George Comber

George Comber (12 October 1856 – 18 October 1929) was an English undertaker and professional cricketer. He played six first-class matches for Surrey County Cricket Club between 1880 and 1885.¹²

Comber was born at Redhill in 1856.¹ His father ran an undertakers business in the town which had been established by Comber's grandfather. Comber later ran the business himself.²³

As a young man, Comber played club cricket for the Redhill and Reigate Priory clubs, becoming "well-known in local cricketing circles".² He was considered a "fine" batsman and wicket-keeper, the Surrey Mirror writing that he had a "penchant" for the position,² whilst Wisden described him as "useful both as batsman and wicket-keeper"⁴ He played alongside Surrey cricketer Walter Read for Reigate Priory and was recommended to the Surrey club, taking up a position as a professional cricketer with the county side in around 1880.²

Comber made six first-class appearances for Surrey. He scored four runs in his only innings on his first-class debut against Middlesex at Lord's in 1880, before playing four matches for the county side during the 1882 season. After a final first-class match in 1885, he retired as a professional cricketer and returned to the family business.²⁵ In his six first-class matches he scored a total of 44 runs, with a highest score of 19 coming against Kent at Mote Park in 1882.⁵ Nis most notable performance as a club cricketer came in the same year, Comber scoring 154 runs for Reigate Priory against Guildford Cricket Club, part of a partnership of 368 for the third wicket with Walter Read.²⁴

Following his father's death, Comber took over the family undertakers business. He married in 1883 and died, aged 74, at Redhill in 1929.²⁴