James Walker

James George Walker (9 October 1859 – 24 March 1923) was a Scotland international rugby union player; and a Scotland international cricketer.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Walker was born in Tradeston, Glasgow. He was educated at Loretto School and Trinity College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1879, and graduated B.A. in 1883. He captained the Oxford University side and then played for West of Scotland

International career

At rugby union, was capped twice for between 1882 and 1883.

Cricket career

He played first-class cricket for Oxford University and Middlesex, and represented the Scotland national cricket team.

His death was marked by the Coatbridge Leader of 7 April 1923:

DEATH OF J. G. WALKER On Wednesday, 23 March, the last respects were made to one of Scotland's most distinguished cricketers. when the earthly remains of J. G. Walker of Nether uckeudrone, near Ayr, were laid to rest in the Glasgow Necropolis. Few Scottish public school cricketer* have risen to such high in English cricket as was attained by this gentleman. Educated at Loretto School, 3fusselburgh. he proceeded to Trinity College, Oxford where he had a distinguished career, both as a scholar and as an all-round sportsman, had earned fame at school as a prominent Rugby football player, and he developed his skill at Oxford and notably that he was appointed captain of the University Fifteen and captained the University Eleven in 1881 season. For a season or so before finally coming north for good, he captained the Middlesex County Cricket Eleven. It was in 1881 season, when captain of Oxford University Cricket Eleven, that he accepted an invitation from the Glasgow Clydesdale Cricket Club to play for cricket team at Titwood against the Australian Eleven. captained by the late Willie Murdoch one of the beat batsmen that has ever represented Australia in this cmintry. In this game sixteen of Clydestlak, were opposed to the powerful Australian Eleven• which included 11Iiirdoeh (captain); Spidforth, the demon howler: George Palmer. whom Lord Harris described as about the most difficult bowler to sore off. that ever he had been tip against : Percy Macdonnell, a beautiful Sydney University batsman: George Giffen. the great South Australian cricketer, who in his Glth year am; given a complimentary benefit at Adelaide last January when Clem Hill turned nut in his bottom. and placed a splendid innings of over sixty runs; H. F. Boyle. a splendid medium-paced howler, who resembled the great W. G. Grace in physique and looks; giant George Bonner. the mighty hitter: the great stamper. Blackham. etc. The Clydesdale sixteen comprised the following twelve plays.rs of that club. viz.—W. R. McCormick. Bob Dempeter. George Wilson. Tom Bry-den, P. Patullo. John Kennedy. Harry Clifford, W. Blare. W. Strachan. A. Cunningham. Torn Highet and J. Barclay. The four recruits who assisted them were J. G. Walker, Oxford University XT.: Alec. Watson, Drumpellier C.C. and Lancashire County XI; David Crichton and Willie Copeland. Driunpellier C.C. The game was drawn, hut greatly in favour of the Clydesdale sixteen. All the Drumpellier men came off, while the late T. G. Walker achieved a regular Potting triumph. Going in first, he played himself in. and afterwards defied the howling strength of the "Aussie" for two hones. hitting up a splendid S. I was present and saw his masterly display of batting. never dreaming that in n season or so tor would often he meeting this duet et ieketer in our annual matches with Lasswade. Grange. West of Scotland and the Whitelaw " Screws." The first time Drumnellier Eleven met J G. Walker was in 1853 season in a match against a powerful Lasswade side at the beautiful grounds of Polton, helon:'ing to the late W. M. Romervill, uncle of the celebrated Caldwell brothers. The Lasswade team was as follows:—J. G. Walker (captain). H. Caldwell. A. G. G. Asher. H. B. Tristram. C J. Paterson. A .R Don Wenchope W. McLeod. J. Johnston. W. M. Someryill. Shacklock (professionals and Butler (professional). The D.C.C. team in- eluded D Crichton (captain), J. Buchanan. John Thomson. James King. R. Shanks. Jack Brown. W. Capes. R. Scott. Sack Copeland. Bob Houston and Jack Lindsay. The ground being tricky. after some rain and sunshine, the howlers on loth sides had it all their own way. het the cote captaincy of Walker non the game by one run. The: manipulation of his bowling strength and brilliant fielding against a usually winning side, with brit 48 runs to get, will never he forgotten hf three present that day. In 1884 season we met at Raeburn Place when playing the Grange CC.: hut on this occasion J. G. was dismissed