| Roy Sheffield | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | James Roy Sheffield |
| Birth Date: | 19 November 1906 |
| Birth Place: | Barking, Essex, England |
| Death Place: | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Role: | Wicket-keeper |
| Year2: | 1938/39 |
| Debutdate1: | 19 June |
| Debutyear1: | 1929 |
| Debutfor1: | Essex |
| Lastdate1: | 3 February |
| Lastyear1: | 1939 |
| Lastfor1: | Wellington |
| Lastagainst1: | Auckland |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Matches1: | 180 |
| Runs1: | 3,914 |
| Bat Avg1: | 16.51 |
| 100S/50S1: | 1/16 |
| Top Score1: | 108 |
| Deliveries1: | 72 |
| Wickets1: | 0 |
| Bowl Avg1: | – |
| Fivefor1: | – |
| Tenfor1: | – |
| Best Bowling1: | – |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 196/54 |
| Date: | 22 December |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Source: | https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5296/5296.html CricketArchive |
James Roy Sheffield (19 November 1906 – 16 November 1997) was an English cricketer, who kept wicket for Essex and Wellington between 1929 and 1939. A right-hand bat, Sheffield made 180 appearances, scoring 3,914 runs at an average of 16.51 including one century, and he took 196 catches and made 54 stumpings.[1]
During the winter of 1932–33 Sheffield took an extended trip in South America. For some time he followed the trail of Colonel Fawcett, and also worked as a cowboy in the Mato Grosso.[2] Then he canoed down the Paraguay River during the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia. He was arrested by the Paraguayans on suspicion of being a Bolivian spy, but was freed after British consular authorities intervened.[3] [4] He wrote about these adventures in a book, Bolivian Spy? that was published in 1935.[5]
Sheffield moved to New Zealand in 1936, meeting his future wife, Ruby Norrie of Jersey, on the voyage over. They married at St Mary's Cathedral, Auckland, in November 1938.[6] [4] His first job in New Zealand was as a guide at the Chateau Tongariro in Tongariro National Park.[7] In 1938 he was engaged on a three-year contract as the coach for the Wellington Cricket Association.[8] At the same time he was engaged on a three-year contract as the coach of the Wellington Football Association.[9]
In the 1940s Sheffield moved to Gisborne, where he taught physical education at Gisborne High School.[10] In 1947 he was appointed coach of the New Zealand football team for the series against the visiting South African team.[11] He played for Poverty Bay as a goalkeeper.[12]
Sheffield retained his enthusiasm for canoeing throughout his life. When he was in his eighties he competed in the 50-mile Waikato River Marathon.[4]