Harold Leach

Harold Leach (3 March 1862 – 15 February 1928) was an English cricketer active in the 1880s and 1890s. Born at Rochdale, Lancashire, Leach was a right-handed batsman and right-arm slow bowler who made three appearances in first-class cricket.

Educated at Marlborough College, where he played for the college cricket team,[1] Leach made his debut in first-class cricket for Lancashire against Surrey at Old Trafford in 1881, in what was his only appearance for the county.[2] At club level Leach played for Liverpool,[1] and in 1884 he was selected to play for Liverpool and District in a first-class match against the touring Australians at Aigburth.[2] He made a third and final first-class appearance in 1891, when playing for Liverpool and District against Yorkshire.[2] He scored a total of 101 runs in his three first-class matches, top-scoring with 46 and averaging 25.25.[3]

Leach came from a substantial cricketing family; four brothers (William, Roger, Robert and John) all played first-class cricket, as did his great-nephew Neil Smith.[3] A number of other brothers who did not play first-class cricket were pioneers of cricket in Argentina. Outside of cricket, Leach worked as a stockbroker.[4] He died at Widcombe, Somerset on 15 February 1928.