Haverfordwest Cricket Club: 200 Years Old and Counting (Part 1)

CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket Podcast

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The collected group of ex-players and committee post holders started by telling us who they are and what they were like as cricketers.

We get a picture of the way into cricket which was different for different players, some moving from juniors into seniors and others coming onto the scene as a senior. There were four senior sides in the past and some present played for all four sides.

We talk about a little bit of the older history of the club with contributions from Stuart who outlined the contested question of exactly when the cricket club was formed. Cricket was brought to the area by English gentlemen who played mainly ‘away’ fixtures from 1824 but finally came to the Racecourse Ground in 1839.

Stuart tells the story of why the ground is called ‘The Racecourse’ and also outlines the history of the building of the current Pavillion.

Like in other areas of Wales, english educated gentlemen first brought the game of cricket to the town when returning to their homes.

The first reported game involving members of the Haverfordwest Club took place on 12th August 1835 when a combined Haverfordwest and Pembroke team played members of the Tenby club.

The club is reputed to be the oldest in Wales. A quote from 1839 noted, ‘It is ordered that John Higgon Esquire, and other gentlemen of the cricket club, be allowed to level a spot of ground within the ring of the Racecourse for the purpose of forming a Cricket Ground.’ English educated gentlemen first brought the game of cricket to this part of Wales

One character from the early years of the club was John Henry Philipss. You can read about him here:

https://www.cricketmuseum.wales/the-pembrokeshire-cricketer-who-became-president-of-the-mcc/

In the late 1960s and early 70s discussions got under way regarding the building of a clubhouse. In 1977 the new clubhouse was opened by Wilfred Wooller of Glamorgan CCC and in 1982 the extension was officially opened by Alan Jones esq, Wales pre-eminent first class cricketer and Glamorgan opening bat for many years.

For more detail on the history of the club you can approach them for a copy of the 200th Anniversary Handbook which also contains some great articles on the modern day achievements of the club as well as pieces on its Ladies and Junior Sections.

Simon and Chris outline their favourite performances for Haverfordwest and then the ex-players share their memories of playing for the club.