Born in Nottingham on 5 August 1857, Herbert Emmitt (or Emmett) made his First-Class debut in 1884 for the North v South, in which he scored 0 and 4no, took one catch and did not bowl.
His only other two First-Class matches were for Nottinghamshire, both in 1888 - v Gloucestershire at Cheltenham and v Lancashire at Trent Bridge; that score of four remained his highest at that level and he returned to club cricket for Nottingham Castle.
Emmitt’s only known professional cricket engagements were for the Manhattan CC of New York in 1881 and for Dalkeith in 1889.
He was much better known as a footballer, playing for both Notts County and Nottingham Forest; in 1889 a match between Forest and County was played for the benefit of Emmitt and another local professional.
Herbert Emmitt, the 200th player registered for Nottinghamshire CCC, died of pneumonia in his home city in April 1901. His obituary in the Nottingham Journal focused on his footballing career 'as a hard-working and determined half back' but did praise his qualities as a cricketer, particularly as 'winner of the "most twenties" prize on many occasions' for the Castle Club, whilst acknowledging that success of club level did not for Emmitt translate to the County team.
June 2022
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 200