James Southerton was born in Petworth,Sussex, in November 1827. His family moved to Mitcham the next year. His father died in 1841 and is buried in St Peter and Paul Church. James, occupation hairdresser, with his mother Charlotte, was living in London Road in 1851.

Around this time he was playing cricket for Mitcham, mainly as a batsman though he did also bowl. He made his debut for Surrey in 1854. He played for other sides too, but his record at this time was modest. His best year, as a batsman was 1858, when he averaged 22. He did however create a record of another kind, when in one year in the 1860s he played for 3 counties - Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. Later, forced to choose a county, he chose Surrey.

It was in the 1860s that Southerton developed the slow bowling for which he was to become famous. He became possibly the greatest slow bowler of the 1870s, establishing a number of records:

he took 100 wickets in a season 10 times

in 1869, for Surrey against Lancashire at the Oval, he took 4 wickets in 5 balls, all bowled

in 1870 he took 210 wickets at 14.63

in 1875, for South v North, he took the first 9 wickets to fall (the last man was run out by W G Grace)

he played in the first test match, for England v Australia, at Melbourne in 1877. At 49 years and 119 days he remains the oldest player to make a Test debut

As a player, Southerton was fair to the extreme. Playing for Surrey against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1870 he cut a ball hard into the ground from where it was caught by WG Grace at point. Throwing the ball in the air as a joke, Grace exclaimed "that's a hot'un Jim".

Believing he was out, though no fielder appealed, Southerton walked and could not be persuaded to return. Thus we have the scorebook recording his dismissal,

J Southerton, retired, thinking he was caught, 0

In his retirement Southerton became landlord of "The Cricketers" pub, facing Mitcham Cricket Green. This had long been the headquarters of the Club, providing meeting place, dressing accommodation and a raised balcony for the scorers. James lived there with his wife Sarah, and at least 5 children, all born in Mitcham. The Cricketers pub that stands by the Green today was built after Southerton's one was destroyed by bombing in the Second a World War.

Southerton was closely involved with the affairs of the Mitcham Club, acting as umpire when time allowed, and coaching the young players. He was influential in attracting the early Australian touring teams to come to the Green for net practice.

Appointed superintendent of ground bowlers at the Oval, Southerton also retained working links with Surrey. Indeed he tried to do too much, and died in 1880 after an attack of pleurisy,

"Though far from well, he would continue to carry out his duties... in doing this he caught a chill..A thoroughly respectable, self-reliant, good sort was James Southerton." (Charles Alcock, Surrey Secretary)

Worshipped locally as a sporting hero, pall bearers carried his coffin from the Cricketers along Church Road to Mitcham churchyard, in a procession reported to be a quarter of a mile long.