Gilbert Dawson

{{Short description|English cricketer (1914–1969)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Gilbert Dawson

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Gilbert Wilkinson Dawson

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1914|12|9|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bradford, Yorkshire, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|5|24|1914|12|9|df=yes}}

| death_place = Paisley, Lanarkshire, Scotland

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Unknown

| family =

| club1 = Hampshire

| year1 = 1947–1949

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 60

| runs1 = 2,643

| bat avg1 = 26.43

| 100s/50s1 = 4/10

| top score1 = 158*

| deliveries1 = 18

| wickets1 = 0

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 36/–

| date = 15 January

| year = 2010

| source = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11844.html Cricinfo

}}

Gilbert Wilkinson Dawson (9 December 1914 – 24 May 1969) was a first-class English cricketer.

Dawson was born at Bradford in December 1914. He initially played club cricket in the Bradford League for East Bierley, Windhill and Pudsey St. Lawrence.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228449.html|title=Wisden - Obituaries in 1969|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=6 July 2023}} Following the end of the Second World War, new Hampshire captain Desmond Eagar set about recruiting younger players to replace the ageing players that had appeared for Hampshire before the war. He looked north, recruiting Dawson, alongside Derek Shackleton and the unrelated Harold Dawson.{{cite web|url=https://hampshirecrickethistory.wordpress.com/2017/12/03/a-z-d2/|title=A to Z (D2)|website=www.hampshirecrickethistory.wordpress.com|accessdate=6 July 2023}} Moving south, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Middlesex at Lord's in the 1947 County Championship.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6554/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Gilbert Dawson|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=6 July 2023|url-access=subscription}} The first of his four centuries for Hampshire came in 1947, against Yorkshire at Bournemouth. He played twelve matches in his debut season, and followed that up in 1948 with thirty appearances; he recorded a second century in 1948, making 110 against Derbyshire, whilst scoring 1,229 runs in the season at an average of 23.63.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6554/f_Batting_by_Season.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Gilbert Dawson|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=6 July 2023|url-access=subscription}} In 1949, he made eighteen first-class appearances. In this season, he scored 1,032 runs at an average of 33.29; he recorded his highest first-class score in 1949, making 158 not out against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Dawson made sixty first-class appearances for Hampshire, scoring 2,643 runs at an average of 26.43; he made four centuries and ten fifties.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6554/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Gilbert Dawson|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=6 July 2023|url-access=subscription}}

During the 1949 season, he was dismissed by the Duke of Edinburgh when his personal eleven played Hampshire in a friendly match at Bournemouth.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003150/19490920/213/0006|title=The Duke in action|work=Bradford Observer|page=6|date=20 September 1949|access-date=6 July 2023|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} After leaving Hampshire at the end of the 1949 season, Dawson moved to Scotland, where he became well-known in Scottish cricket circles. He played his club cricket there for Ferguslie, signing for the club in October 1949,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19491019/086/0005|title=Strathmore lost a pro|work=Dundee Courier|page=2|date=19 October 1949|access-date=6 July 2023|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} and topping their batting averages in 1952.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001713/19520922/079/0003|title=Cricket Western Union Dawson (Ferguslie) tops the batting|work=Paisley Daily Express|page=3|date=22 September 1952|access-date=6 July 2023|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} He later played for Poloc,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19540723/187/0013|title=Good Record|work=Aberdeen Evening Express|page=13|date=23 July 1954|access-date=6 July 2023|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} and would go on to umpire in club matches. During a club match on 24 May 1969, Dawson was taken unwell. He proceeded to leave the venue and was later found dead in Paisley in his crashed car.