Frank Ryan

Francis 'Frank' Peter Ryan (14 November 1888 – 5 January 1954) was an English first-class cricketer. After serving in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps, Ryan played as a professional for Hampshire from 1919 to 1920. A heavy-drinker who was known for having a short-temper, he fell out with Hampshire and walked out on the club, subsequently joining Glamorgan as their professional between 1923 and 1931. He made over 200 appearances for the Welsh county, taking over 900 wickets as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. Following the end of his career, he would play club cricket in the Lancashire and South Wales League, as well as in Yorkshire.

Early life and cricket Ryan was born in British India at Tundla in November 1884. He was educated firstly in Darjeeling at St. Joseph's School, before attending Bedford School in England. After spending a brief period living in the United States, Ryan served in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps. In these, he took 63 wickets with his slow left-arm orthodox bowling, taking five wickets in an innings on five occasions and ten-wickets in a match once.

Ryan struggled to settle in his two seasons with Hampshire, Keen to maintain a career as a professional cricketer, he hitchhiked without any money to Bristol to meet with an associate whom he hoped would introduce him to the Gloucestershire secretary, who he hoped would present him with a contract. His associate was aware of Ryan's struggles with drink, instead recommending him to contact Jack Nash at Glamorgan, who were in the process of strengthening their bowling attack. After a two-day walk to Cardiff from Bristol, he was directed on foot to Swansea where Glamorgan were playing their next match; having made the journey in torrential rain, he arrived at the ground soaked. There he spoke with the county's officials and agreed to qualify to play for the county. Ryan made his debut for Glamorgan in a friendly first-class match against a combined Oxford and Cambridge Universities team at Cardiff in 1922. In his first season in South Wales, he forged what would become a successful bowling partnership with Johnnie Clay and Jack Mercer. Ryan's first season yielded him 106 wickets at an average of 22.53, with eight five wicket hauls.

Having established himself in the Glamorgan starting eleven, taking 126 wickets from 24 matches at an average of 14.46, whilst claiming twelve five wicket hauls.

Following the 1926 season, Ryan once again resorted to heavy drinking, with his social exploits beginning to impact his performances, much to the annoyance of the Glamorgan hierarchy. During one match he became so drunk in the evening that he forgot which hotel the team were staying at and spent the night sleeping under the covers, Glamorgan suffered a poor 1928 County Championship littered with defeats, with their captain Trevor Arnott struggling to control Ryan's attitude and short-temper, leading to him being dropped in late July and early August in an attempt to create a more harmonious team environment. Despite this, he still featured in 27 matches that season (including three for Wales), In twenty matches in 1929, Having played seven times for Wales, he took 27 wickets at an average of 15.44, with one five wicket haul. before signing for Barnsley ahead of the 1933 season. From there, he signed for Enfield in the Lancashire League ahead of the 1935 season. He later served in the Second World War with the Intelligence Corps. Ryan died at his Leicester residence in January 1954. He was survived by his widow and their three children.