The Early Days 1890 season

The Early Days- The 1890 Season

Barry, as many of you are well aware, is a relatively new town and only came into existence so coal mine owners could ship the anthracite they had extracted from the mines to the North. The town grew very rapidly with the areas closest to the site of the Docks being developed first, having opened in 1899, those areas being around old Cadoxton village and Barry Dock. Sport, especially rugby and cricket followed migrant workers into the town.  Teams from Penarth and Cardiff led the way and embryonic teams soon spread to Barry.

Pre-eminent in the town's cricketing history was Cadoxton C.C., soon followed by Barry C.C. whose first full fixture list was played in 1890. Barry, also referred to as Barry Dock Town, then played its matches at the Buttrills field.

The first fixture list (with results) was as listed below.

Barry CC Fixtures 1890
from the Barry Dock News May 2nd 1890
First XI	Opposition	Barry Score	Opponents	Result (where known)
May-10	Cadoxton	31 all out	44 all out	Lost by 13 runs
May-17	Cogan Pill			n/a
May-24	Broadway Wesleyans	75 all out	45 all out	WON Won by 30 runs
May-31	Canton	48 all out	73 all out	Lost by 25 runs
Jun-07	Taff Vale	42 all out	63 all out	Lost by 21 runs
Jun-14	Broadway Wesleyans			Not known
Jul-12	Cardiff 2nd XI			Not known
Jul-19	Cogan Pill			Not known
Jul-26	Llwynpia Athletic			Not known
Aug-02	Canton			Not known
Aug-09	Llwynpia Athletic			Not known
Aug-16	Taff Vale	31 all out	69 all out	Lost by 38 runs
Aug-23	St Paul's			Not known
Aug-30	Cardiff 2nd XI	53 all out	31 all out	Lost by 22 runs
Sep-06	Penarth			Not known
Sep-13	Llandaff			Not known
Second XI
May-17	Ohio			n/a
May-24	Cadoxton 2nd XI	No details		Lost by 21 runs
May-31	Penarth A	10 and 19 all out	47 all out	Lost by an innings and 18 runs
Jun-07	Taff Vale 2nd XI	No details
Jun-14	St Saviour's	No details
Jun-21	Cadoxton 2nd XI	No details
Jun-28	Ohio	No details
Jul-05	Ely	No details
Jul-26	Roath Road Welseyans 2nd XI	No details
Aug-02	St Saviour's	No details
Aug-09	Ely	No details
Aug-16	Roath Road Welseyans 2nd XI	No details

 

To open the story we have also located a match report of an opening derby defeat at the hands of Cadoxton on May 10th 1890, much to the delight of the opposition. A low scoring thriller, the visitors ran out winners by 13 runs.

Our Correspondent for the Barry Dock News of May 16th 1890, takes up the story.

The cricket in this district opened on Saturday last with a match between the representative teams of east Barry and Barry Dock Town, played under favourable circumstances at the Buttrills Field.

 

The Barry team had the advantage of playing at their own ground and had been in active practice for two or three weeks, so that it was reasonable to anticipate they would give their opponents a good square licking, especially in the face of the Cadoxton team had never played together and several of the members had not wielded the willow nor handled the ball for nearly twelve months previously.

The attendance on the occasion was fair, amongst those present as spectators being Mr J.  Robinson, C.E., East Barry House (the President of the Barry Club), Dr Neale. Mr W.H. Morgan (assistant manager, Barry Dock), Mr B. Hoddinott (manager Witchill Hotel).

At one end of the ground (which is very suitable for cricket purposes) is a tidy wooden structure, conveniently enclosed, the centre, which is slightly raised, being adapted for the purposes of a grandstand. At each end are dressing rooms for the teams. Within the enclosure, and as well as on the" grandstand," are wooden seats for spectators.

The arrangement altogether is a very convenient one, and we are surprised that a small monetary charge was not made Saturday last for admission both to the enclosure and grandstand. We hope the members of the Barry club will take advantage of this suggestion, for if adopted we are convinced their funds will be materially augmented thereby in the course of the season.

Coming to the game itself, was commenced about half- past three, Cadoxton winning the toss and went in first. The fielding out on the part of Barry was throughout very good, all playing a careful and watchful game. Their opponents however, had not lost their former cunning, and were quite reciprocal, the score at the close of the first innings, although not a particularly large one, still represented 44 healthy runs. Of these W.M. Douglas contributed 10, and R.G. Morris 9 not out, "Captain" Garnett following with 6, Williams with 5 and Yorath 4.

