Patsy Hendren

Patsy Hendren: A Different Kind of English Hero is the fascinating story of a unique sportsman who made his mark in both football and cricket. A prolific batsman for Middlesex and a superb fielder, Hendren appeared 51 times for England and was in two Ashes-winning sides. A fast and tricky winger, he also played more than 400 games for Brentford in the lower divisions. When Hendren retired at 48, only Jack Hobbs and Frank Woolley had scored more runs, only Hobbs more centuries, and probably only Hobbs had earned more money from cricket. Too often Hendren has been seen simply as a comic figure, but there was so much more. Born into a poor Irish-heritage background and orphaned at 14, he was a devout Catholic who devoted much time to good causes. He was no typical inter-war sporting hero. He was not a stylish batsman like Hobbs, and had none of the glamour of Percy Chapman, or the polish of Herbert Sutcliffe. He was, however, a true one-off who deserves to be known by all sports lovers.