Edmund John Rowe was born on 21 July 1920 in Netherfield, Nottingham and died on 17 December 1989 in Bridlington, Yorkshire, aged 69. Very early in life his parents moved to Bradford where he played cricket for his school and afterwards in the Bradford League for Pudsey St. Lawrence. At the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Navy, and for six years was not able to play cricket. On being demobbed he returned to Nottingham and while playing local cricket attracted the attention of Notts.
Eddie Rowe made his debut for Notts Seconds in the Minor Counties Championship v Yorkshire Seconds at Trent Bridge in August 1947 and became a regular in the Notts Seconds Minor Counties team from 1948 onwards. He was given his First-Class debut versus Somerset at Trent Bridge in August 1949, regular keeper Eric Meads volunteered to stand down for one match simply to give his understudy a taste of top-grade cricket. In the next three summers Rowe only played seven games as Meads was considered first-choice. The arrival of Bruce Dooland in 1953 quickly changed that position. Meads was unable to read the subtle spin variations of Dooland and Rowe was drafted in as a result and played 14 games. Dooland uplifted a demoralised side, with Rowe a competent and grateful lieutenant. Rowe then had two full seasons in the side. He received his cap in 1954 when he obtained 63 dismissals, including 18 stumpings, in 29 games. In 1955 he played in 28 games with 49 dismissals. In 1956 he played in 18 matches with Cyril Poole deputising behind the stumps when Rowe was injured. The arrival in 1957 of Geoff Millman from Bedfordshire, a much superior batsman, proved to be the end of the road for Rowe with respect to first-team action. Rowe played his last First-Class match versus Yorkshire at Park Avenue, Bradford in June 1957.
Right-hand bat Rowe was genuine tail-ender; in 103 first-class matches for Notts he scored 295 runs @5.46. His highest score was 16 versus Kent at Blackheath in 1955. He effected 204 dismissals (152 catches and 52 stumpings). After starting an amateur, he turned professional in 1951.
Rowe remained on the Notts staff until the end of the 1959 season, playing exclusively for the second team in his last two seasons. After leaving Notts, Rowe took up a coaching appointment at Ellesmere College in Shropshire. In 1971, he had a season on the first-class umpires list.
April 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 388
See Eddie Rowe's career stats here