The history of Llanelli Cricket Club

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This was at the start of a season which was to see the first Wanderer raise his personal tally of points into three figures. This distinction fell to Harry Thomas, who also repeated the feat in seasons 59/60 and 61/62.

R. Williams; Byron J ones; B. Williams; David Shanahan; Roger Evans; Mike Tanner; Roger Howells; H. Griffiths; M. Jones; Ken Jones; J. Powell Rees; Terry Rees; Dennis Shanahan; Trevor Lewis and A. James.The Wanderers were delighted in December, 1964 to play host to the University of Toronto who were on a British Tour. In fact, this was the first time in the Club's existence that a fixture had been arranged with a foreign team. The University sides' tour included matches against, Sidcup, Edinburgh Wanderers, Jordanhill F.P., a combined Tonyrefail/Gilfach Goch side and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. This urge to spread their wings was not the outcome of any split with the Y.M.C.A. The matter was thoroughly discussed and agreed that the team should become a Club in its own right instead of an agency of the Y.M.C.A. So what had been a dream for several years became reality.

Such was the enterprise of the Club Committee at this time, and no doubt encouraged by the experience of widening the Club's repertoire to include skittles, it was decided to organise a Boxing Tournament at the Drill Hall in May 1956. The Wanderers maintained their record of being unbeaten on the Continent when in April 1980 they embarked on a tour of Brittany. The accommodation was good, the French wine was fine, the only thing missing was opposition! The organising company had, somehow, got its wires crossed and the touring party returned with their playing kit clean! The 1959/60 season opened when the Wanderers took on the might of the Scarlets at Stradey. A penalty goal by Harry Thomas earned a deserved draw at 3 pts. each. Following the retirement of Emrys Davies and Willie Jones, a number of new batsmen emerged, including Tony Lewis from Neath and Alan Jones from Clydach. The Club was particularly pleased in this season when Alun Prosser Harries, who, had by now moved further afield, was selected to captain the Middlesex County Rugby team.

Llanelli Cricket Club

September 1970 saw the Club host the visit of Roan Antelope from Zambia, a side comprised of exiled British who had emigrated to the dark Continent. Once again, an ex-club member was included in the touring party in the form of Alan Davies. After a gruelling match, the spoils were shared evenly at 14 pts. each. Following the success of the Merthyr/Wanderers charity match, the Club was again invited to send a team to play against Merthyr to celebrate the official opening of their new clubhouse. Once again the Wanderers fielded a team which included guest players such as Terry Davies; R. H. Williams; Keith Rowlands and John Leleu. By all account a splendid night was had by all and the Wanderers were congratulated on their "spectacular open rugby and wonderful singing", certain evidence that the choir remained in good voice. The England teams won all three of the matches as once again the Cardiff Test Match proved to be a pivotal match in deciding the outcome of the series in favour of the home team. In 2016 England faced the tourists from both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the fifth and final One-Day Internationals of each Series. Against Sri Lanka a series whitewash was secured, but the more competitive Pakistan team were victorious in the early September fixture of that year. Season 1966/67 began with a match against an International XV. The match had been arranged as a Benefit Match for Neville Holmes who had served the Wanderers admirably in the centre when a serious leg injury tragically cut short a sparkling rugby career. For the record, the teams who took the field at Stradey were:

The highlight of the 1967/68 season was that Club skipper Ieuan Jones became the Clubs' second player to notch up over 100 pts. in his personal tally for a season, with John Barrow just failing to become the first 'A' XV player to emulate this feat with 90 pts. Meanwhile, the Wanderers held their 8th Triennial Dinner with chief guests Dewi Griffiths and Phil Bennett relating their experiences whilst on tour of New Zealand with the 1977 Lions. Phil Bennett, of course, was captain of the tour and Dewi Griffiths was involved in the T.V. coverage of the tour for B.B.C.

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Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2022-09-08 18:37:59 Autocrop_version 0.0.14_books-20220331-0.2 Boxid IA40648018 Camera USB PTP Class Camera Collection_set printdisabled External-identifier The Club again extended its sporting activities, this time in darts matches against Mumbles and Carmarthen Athletic. 1962 was also the year of the Club's third Triennial Dinner. Little is recorded of the first two. The Triennial Dinner is a phenomenon which, as its title suggests, occurs every three years. The night of the Triennial Dinner is a very special one in the Wanderers social calendar. It never fails in attracting notable guests and civic dignitaries, in 1962 these being John Faull, Ken Harries and J. B. G. Thomas. Llanelli Wanderers : leuan Jones, Gwyn Williams, Brian Mason, Glyn Jones, Wynne Davies, Eifion Thomas, Peter H. Williams, Keri Jones, Ron Bowen, Dai Jones, Sid Rees, Peter Davies, Eurwyn Griffiths, Terry Rees Parry Davies Eurwyn, a Welsh Schoolboys cap who had also distinguished himself by playing for the Scarlets on numerous occasions, was later to become the Club's coach and contributed largely to the Club's promotion to Section 'D' of the West Wales Rugby Union in season 1981/82. A fact recognised by the presentation of a Club plaque to him in May 1982.

The appointment of Eurwyn Griffiths as Club Captain for the 1970171 season established a Club record by his being selected to this office for three consecutive seasons. So ends the story of the Club's first 30 years. A period which witnessed many changes and achievements, and a period for which every Wanderer can justifiably feel immense pride. Whilst many clubs are celebrating their centenary seasons, the Wanderers' first 30 years certainly have a story to tell. What of the next 30 years? No doubt, the "team" will be the topic of discussion amongst the membership for some time to come. One can be assured that the discussion will remain on friendly terms.Several other Welsh-born players established a first-team place, including Dai and Emrys Davies from Llanelli, Cyril Walters from Neath as well as Maurice Turnbull from Cardiff, who duly went on to turn around the fortunes of the Club during the 1930s. In March 1954 the design for the Club's crest was finalised and agreed. The crest comprises a shell upon which are to be found two letter 'L's' denoting Llanelli, and in the centre of the shell, the letter 'W', denoting Wanderers. On a scroll under the shell, is the Club motto "Cyfeillach Trwy Grwydro", "Friendship Through Wandering", an apt motto for the Club. The significance of the shell is that it is the heraldic symbol of the Wanderer. Following a civic reception at the Town Hall, the Wanderers engaged the tourists at Stradey Park, and after an entertaining match emerged the victors by 5 pts. to nil. The Wanderers again extended their sporting horizons when in early 1963, they formed a swimming club. This, of course, was made possible by the opening of the Jubilee Pool shortly before. In fact, so popular was this new venture in the Club that the Wanderers decided to donate a trophy to the Llanelli Amateur Swimming Club to be competed for amongst its members. Jonathan Griffiths in action in the Dave Porter memorial match, at Westhill, Shanklin, last summer.