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Abertillery Cricket – An Early History.
In the 1870’s the Abertillery Cricket Grounds (coloured green on the map above) was originally on the fields where Glandwr St is now built (between the river and the tin works feeder). There is a news report that Abertillery played Ebbw Vale, at Ebbw Vale as early as 1871.
The Glandwr Cricket Field was given to the Abertillery Cricket Club for the use of cricket by Mr P. S. Phillips, the Abertillery Tin Works proprietor, it was reported that at home games between 400-500 people would watch from the banking just below where the lower Black Bridge is now, close to the Kings Head Inn. At this point the field was accessed by a small footbridge spanning the tin works feeder.
The Blaenau Gwent Rugby Club played matches at the Old Barn Field, Abertillery Town Club played on the Captain’s Field (Glan-y-dwr), named after Capt. Phillips the proprietor of the Abertillery Tin Works, the Abertillery Harlequins (said to have been one of the best junior teams in Wales) played on the Gas Works Field, later this field was taken up by the Vivian Tip.
In the 1880’s the Abertillery Cricket Committee held their meetings at Wilkins Coffee Tavern, Somerset Street (opposite the Pontlottyn).
In the 1880’s the Blaenau Gwent Chapel School children used to play their cricket matches in a field above the Baptist Chapel by the Crown Inn.
In the 1892 and 1894 seasons the Abertillery Cricket Club won the Monmouthshire Cup, beating Chepstow on the two occasions. After their success in the 1894 win, the team came under much criticism in the local papers when after they returned to Abertillery they marched triumphantly through the town and took the trophy cup into every public house, had it filled with wine and gave everyone a drink out of it.
Abertillery Cricket Team 1890’s.
Mr D. N. Boswell (Chairman); Mr W. J. Phillips (Secretary); Mr W. Wilkins (Treasurer); Mr D. Brown (Captain); Mr Mark Robins (Vice Captain); Messrs Withers & Rhapps (Auditors); Mr S. Winmill, Mr G. Shinar; Mr S. Robins; Mr W. Withers; Mr H. Morgan; Mr E. Leigh; Mr T. B. Martindale; Mr W. Bradburn; Mr D. C. Davies; Mr A. Price; Mr A. Sperring; Mr W. H. Pearson; Mr A. Beecham; Mr T. Jarman; Mr H. M. Haylings; Mr F. Morgan and Mr R. Moremon:
The Building of Houses on the Cricket Ground.
In March 1895 there were reports that as of the rapid build-up in population the need for ground was forefront in securing land for house construction and there were rumours that the then present cricket ground at Captain’s Field was to be sold off for the building of houses. If this was true, the Abertillery Cricket Club would be without a pitch to play on.
In a report from March 1905 titled “For the need of a Recreation Ground at Abertillery”, Mr S. N. Jones J.P. stated, “The council had before them very many questions requiring consideration”, though he “Did not think any was more urgent than that of a recreation ground”. Mr Jones said he “Believed that Mr A. A. Williams of the Hanbury Estate should meet with the council with reference to the Old Barn Field which could be formed into a good recreational ground”. A lot of debating over alternate sites for the use of rugby and cricket followed.
The Move to the Old Barn Field.
In the late 1890’s the old Cricket Ground at Glandwr, Captain’s Field was inevitably sold off to the building company and the erection of Glandwr Street was commenced. The Abertillery cricketers were moved up onto the old Barn Field, which they had to share the rugby football ground with the Blaenau Gwent rugby team.
In 1900 the Abertillery Cricket Club disbanded. Later some of the team reformed and played under different club names.
Brown’s Welsh Wanderers.
In July 1901 the old Abertillery cricket team toured the county of Somerset under the name of “Browns Welsh Wanderers”. Fixtures were arranged at Farrington, Frome, Midsomer Norton and Shepton Mallet.
In about 1902 the club again reformed, though this occasion played under the name of the Abertillery Cricket Club. The club came up against difficulties and later disbanded and reformed on many occasions.
Ladies Cricket.
On Saturday 18th of June 1903, a ladies cricket match took place at Abertillery Park between the girls of Abertillery County School and the Ebbw Vale County School girls. The total score was – Abertillery 79, Ebbw Vale 45, Abertillery won by 34 runs. It was reported that a great feature of the second innings was Miss D. Phillips of Abertillery who had batted 21 not out at the end of the game, Miss Phillips who was an Old Tyleryan had batted for Abertillery by permission of the captain of Ebbw Vale as she had played in place of an absent member of the team.
The Abertillery County School Ladies Team – Misses C. Prosser; A. Davies; M. Roberts; S. Pearce; W. Nicholas (Captain); D. Phillips; F. Thomas; E. Lewis; F. Wallen; B. Thomas; and E. Williams:
A New Cricket Ground Proposal.