by a fine catch off Houston's howling by Jamie Ring before he had got set. In 1883 season playing against the Weld of Scotland we met for the first time in Glasgow at Particle, where James Buchanan heat and bowled the subject of thin appreciation with only three runs to his credit. The next time he played for the West of Scotland at Partick, he succeeded in getting set, and gave a splend, batting display of first clam defensive and offensive batting against us; hut we kept our record by drawing the game. In compiling his score of 84, I remember hint getting Houston round to leg by running a .5 for it. From 1880 season to 1887 season inalueice, we had played 17 games with the Weed of Scotland .. winning 11. losing none. and drawing 8. This time we nearly rune cropper, and our sequence of wins cane to an end in 1888 season, when, after a fine exhibition of batting at Drumpeiller, were badly beaten in the return by four wickets, chiefly through the grated stand of Tom Anderson and Morris (professional J. G. Walker haring 8 runs to his credit At Drumpellier. in 1888 season. playing for the Whitelaw " Screws " XI. he put on a well-played 49. not out. He had visited Drumpellier Policies on three occasions that season, and was well-known by the great majority of the spectators as most formidable opponent. By the death of this prominent cricketer. I and others of his contemporaries, who are still lisping their wicket up. have lost a rained comrade, who always played the game in • beat spirit of sportsmanship. t Wed eeda, 28th March, his remains were followed to Glasgow Necropolis by a very presentative gathering of those who had enjoyed his personal friendship, cemented 0.1 the cricket field of bygone days. 0, '23rd June. 1906. a selondidly contested genie was played on North Inch. Perth. by Drumpellier v. Pte rth County. Winning the toss, the latter elected to bat and sent in Jae Anderson :cod Johnny Mailer to fare the howling of .7. and Hancock (professional). The first wicket fell at 28. Jae An 'erson being bundled nut neck and crop the Chesterfield man with In runs to f name. Dr Stuart filled the vacancy, but after, coring 5 rims he was finely taken at the wicket by young Jamie Girton off Johnny Cunningham's howling. Two wickets were down for 57 and three for 62. when Davie Burnfield fell to the Chesterfield man, who was healing at the top of bin form. Willie Stewart now partnered Johnny Mailer and a most prolific stand was made. the wore being doubled before Stewart's innings came to an end. He was cleverly caught by Johnny Cunningham off J. bowling. with a well played 26 to his name. Lovat Fraser. who came next, In.t. Mailer at the latter's share being 7' compiled by outstanding batsmanship against excellent trundling. Mellor had one 5 hit and nine 4s. the rest being two and singles. The other,' added just 26 to the total. none of them getting into double figures. The captain and Hancock cleared them nut in double quick time, the innings realising 157 all out. Hancock raptured nix wicket. for 57 runs. J. 31'11111an three for 51. and Johnny Cunningham one for 41 rime. • With limited time to get 158 to win the Drnmpellier opened with V. T. 'Mennen and A. 51^.1fillan again/it the bowling of Henderson and Higgins. Ten rum were put on for the loos of Meninx's wicket; then Willie Jardine joined A. :11`11iIlan and the total was taken to 43 before 71I^Millan was bowled by Henderson with 12 rears to his credit. it. D. Peebles next partnered Jardine. but boat him before another rim was scored through his being badly run out. alien will set, with a well earners 25 to his name. Johnny LOP joined Peebles a hen thr.,• wickets-had fallen for runs, and. both playing fine cricket. they carried the total to 114 for four wickets down. After gathering 40 runs. the lest-hander was caught lir Dr Stuart off Higuin's bowling. Hancock filled the but was snapped at the wicket without scoring, while J. McMillan who came next. was run out with a single to his name. A. J. J. Carter, partnering Lee, lost him with the total at 119, Lee's individual score being a good 30. A. P. Skeil joined his scholastic friend and together they brought the total to 149 without further disaster, young Carter taking out his bat for an opportune 20 while Skeil had 9 runs to his credit. The game thus ended in a draw.

Other sports

He was captain of the Prestwick Golf club.

He presented a trophy for golf; to be played between players from Scotland and England. The newspapers reported this as 'another Walker Cup', likening it to the UK - American golfing tournament.

Law career

After graduating at Oxford, Walker studied law and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1886.