| Ernie Carless | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | Ernest Francis Carless |
| Birth Date: | 9 September 1912 |
| Birth Place: | Cadoxton, Barry, Wales |
| Death Place: | Barry, Glamorgan, Wales |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm off break |
| Role: | Wicketkeeper |
| Club1: | Devon |
| Year1: | 1947–1949 |
| Club2: | Glamorgan |
| Year2: | 1946 |
| Club3: | Glamorgan |
| Year3: | 1934 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | FC |
| Matches1: | 3 |
| Runs1: | 35 |
| Bat Avg1: | 11.66 |
| 100S/50S1: | –/– |
| Top Score1: | 25 |
| Deliveries1: | – |
| Wickets1: | – |
| Bowl Avg1: | – |
| Fivefor1: | – |
| Tenfor1: | – |
| Best Bowling1: | – |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 1/– |
| Date: | 30 June |
| Year: | 2010 |
| Source: | http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/10658.html Cricinfo |
Ernest Francis Carless (9 September 1912 – 26 September 1987) was a Welsh cricketer. Carless was a right-handed batsman who played primarily as a wicketkeeper. He also bowled right-arm off-breaks though he did not bowl in first-class cricket. Carless played football in the Football League for Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle as an inside forward. He was born at Cadoxton, Glamorgan.
Carless made his first-class debut for Glamorgan in 1934 against Middlesex, though Tom Brierley kept wicket in this match; he played one further match for the county in that season, against Surrey, when Carless kept wicket. During the Second World War he played for the club in fund-raising matches. Following the end of the war and the resumption of County Cricket in 1946, Carless made his final first-class appearance, 12 years after his previous first-class match, in a Glamorgan side which was beset by injuries and struggling to field a team. His final first-class match was against Essex.[1] In his 3 matches he scored 35 runs at a batting average of 11.66 and a high score of 25.[2]
In 1947, Carless joined Devon, where he made his Minor Counties Championship debut for the county against Cornwall. From 1947 to 1949, he represented Devon in 7 Minor Counties fixtures, with his final appearance for the county coming against the Glamorgan Second XI.[3]
A multi-talented sportsman,[4] Carless played football as an inside forward.[5] He began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but did not make a first team appearance, and then returned to Wales to play for Barry Town.[5] Carless made his Football League debut in 1932 with Cardiff City and spent several years there without establishing himself in the first team.[4] [5] He went on to play for Altrincham and return to Barry Town before the Second World War.[4] Carless joined Plymouth Argyle in 1946, playing 11 games as a guest in the Football League South and then signing up to make four Second Division appearances when the full league programme returned.[4]
In 1947, soon after his last appearance for Argyle, Carless accepted an offer to become the club's head groundsman, having gained experience doing the job for Cardiff City before moving to Plymouth.[4] [6] The role enabled him to continue his cricket career with Devon.[4]
Carless died at Barry, Glamorgan on 26 September 1987.