John Nichols

John Ernest Nichols (20 April 1878 – 29 February 1952), sometimes known as Jack Nichols, was an English professional sportsman who played cricket and association football. As a first-class cricketer he played five matches for Worcestershire County Cricket Club between 1902 and 1904, as well as making one first-class appearance for a Minor Counties representative side in 1912. He also played Minor Counties Championship cricket for Norfolk and Staffordshire County Cricket Clubs and was an influential cricket coach. As a footballer, Nichols spent time contracted by Bolton Wanderers and Bury and played professionally at Football League Second Division level for Loughborough F.C. He served in the British Army during World War I. Early life Nichols was born at Acle in Norfolk in 1878 and was brought up at Wymondham, where his father, also John, was a publican and the groundsman of the town's sports ground, Kings Head Meadow. He played cricket for the town's cricket club and is first known to have played for Norfolk in 1898, appearing in two Minor Counties Championship matches as well as a match against Yorkshire's Second XI. Football career Nichols played football for the amateur Norfolk County F.A. side before joining Bolton Wanderers in 1896, although he did not play a first-team match for the side. He played for Loughborough in 1898–99, making his debut in an FA Cup tie against Mansfield Town in October 1898 and his league debut later in the same month in a Second Division fixture against Blackpool. He played a total of 13 matches for the side, scoring three goals, before joining amateur side Loughborough Corinthians in January 1899.