Born on 5 July 1859 in Kimberley, William Wilkinson, or “Billy Wilkie”, played a useful innings of 33 for the XXII Colts in 1892 and on being picked for the Notts Colts v Yorkshire Colts three weeks later, he showed excellent all-round form, taking 10-107 in the match and hitting 28. He was immediately given his First-Class debut for Notts v MCC at Lord’s in May 1892, taking 3-41 in the first innings, but his five First-Class games for Notts failed to enhance on that promise and his last First-Class game was versus Lancashire at Old Trafford in August 1893. He scored 34 First-Class runs @6.80 and took five wickets @26.60.
Wilkinson, a right hand bat and a right-arm medium pacer, had professional engagements at the City of Ely in 1888, Cardiff in 1889 and Todmorden in the Lancashire League between 1894 and 1900. His local cricket was played with Kimberley and, from 1901, Digby Colliery. Before the inception of the Minor Counties Championship, he played two games as a professional for Glamorgan in 1889, taking 4-10 v MCC at Lord’s.
He was at one time proprietor of the cinema in Regent Street, Kimberley, but later moved to West Bridgford. He died in the General Hospital, Nottingham on 6 October 1940 aged 81 years.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 222