Clubs: Grantham, Nottinghamshire CCC

Roles and Representation: Notts captain 1889-1899, England footballer 1885

Honours: Captained Notts to Championship victory in 1889

Clem Booth

John Auger Dixon was born in Grantham in May 1861 and built up his reputation as an excellent player in Lincolnshire club cricket, before being tried for Nottinghamshire in 1882. He initially failed to justify his place, but five years later, called upon in an emergency to play for Notts against the MCC at Lords, he scored 89 against several of the finest bowlers of the day.

He went on to represent Nottinghamshire for sixteen seasons, and captained them between 1889 to 1899. Highlights included his 268 not out against Sussex at Trent Bridge in 1897, and a hart-trick against Lancashire at the same ground in 1887. His Wisden obituary described him as “a fine free batsman, with the off-drive and the cut as his best strikes [who] timed the ball admirably”.

He was also a talented footballer, a left-winger who played club football for both Notts County and the Corinthians during the 1880s, and represented England against Wales at Leamington Road, Blackburn in 1885.