| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Francis Neilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1850-09-24)24 September 1850 Liverpool, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 May 1880(1880-05-02) (aged 29) Christchurch, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1874–75 to 1878–79 | Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: CricketArchive, 27 March 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
William Francis Neilson (24 September 1850 – 2 May 1880) was an English-born New Zealand cricketer who played for Canterbury in the 1870s.
Born in Liverpool, England, Neilson moved to New Zealand as a young man.[1] He had his best cricket performances in the match against Otago in 1876–77, when he scored 57 not out in the second innings batting at number nine, and then took 5 for 19 to wrap up the Otago innings and the match.[2]
In 1877–78 Neilson organised and captained Canterbury's first trip to the North Island, when they dismissed Auckland for 13 at the Auckland Domain.[3] A few weeks later he captained Canterbury to victory over the touring Australians, the Australians' only loss of the tour.[4] He also led the Canterbury team that toured Tasmania and Victoria in 1878–79.[5]
A popular figure in Canterbury, he was the best amateur billiards player in New Zealand, a fine games player and horse rider, and a prominent owner of racehorses.[6][7] He died on 2 May 1880 after a long illness, aged 29.[8][9]
References
- ^ "The Late Mr. Neilson". Press. Vol. XXXIII, no. 3604. 4 May 1880. p. 2.
- ^ "Canterbury v Otago 1876–77". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ "Veteran Cricketers' Record made in 1878 is Still Unbroken". Star: 17. 3 December 1932.
- ^ "Canterbury v Australians 1877–78". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ "Canterbury in Australia 1878–79". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ "In Memoriam". Star. No. 3760. 4 May 1880. p. 3.
- ^ "Sporting Notes". Evening Star. No. 5358. 10 May 1880. p. 2.
- ^ "Tuesday, May 4, 1880". Otago Daily Times. No. 5680. 4 May 1880. p. 2.
- ^ "New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007". Ancestry.com.au. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
External links
- William Neilson at CricketArchive (subscription required)
- William Neilson at ESPNcricinfo
