William Dyas

William George Dyas MBE (6 November 1872 – 14 January 1940) was an English first-class cricketer, as well as footballer, businessman and local politician in Shropshire.

Early life Dyas was born in November 1872 at Madeley, Shropshire, son of farmer and maltster Andrew Beacall Dyas, whose family of Dutch extraction migrated to England in the reign of William III, and his wife Mary Anne, daughter of George Legge. He was educated at the nearby Wellington College (now Wrekin College).

Cricket An early figure in Shropshire cricket, having played for the county since 1892, He did not play first-class cricket for Warwickshire, but did play four first-class matches for London County, captained by W. G. Grace; he made three appearances in 1901, followed by one in 1902. He scored 136 runs in his four matches, at an average of 22.66. His highest score of 83, which was his only half century in first-class cricket, came against the Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) in 1901. He also took 3 wickets with the ball.

Below first class level he played county level cricket for Shropshire until 1904. After the county club disbanded, he continued to play for the Gentlemen of Shropshire team which replaced it. but declined due to business commitments.

Other sports Dyas also played hockey, at which he was a representative player for Shropshire, The Midlands (on eleven occasions, captaining their team in 1904-05), having joined and become a partner by 1907 in the roofing tile-making firm of George Legge & Son (owned by his maternal family) at Broseley. of which he had been a churchwarden and church treasurer. He was unmarried.