William Hickton

William Hickton (14 December 1842 – 27 March 1900) was an English cricketer who played for Lancashire between 1867 and 1871 and for Derbyshire between 1871 and 1878. He was a member of the team that played Derbyshire's first match in May 1871.

Hickton was born in Hardstoft, Derbyshire. He first played for the Salford-based Broughton club in 1867 and began his first-class career for Lancashire in the same year. In a match against MCC at Lords, which was so badly interrupted by the weather, that mops and pails were used clear water off the pitch,

Hickton died at Lower Broughton, Salford, at the age of 58. Wisden described him as "a good batsman and a fast round-armed bowler, being altogether a cricketer above the average, and fielding generally at slip." A reporter was once noted to have said of Hickton, "There were few better fast bowlers than Hickton, and he always looked a very proud man when he could get through the defence of the Champion and then walk off the field in a stately fashion for a drink."

Hickton's son, also named William Hickton, played first-class cricket for Worcestershire.