John Cuffe

New South Wales

Born in Coonamble, New South Wales, Cuffe made his first-class debut for that state side, against Queensland at Sydney on Boxing Day 1902. He made 5 and 25 with the bat, and took the single wicket of Charles Patrick. This was the only time Cuffe played in a first-class match outside England. (He did turn out for Worcestershire against Glamorgan at Cardiff Arms Park in 1910, but this game did not have first-class status.)

Worcestershire

Cuffe then came to England, making his Worcestershire debut against Oxford University at The Parks in May 1903. He was not yet qualified to appear in the County Championship, but also played against Cambridge University and the Philadelphians that season, scoring 91 against the latter side. He again turned out three times in 1904, playing once each against the universities and appearing also against the touring South Africans, claiming 5–58 in an innings defeat of Oxford. For the ten seasons from 1905 to 1914, Cuffe was a regular part of the Worcestershire side, and he made a career-best 145 against Hampshire in the first of those years. On three occasions — 1906, 1908 and 1911 — he passed 1,000 first-class runs in a season, while in 1907 and 1911 he obtained his hundred wickets. His "double" in 1911 consisted of 1,054 runs at 25.70 (even though he made no score greater than 78) and 110 wickets at 23.56. His best bowling figures (9-38) were achieved against Yorkshire at Bradford in 1907, but in the…

Cuffe was incorrectly recognised as being the first Australian to play in the Football League. Playing with Glossop North End between 1905 and 1914. This was incorrect, the John Cuffe who played 282 matches as a full-back was a native of Glossop.