Lieut. Col. Cyril Foley enjoyed the very special distinction of being in the Eton elevens of 1886-87 when both matches with Winchester and Harrow were won, and then helping Cambridge beat Oxford three times - 1889 to 1891. Patient and sound in defence he scored freely to the off side. Usually going in first he seldom failed. Against Harrow in 1886 he made 114 and 36. His scores next year were 37 and 8 while against Winchester he played innings of 38 and 23 and 23 and 7. For Cambridge he was equally consistent with 22, 26 and 1 not out, 12 and 41.

He appeared for Worcestershire in 1888, played for Middlesex from 1893 till 1906, and in the winter of 1904-5 toured the West Indies as a member of Lord Brackley's team. At Lord's in 1893 he was the centre of an unusual incident. In the match between Middlesex and Sussex he picked up a bail which had fallen and, on appeal, Henty, the umpire, gave him out; but, at the request of Billy Murdoch, the Sussex captain, Foley continued his innings. As a soldier, he had much experience abroad and his exploits in the Jameson raid of 1895 earned for him the nickname of The Raider.

He served with distinction in the Boer war and came home in temporary command of the 3rd Royal Scots. During the European War he commanded the 9th East Lancashire Regiment.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack