he picked up playing for Hampshire against Sussex.

Leslie Gay played a late season match for the West of England against the East in Portsmouth.

Leslie Gay made additional first-class appearances in 1893 for the South of England against the touring Australians at The Oval, and for a Cambridge University Past and Present team against the same opposition at Portsmouth.

Leslie Gay played three first-class matches at the start of the tour against South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, before being selected for the England team to play in the First Test against Australia at Melbourne.

Leslie Gay was replaced for the remaining four Test matches by Hylton Philipson.

Leslie Gay featured in two further first-class matches on the tour, against Victoria and South Australia.

Leslie Gay was the first Somerset cricketer to play Test cricket for England.

Leslie Gay resumed his first-class career in 1900, playing for the MCC against Leicestershire at Lord's, in addition to playing nine first-class matches for Hampshire in that season's County Championship.

Leslie Gay had returned to England by 1904, where he made a final first-class appearance at Lord's for the MCC against London County.

In first-class cricket, Leslie Gay made 46 appearances and scored 1,005 runs at an average of 15.46.

Leslie Gay's training paid off, as in 1891, he was selected to play as goalkeeper for England in a match against the touring Canadians.

Leslie Gay served in the First World War, being commissioned as a lieutenant in the Territorial Force.

Leslie Gay was promoted to captain with the South Lancashire Regiment in September 1915, befofe being made an adjutant in March 1916.

Leslie Gay relinquished his appointment to the staff in July 1918, having been made a temporary major in June 1918 for his appointment to assistant commandant with the Royal Defence Corps.

Leslie Gay was a keen golfer, having been secretary of the Northamptonshire Golf Club and later the East Devon Golf Club, with him representing Devon in the sport.

Leslie Gay was survived by his sister, Charlotte Evelyn Gay, who was a social reformer.