Len Dolding

Desmond Leonard Dolding (December 13, 1922-November 23, 1954) was an English footballer and cricketer.

Biography

Born in Oordegem, East Flanders, Dolding served as a bomb-aimer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

He was a fine footballer playing as a winger for Chelsea (27 league appearances in 1946 - 1948) and Norwich City (12 appearances). He played non-league football for Wealdstone, Dover and Margate.

He was on the MCC staff for seven years. His main claim to fame on the cricket pitch was as a 12th Man for England in the Lord's Test of 1949. He played only once for Middlesex, in 1951, but as a right-arm leg-break bowler took part in many games for MCC.

Death and afterward

On November 12, 1954, Dolding was a passenger in a car that collided with a trolley bus in Wembley. The car was being driven by Middlesex teammate Sid Brown. Dolding died on November 23, 1954.

References

*Wisden's Cricketers Almanac 1955
* [http://www.margatehistory.co.uk/lendolding.htm]