 In the winter of 1921 – 22 , Hammond , needing work , signed to play professional football for Bristol Rovers F.C. in Division Three South , following his success at school and in the Bristol Downs Football League . After some time in the reserves , he made four appearances for the first team that season . He played in ten games the following season , and four times in 1923 – 24 . His usual position was on the right wing . Despite scoring twice in his career , he never showed much enthusiasm for the game and was cautious around tackles , mindful that his main career was cricket . He was criticised in the local press for his role in two defeats shortly before his final appearance . After he was left out of the team , he never played again and left the club , deciding that he could not play two sports professionally . Even so , the Rovers ' trainer , Bert Williams , and manager , Andy Wilson , believed that Hammond , one of the fastest players they had seen at the club , would have had the potential to play international football . 
