In this first part of a series dedicated to A.C. "Archie" MacLaren, host Tom Ford is joined by eminent writer and historian Giles Wilcock, known by his pseudonym "Old Ebor", who has written extensively about the famous Lancastrian from the so-called Golden Age. Wilcock helps answer questions about MacLaren's personality and why he seemingly ruffled the feathers of so many around him.

DONATE: You can buy Tom Ford a coffee! Every donation helps with production and inspires Tom to keep the podcast going. You can donate from a little as $5. Visit: buymeacoffee.com/GoldenAgeOfCricket

ABOUT GILES WILCOCK: From Yorkshire, Giles has been writing on and off for around 12 years now. He started the Old Ebor blog (now on Substack) seven years ago, but had written a few things before that too. He has written three books — a biography of George Macaulay, a history of the Original English Lady Cricketers and a non-cricket book about an 1832 murder — with a fourth in the works.

CREDITS: Presenter & Producer: Tom Ford

All music used in podcast comes from the University of California Santa Barbara’s remarkable collection of wax cylinder’s from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which are free to download and use. You can donate to the upkeep of these recordings via their website.

In this final episode dedicated to the evolution of the Sydney Cricket Ground in the nineteenth century, historian Geoff Armstrong discusses the building of the Ladies' Stand, the flurry of activity prior to the arrival of Andrew Stoddart's England XI in 1897-98 and what the future holds for the 'most beautiful ground in the world'.

DONATE: You can buy Tom Ford a coffee! Every donation helps with production and inspires Tom to keep the podcast going. You can donate from a little as $5. Visit: buymeacoffee.com/GoldenAgeOfCricket

ABOUT GEOFF ARMSTRONG: Geoff is one of Australia’s leading sport writers and historians. His first book was A Century of Summers, the centenary history of the Sheffield Shield, released in 1992. Two years later, he co-authored The People’s Game, a history of Australia in international one-day cricket. He has co-written or edited several cricket titles on famous cricketers, including Steve Waugh, David Boon, Bob Simpson, Mike Whitney, Ian Healy and Ricky Ponting. His latest publication reflects the splendour of the SCG: a stunning two-volume account of the ground, titled, A Thing of Beauty: The Founding of the Sydney Cricket Ground. Copies are available in Australia via the Stoke Hill Press website (stokehillpress.com), Roger Page Cricket Books and by order from most specialist bookshops. In the UK, the books can be purchased from the cricket bookseller JW McKenzie (mckenzie-cricket.co.uk).

CREDITS: Presenter & Producer: Tom Ford

All music used in podcast comes from the University of California Santa Barbara’s remarkable collection of wax cylinder’s from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which are free to download and use. You can donate to the upkeep of these recordings via their website.

In Part 2 of this exploration of the Sydney Cricket Ground's early history, Geoff Armstrong explains how the Ground came to host many other sports, the etymology of the 'Brewongle' Stand, and the curator's struggle to decide on a kind of pitch soil for the great 1894-95 Ashes series.

DONATE: You can buy Tom Ford a coffee! Every donation helps with production and inspires Tom to keep the podcast going. You can donate from a little as $5. Visit: buymeacoffee.com/GoldenAgeOfCricket

ABOUT GEOFF ARMSTRONG: Geoff is one of Australia’s leading sport writers and historians. His first book was A Century of Summers, the centenary history of the Sheffield Shield, released in 1992. Two years later, he co-authored The People’s Game, a history of Australia in international one-day cricket. He has co-written or edited several cricket titles on famous cricketers, including Steve Waugh, David Boon, Bob Simpson, Mike Whitney, Ian Healy and Ricky Ponting. His latest publication reflects the splendour of the SCG: a stunning two-volume account of the ground, titled, A Thing of Beauty: The Founding of the Sydney Cricket Ground. Copies are available in Australia via the Stoke Hill Press website (stokehillpress.com), Roger Page Cricket Books and by order from most specialist bookshops. In the UK, the books can be purchased from the cricket bookseller JW McKenzie (mckenzie-cricket.co.uk).

CREDITS: Presenter & Producer: Tom Ford

All music used in podcast comes from the University of California Santa Barbara’s remarkable collection of wax cylinder’s from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which are free to download and use. You can donate to the upkeep of these recordings via their website.

Show less