William Francis Neilson (24 September 1850 – 2 May 1880)[1] was an English-born New Zealand cricketer who played for Canterbury in the 1870s.
Born in Liverpool, England, Neilson moved to New Zealand as a young man.
[2] He had his best cricket performances in the match against Otago in 1876–77, when he scored 57 not out in the second innings batting at number nine, and then took 5 for 19 to wrap up the Otago innings and the match.
[5] He also led the Canterbury team that toured Tasmania and Victoria in 1878–79.
[6] A popular figure in Canterbury, he was the best amateur billiards player in New Zealand, a fine games player and horse rider, and a prominent owner of racehorses.