Archie Gibson facts for kids

Archibald Lesley Gibson (born September 4, 1877 – died July 29, 1943) was an English cricket player. People often called him Archie Gibson.

Archie Gibson's Cricket Career

Archie Gibson started playing cricket when he was still a student. He went to Winchester College. From 1895 to 1897, he played a few games for Essex. He returned to play for Essex for most of the 1910 season.

Highlights of His Batting

In July 1910, Archie scored his only "fifty" (meaning 50 runs or more) in a big game. He made 71 runs while batting at number three. This helped Essex win against Kent. He also played for Dorset in 1905. This was in a competition called Minor Counties cricket.

Life as a Tea Planter in Ceylon

Archie Gibson spent most of his adult life working far from England. He was a tea planter in Ceylon, which is now called Sri Lanka. He was in charge of a large tea farm called Diyagama Estate. This estate was located in a place called Agrapatana.

Leading Ceylon's Cricket Team

While living in Ceylon, Archie became a very important person in cricket there. He was the captain of the Ceylon cricket team. He also became the president of the Ceylon Cricket Association. This group helped organize cricket games in Ceylon.

His Last Match and Legacy

Archie played his very last important cricket game in February 1927. He played against a famous team called the touring MCC. People in Ceylon really liked and respected Archie. They admired how well he got along with the local people. They also appreciated how much he cared for them.

In 1931, a special cricket match was played to honor him. It was between the Sinhalese Sports Club and "A. L. Gibson's XI" (a team picked by Archie). This match happened just before he left Ceylon.