South Yorkshire Times, June 16th 1933
Norman Kilner
First Century Against Yorkshire
A Mitchell Main Product
The Wombwell district has sent forth its “Stars” of cricket to the four corners of the earth, and among the famous names none ranks higher than that of Kilner. The family’s most recent distinction came through Norman, the Warwickshire first wicket batsman, who played a main part in knocking a hole in Yorkshire’s hundred percent. record for the season, last week. There was irony —or poetic justice? —in his making the highest score of his career, and easily the highest against Yorkshire this season. against the county of his birth.
Norman began his career with Mitchell Main in the old days of the Mexboro’ League. Then he and his brother Colin—now back with his “native” club after spells with several other leading district clubs—joined Great Horton in the Bradford League as professionals, but after only a couple of games Norman was called on by the County Club. Between 1921 and 1924 he was with the County “on and off,” as twelfth man, and during the 1923 season as a regular member of the side.
During this spell he played for a season with Barnsley, when available, in the Yorkshire Council. Like several other Yorkshire-born players of quality in a period when the County suffered from an embarrassment of riches, he sought greater scope. and in 1924 went to Warwickshire to qualify by residence. During the two years’ qualification period he was professional to the West Bromwich Dartmouth club in the Birmingham League. At the end of the period, he became a regular member of the Warwickshire team, and has remained so ever since, usually as opening batsman. He has begun this season with a return to his best form, touching the peak of his career by his great innings against Yorkshire’s all-conquering attack last week.
His 197 easily passed his previous best of 160 odd made at Lord’s against Middlesex. Since he left Yorkshire, Kilner has been on coaching trips to South Africa on two occasions, and has occupied his last two winters in collaboration with Len Bates, a fellow-professional of Warwickshire, running a winter school of cricket. Norman is a brilliant field.