I know we are talking about bygone days when true amateurs could mix it with the professionals and where double or even triple internationals were possible and would make headline news.
Who played football for Scotland and cricket for England? Dennis Law and Ted Dexter. Sorry!
Donald Carr was born in 1926 and went to Repton School in Derbyshire where he excelled in cricket and football. This school has produced a number of brilliant all rounders including CB Fry and when Charterhouse visited Repton or played them at soccer in Godalming, we knew we had a serious opposition. They were not on our cricket fixture card but we had played Repton at soccer since 1907 and in 1908 played them on December 22nd. When did term finish?
The Old Reptonians played the school first in 1880.
Carr left school in 1944 and joined the army in 1945. He managed to play cricket for Derbyshire, eventually taking a place at Worcester College Oxford in 1948.
Carr was once described as a batsman who remained "stronger on potential than achievement". That seems like a typical schoolmasterly kind comment and as for his captaincy, his reputation was such that he was better fitted to bear the blame; clearly a young man who was mature and prepared to stand up for his decisions and actions.
Carr played for the Oxford University cricket team in 1949 through to 1951, being captain in 1950. He also played a full time winter sport, winning soccer Blues v Cambridge University in 1950 (2-2) and 1951 (0-0), where he would have opposed anothere remarkable all rounder, Charterhouse's Peter May (PBHM). Carr also played for the famous amateurs Pegasus, winning the Amateur Cup Final with them at Wembley in 1951 (beating Bishop Auckland in front of 100,000) and 1953 (Harwich and Parkeston 6-0 also 100,000 in the crowd).
Cricket was his strength, he played for Derbyshire 1946-63, England twice and then became important in cricket administration with the MCC, being awarded an OBE in 1985.
Apolos for scruffy photo. You get the drift.
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