Albert Craig (The Surrey Poet)
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Albert Craig (1849 or 1850 - July 8, 1909), was known as The Surrey Poet.
Craig was born in Yorkshire. He attended cricket and football matches, and wrote verses describing them. He would then have these printed on broadsheets and would sell them to the crowd. Although most of his verses were very bad, he was a popular and well known figure, thanks to his good nature and his ready wit. As his nickname attests, he was particularly associated with The Oval, though he visited many other grounds. Bobby Abel and Tom Richardson were amongst those who attended his funeral.[1]
Ronald Mason wrote of him: "He had no authority but popularity, no recommendation but gaiety, no talent but wit."[2]
He died in Clapham, South London. After his death, a book of his work was published:
- Cricket and football: Rhymes, sketches, anecdotes, etc. of Albert Craig, the "Surrey Poet", Cricket and Sports Publishers Ltd, 1910.
See also: Cricket poetry
