Leslie Gay

Who was Leslie Gay?

Leslie Hewitt Gay, born at Brighton on 24 March 1871 and died at Sidmouth, Devon, on 1 November 1949, was a cricketer who played for Cambridge University, Hampshire, Somerset and England. As a footballer, he played for Cambridge University, the Corinthians and England.

Leslie Gay was educated at Marlborough, Brighton College and Clare College, Cambridge. An intermittent cricketer who had left the first-class game by 1904, Gay kept wicket for Cambridge in the Varsity match against Oxford University in 1892 and 1893, and after four games for Somerset in 1894 he was picked for the 1894-95 tour to Australia under Andrew Stoddart. Chosen only for the first Test match, he scored 33 and four and took three catches with one stumping. He then disappeared from first-class cricket until a brief nine-match return with Hampshire in 1900.

As a football player, he represented Cambridge University as goalkeeper against Oxford University in 1892 and appeared for England against Scotland in 1893 and 1894, and against Wales in 1894. In 1900, Gay joined Southampton as reserve to fellow England goalkeeper, Jack Robinson, although he never played for the first team.

He also represented Devon at golf.