England’s 1000th football international against Montenegro at Wembley yesterday evening brought back into the spotlight the 12 people to have represented their country at football AND cricket – including Worcestershire CCC’s RE ‘Tip’ Foster and Alfred Lyttelton.
Foster remains unique amongst the feted dozen in being the only person to have captained England in BOTH of the sports.
He was one of the seven Foster brothers who were all educated at Malvern College and all played for Worcestershire.
Foster captained the England cricket side during the Ashes tour of 1903-04 and scored 287 on his Test debut at Sydney.
It was the highest Test innings on the ground until Michael Clarke’s 329 versus India in 2012.
Foster also skippered his country in the three-match series versus South Africa in 1907 and in his eight Tests scored 602 runs at an average of 46.30.
He won five caps at football for England and in his final international in March 1902 led the side against Wales in a goalless draw.
Sadly Foster was aged only 36 when he died because of illness in 1914.
Alfred Lyttelton played for Worcestershire from 1871-77 and made one appearance in 1893.
He was the youngest of eight Lyttelton brothers from Hagley Hall and won a solitary England football cap against Scotland in 1877 and, as a wicket-keeper, four Test caps for England in the 1880s.
He died aged 56 in 1913.
The 12 people to have represented England at football and cricket are:
Johnny Arnold
Andy Ducat
CB Fry
RE ‘Tip’ Foster
Leslie Gay
Billy Gunn
Wally Hardine
Alfred Lyttelton
Harry Makepeace
Arthur Milton
Jack Sharp
Willie Watson
