Fred Benham

Frederick Charles Benham (18 December 1903 — 29 November 1985) was an English-born Scottish first-class cricketer and groundskeeper.

The son of the cricketer Charles Benham, he was born at Bexley in December 1903. He moved to Scotland as a young child, when his father's career as a professional cricketer took him there. Benham was offered a trial by Kent County Cricket Club in 1932, but turned down the offer to remain in Scotland playing club cricket for West Lothian.[1] He played for West Lothian throughout the 1920s and 1930s, during which time he broke his leg while playing in a charity football match in 1934.[2] He continued his association with the club following the Second World War. Benham made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Scotland against Yorkshire at Hull during Scotland's 1949 tour of England.[3] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed for 9 runs in the Scottish first innings by Ellis Robinson, while in their second innings he ended the Scottish innings not out on 0, with the match ending in a draw.[4] He later coached West Lothian in the 1970s.[5] Outside of playing, Benham was a groundsman, where he was credited with keeping the wicket at Linlithgow as one of the best in Scotland.[6] He died at Bangour General Hospital in November 1985.