Geoff Whittaker

Geoffrey James Whittaker (Peckham, 29 May 1916 – St Peter, Jersey, 21 April 1997) was an English cricketer active from 1935 to 1953 who played for Surrey. He was the son of Fred Whitaker a professional footballer born in Burnley in 1888 who played for Northampton Town.

Whittaker appeared in 129 first-class matches for Surrey as a right-handed batsman who scored 4,988 runs with a highest score of 185 not out among eight centuries.[1] His average for Surrey Second XI in the 1939 season was 100.4 in 10 matches including four not outs.[2] He also played football for Kingstonian F.C. both before and after World War II.[3] During the war Whittaker served in the Army and was captured at Tobruk where he lost the top of his thumb and spent 3+1⁄2 years as a prisoner of war.[4] When his contract with Surrey was not renewed in 1953 he moved to Jersey to coach association football and cricket at Victoria College, Jersey[5] and remained there after he retired.