In April 1904 Mr S. N. Jones stated to the council that “A cricket pitch would soon be built in the recreation grounds”, Dr Rocyn Jones intimated that Dr Powell, the chairman of the Powell’s Tillery Colliery Company had given 40 guineas to head the list of subscribers towards the new cricket ground.
Abertillery Cricket Team 1900’s.
In September 1904 the Abertillery Cricket Club ended their season on a high. They had played 19 matches, won 14 and lost only 3. Mr W. England and Mr W. Withers held the records and were the finest men in the county. Mr W. England bowled 135 overs, 55 maidens, 202 runs, 67 wickets. Mr W. Withers bowled 105 overs, 40 maidens, 290 runs, 71 wickets. Top batsman was Mr E. W. Watkins with 8 innings and 205 runs. Other players in this year – Mr M. Robbins (Captain); Mr S. Winmill; ; Mr O. Winmill; Mr E. Robbins; Mr T. Baker; Mr T. Price; Mr W. J. Extence; Mr W. Powell; Mr W. Brown; Mr N. Richards; Mr W. Prosser; Mr W. Hutton; Mr A. W. Smith; Mr F. Griffiths; Mr C. Hodges; Mr J. Howe; Mr A. Little; Mr D Brown; Mr L. James; Mr W. Spalding; Mr J. Baker; Mr W. Davies; Mr A. Jones; Mr A. Robbins; Mr C. Hooper; Mr T. Byard; Mr J. Davies and Mr R. Graham:
In 1906 the Abertillery Cricket Committee held their meetings at the Buckley’s Temperance Hotel, Oak Street. At this time the Abertillery Cricket Team were as follows – Mr W. Hutton (Captain); Mr T. P. Rogers; Mr W. England; Mr G. Abraham; Mr M. Robbins; Mr W. Walters; Mr C. Hillier; Mr I. Warfield; Mr Walter Powell; Mr A. G. Little; Mr E. Robbins; Mr T. Baker and Mr William Powell:…..The club also added a Seconds Team, some of the team names included – Mr A Robbins (Captain); Mr T. Baker; Mr William Powell; Mr J. James; Mr T. Daggar; Mr J. Howe; Mr A. Jones; Mr O. Winmill; Mr N. Richards; Mr T. Williams; Mr A. Carter; Mr E. D. Davies; Mr J. Reed and Mr J. Lintern.
Mr Griffith Abraham.
In July 1906 it was reported that Mr Griffith Abraham, the Abertillery cricketer was chosen to play for Monmouthshire County against Cornwall at Newport on the 16th and 17th of July 1906.
The Baseball Team in the Abertillery Park.
In about 1907 the sport of baseball was introduced to Abertillery, a club was set up and a committee was chosen. In this same year the cricket club and the baseball committee applied for permission to use the park for the coming season.
The New Ground Proposal.
In March 1909 a meeting of the Abertillery Cricket Club team at Buckley’s Temperance Hotel. At this meeting the proposal of moving to their new ground was first mentioned.
In May 1910 the Abertillery Cricket Club disbands, the club was unable to play the forthcoming season as of the state of the ground at Barn Field and lack of teams willing to come to the Abertillery Park. The committee gave the money from the club £1. 13s. 6d. to the local branch of the N.S.P.C.C.
In February 1911 a delegation from the Abertillery Cricket Club approached the council on the matter of playing at the park this coming season, the spokesman for the club was Mr Evan Watkins, the request was held over until next season.
The New Grounds.
In February 1912 the Abertillery District Council were successful in their talks with the Nantyglo and Blaina Company in acquiring the land (as seen right on a 1962 map) at Glandwr Farm to rent from the company via Mr George Jukes at £15. Mr Jukes was the resident farmer at Glandwr Farm and the land in question came with a sort of covenant. The land was leased on condition the land was not to be used for any purpose other than the game of cricket. This condition was agreed to and the land was leased from the company by the council for the new Abertillery Cricket Ground.
In 1913 Mr Richard Tudor (Abertillery Builder and Contractor) gave the Abertillery Cricket Club a gift of sightscreens. Mr Tudor lived in Oak Street, Abertillery and was responsible for building the Crown Infants School, Blaenau Gwent and the re-building of the Liberal Snooker Club, Abertillery.
Abertillery Cricket Team 1920’s.
In February 1920 the Pleasure Grounds and Fire Brigade Committee suggested that the Abertillery Cricket Club assist the Parks Improvement Committee in raising funds to erect a cricket pavilion at the park and in the following month plans were put forth with the intent to build a pavilion 25′ feet by 15′ feet in size for the use of the cricket team.
