Alfort Smith

Who was Alfort Smith?

Alfort Smith was an English cricketer who kept wicket for Lancashire in 1867 and 1871 and for Derbyshire between 1873 and 1880.

Smith was born in Bank Lane, near Bury Lancashire, but his parents moved to Glossop shortly after his birth. He became a cotton weaver, and started playing for Glossop cricket club in 1863 at the age of 16. He was a respected batsman and wicket-keeper at the club. He made his debut for Lancashire in 1867 against Yorkshire when he scored 2 and was not out for zero and held three catches behind the stumps. However, he did not play again until the 1871 season when he played against Derbyshire in their first outing. Smith was top scorer at 11 not out in Lancashire's record low innings score of 25, but his two catches and two stumpings were not enough to stave off defeat. He played two more matches for Lancashire and umpired one match.

After a year out of the game, Smith transferred his allegiance to Derbyshire and played one match in the 1873 season which was a return match against his old side of Lancashire.