Norman Stevenson

The son of a wealthy Edinburgh merchant, Norman Stevenson studied to become a dentist at Edinburgh University, where he played rugby, cricket, and was a fine runner. He was so good at the former that he once had a trial for the Scottish national rugby team. He also later played hockey, but it was as a cricketer that he was better known.

Stevenson joined the Carlton Cricket Club, Edinburgh in 1892, and played his last game for them in his 73rd year in 1948. A fine bowler, he took over 3,000 wickets for Carlton, and was the club captain for 29 seasons between 1902-48. He was also vice-captain for five seasons. He was later made an honorary vice-president of the club.

After University, Stevenson started playing hockey and in 1905 was one of the founder members, and inaugural secretary, of the hockey section of the Carlton Cricket Club. In their first season they played 17 matches, winning 16 and drawing the other one. He would later become club captain and also went on to captain Scotland.

Stevenson played in both Scotland’s matches at the 1908 London Olympics. They beat Germany 4-0, and then lost 6-1 to England in the semi-final, as he collected a bronze medal. His pass to Ivan Laing for the first goal against Germany was historic, as it was the first ever goal in Olympic hockey competition

In January 1946, Stevenson’s 320-page book Play! The Story of the Carlton Cricket Club and a Personal Record of Over 50 Years’ Scottish Cricket was published.