Ackroyd was born in Oakroyd Hall, Birkenshaw, Bradford, Yorkshire, England.
He made two appearances for Yorkshire, and averaged 15 with the bat, and 10.66 with the ball taking three wickets.
A fast bowler with a fierce break-back, his action was strongly criticised in Lillywhite's Companion for 1880.
Ackroyd died in Eccles, Lancashire, England, in October 1927, at the age of 59.
This biographical article related to an English cricket person born in the 1850s is a stub.