Cuthbert Ottaway

Eton-educated Cuthbert Ottaway was one of the finest amateur sportsmen of his day. He represented Oxford University at athletics, rackets, real tennis and football, in addition to winning cricket Blues between 1870 and 1873. He also represented England twice at football, and was the first-ever captain. A batsman of considerable ability, he played twice for Kent and seven times for Middlesex, as well as touring North America in 1872. But he played less serious sport after being called to the bar in 1873, although he still found time to play in the 1873 and 1874 FA Cup finals, captaining them to victory in 1874. In 1875 he made his last FA Cup final outing as part of the Old Etonian side which drew with Royal Engineers - he did not play in the replay which the Etonians lost. His final first-class cricket appearance was for Middlesex against Nottinghamshire at the old Prince's ground where he made 106 - his maiden hundred had come on the same ground against Surrey four weeks earlier. He died in 1878, aged 27, as a result of a chill caught after a night's dancing.
Martin Williamson