Frank O'Keeffe � Church Cricket Club

To mark the centenary of former professional Frank OKeeffe's death Church will lay a wreath at his grave in Dill Hall Cemetary on Sunday March 24th at 14.30.

Frank O'Keeffe was born on May 11th 1896 in Waverley, Sydney, Australia, and died on March 26th 1924 at the New End Hospital, Hampstead, London.

He played Sydney grade cricket for Waverley as a teenager before enlisting in the First Australian Imperial Force and serving at the front for four years in World War I.

After the war he returned to Australia and was selected for a few matches for New South Wales but was unable to establish himself in the First eleven and moved to Victoria.

He came to fame in the 1921-1922 season when he scored 87 and 79 for Victoria against New South Wales,180 against South Australia, and 177 and 144 for the Rest of Australia against Warwick Armstrong's touring team, which had just returned from their Ashes triumph in England.

A good off-break bowler in addition to his powerful batting he was signed as Professional by Church in late June 1922.

After a quiet first season, and after spending the winter in England, he re-signed for Church for the 1923 season.

That season he topped the League batting averages.

He was credited for inventing the practice of fielders walking in as the bowler ran into bowl; previously run-saving fielders had tended to remain static.

When the 1923 season finished he once again spent the winter in England working as a travelling salesman which enabled him to take up an offer of a contract starting June 1924 with Lancashire County Cricket Club.

He made friends readily and was respected by all who knew him.

The grave of Frank O'Keeffe � Church Cricket Club

Sadly he was never to take up the contract with Lancashire dying from peritonitis at the New End Hospital, Hampstead in March 1924.

Church Cricket Club with donations from the local cricket community enabled arrangements to be made to bring Frank back to Church, so that he could be laid to rest not in London, but at Dill Hall Cemetery.

Large crowds lined the route of the cortege as it travelled up Dill Hall Lane and two carriages were needed to carry the floral tributes.

For many years members of the Australian Test touring side would come to Dill Hall Cemetery to pay their respects and lay a wreath in memory of their fellow countryman.

In his memory the Frank O'Keeffe trophy was donated by his sister to Church Cricket Club, and it is still awarded annually to the amateur with the best bowling performance.