In March 1920 the Pleasure Grounds and Fire Brigade Committee announced that they were to charge the Abertillery Cricket Club £10 per season and if they were to introduce a Wednesdays Team attached to the club, they had to pay £2. 10s. extra per season.
In the 1920s the Abertillery Cricket Committee held their meetings at the Coates Restaurant, Abertillery. Some of the first team names – Mr A. J. Rudge (Captain); Mr G. Powell; Mr H. E. Shingles; Mr Eric Jeffreys; Mr W. Robbins; Mr G. House; Mr O. Winmill; Mr S. J. Colebrook; Mr S. Robins; Mr E. Brooks; Mr W. Morgan. Mr J. Rees; Mr L. Davies; Mr T. Norris and Mr E. Cook:…… The seconds team included – Mr S. Reames (Captain); Mr C. Griffiths; Mr I. Baker; Mr W. Rudge; Mr I. Richards; Mr L. Davies; Mr J. Collins; Mr A. Sutton; Mr W. Richardson; Mr J. Selwyn; Mr W. Lintern and Mr A. Edwards:
In the 1920’s there were a couple of professional cricket players signed to the Abertillery Cricket Team, the first known professional was Mr Thomas Peters, a slow to medium bowler from Burnley, Lancs. Abertillery also tried to secure Mr Bert Vincett though the club couldn’t meet the terms and conditions that was attached to his contract.
In March 1929 the club entered into the Monmouthshire League and appointed the professional cricketer Mr William Allen, an all-rounder, slow bowl from Scarborough, Yorkshire. In his first year at Abertillery Mr Allen broke two records – 1,000 runs in one season and by scoring 130 runs in one innings. After only one season at Abertillery Mr Allen returned to Scarborough to play Association Football.
Abertillery Cricket Team 1930’s.
In the early 1930’s the Abertillery Cricket Committee held their meetings at the Station Hotel, Oak Street. At this time the team consisted of the following members – Mr T. Adams; Mr R. W. James; Mr H. Hughes; Mr P. Davies; Mr G. Jones; Mr P. Hodgson; Mr T. Price; Mr W. Morgan; Mr J. Loyd; Mr J. Morgan and Mr E. H. Meredith:
Before the onset of the second World War the first team members were – Mr W. Robins (Captain); Mr E. J. Pritchard; Mr G. Tovey; Mr A. Rudge; Mr V. Grenough; Mr E. Evans; Mr G. Vowell; Mr R. Boots; Mr E. Foulkes and Mr A. Hammond:……. Second team members were – Mr M. Athay (Captain); Mr F. Berryman; Mr R. Williams; Mr H. Hughes; Mr G. Garrett; Mr C. Axford; Mr G. Paul; Mr A. Fear; Mr V. Davies; Mr D. Thomas and Mr A. Hill:
The Later Years.
The Abertillery Cricket team still plays on the same ground (as seen left).
Points of Interest – Mr Phillip Samuel Phillips – Capt Phillips.
Mr Phillip Samuel Phillips became the proprietor of the Abertillery Tin Works after the bankruptcy of Mr Pearce 1869-70. He also owned the Coedcae Tillery Coal Levels (where upper Arael View is now) and used the coking ovens on site to supply the tin works (the coking ovens were close to where the Rose Heyworth Millennium School is now). Capt. Phillips was a keen cricket supporter and gave the Abertillery Cricket Club use of his land at Glandwr to use as their ground, this ground was later purchased by a housing company to build Glandwr Street. At the time of his death, he was the chairman of the South Wales Colliery Company, taking over from the late Mr Lawrence Heyworth, he was also the chairman of the Wolseley Sheep Shearing and Machine Company, Birmingham. Mr Phillips had later purchased the Crumlin Hall from the late Mr Kennard and considerably enlarged it.
He was also a great friend and supporter of the Volunteer Movement. Along with the Late Colonel Charles Lyne took the command and Mr Phillips and Mr Williams of Maesruddud were the chief officers in the valleys, he was also justice of the peace for Monmouthshire.
Mr Phillips also resided at various times, in North Wales, Wiltshire and Panty-Bailie, Gilwern. Mr Phillips married Miss Robothan of Risca, their family consisted of six sons and four daughters. One of the sons his father and took to the tin plate business, the sons became keen cricketers.
The names of Mr Phillip Samuel Phillips’ sons were as follows – Mr Cecil Phillips; Mr F. A. Phillips, (Became a county cricketer for Oxford and Somerset); Mr Clive Phillips; Mr Gerald Phillips; Mr Edmund Phillips; Mr Lyndsay Phillips, died in Nigeria. Two of the sons lived in India, one in the Royal Navy and one in the farming industry at Cardiganshire, Wales.
Mr Phillips daughters were not named.
Mr Phillips moved to Tynygraig near Builth Wells in 1901 and retired there. He sadly passed away in September 1911.