Barry then went in, but from beginning to end, with one solitary exception, made a somewhat poor display, and it was extremely amusing to hear the varied excuses offered by the players as they returned from an early surrender of the willow to the "cloakroom" defeated and apparently disheartened.

T. Higman ( the captain), was more fortunate and played capitally throughout, retaining his bat for nearly an hour, and even when eventually brought low it was as the result of the best smacks given to the ball during the afternoon and equally as splendidly caught by Douglas. out of the total of 31 runs scored by Barry, Higman made 20, and had it not been for his valuable assistance, supplemented by Dr. Gore's four runs, the team from down west would have fared very badly indeed.

Williams' slow bowling for Cadoxton proved fatal in several instances, while Garnett annihilated the hopes of three Barry players even before they had the opportunity of contributing a single run. The old feeling of Barry v Cadoxton ran high during the match, and the Cadoxton friends were quite jubilant at the result. Only one innings was played on each side, the following being the score:

Played at Buttrills Field May 10th 1890
Cadoxton
* captain
Watson	c.Gore	b.Vincent	3		Fall
H.Watson		b.Vincent	3		1	2
G.Ramsey		b.West	1		2	5
W.Williams		b.Vincent	5		3	12
W.M.Douglas		b.Higman	10		4	15
Wilf Davies	c.Dyer	b.West	0		5	20
A.Garnett *	c.Lewis	b.Vincent	6		6	29
R.G.Morris	Not Out		9		7	29
Dr.Behan		b.West	0		8	38
W.L.Yortah	c.&	b.Higman	4		9	41
G.Boys		b.Higman	2		10	44
Extras			1
Total	All Out		44
Barry
W.Crisp	c.Boys	b.Williams	0		Fall
T.Lewis	c.Douglas	b.Williams	0		1	0
Duncan		b.Williams	1		2	0
Dr.Gore		b.Williams	4		3	8
Vincent	Not Out		3		4	16
Higman *	c.Boys	b.Williams	20		5	20
E.J. Roberts		b.Williams	0		6	20
W.West		b.Garnett	0		7	21
G.Raines		b.Garnett	0		8	31
Dr. Livingstone	c.&	b.Williams	1		9	31
R.Dyyer		b.Garnett	0		10	31
Extras			2
Total	All Out		31
Cadoxton won by 13 runs

Several interesting items stand out from this opening report. The glee the reporter takes in commenting on the excuses offered for failure by the batsmen, leaves us to think that little fortunately has changed 125 years on, except in the manner of complaint perhaps. To hear Rhett Jones bemoan his luck on getting out is not for the faint hearted, but he's not alone. What the wicket was like is another subject for debate. Just 75 runs scored, with the slow bowler Williams taking the plaudits with 7 Barry wickets. An uncovered grassy, drying pitch perhaps? Alas we'll never know. Runs were hard to come by and this is common theme throughout that early summer.

The grandstand too was an interesting affair and must have been quite a sight as was the mooted subject of paying an entrance fee, something Barry subsequently did on a regular basis in later years.

One name of interest is that on Dr. John Livingstone, not he of African explorer fame but similarly named man and equally interesting. I'm indebted to Jason Pawlin for digging out this pastiche of the late Victorian amateur sportsman.

Dr John Livingstone came to Barry form Scotland (Glasgow) in about 1889 and was already pretty decorated - one article mentions everything he was a specialist in which included everything from zoology to midwifery!

 

He turns up, pretty early on, in the Barry CC 1st XI games, owns a couple of houses in Barry, gets on to the School Board, becomes a Vice President for the new Barry District AFC in 1892, and is the 'trusted' fellow for being an umpire or referee for the home fixtures.  He marries the daughter of his best mate who is also a doctor.  Business thrives, and people use his properties for meetings - including meetings called by Miss Jenner.

 

By the 1900s he is involved in a protracted, and unfortunately highly public divorce case.  He is in the papers for non payment of maintenance to his wife who's gone back to Scotland.

 

The papers describe tales of spousal abuse, alcohol abuse, and gambling. In 1904 the local paper reports a telegram announcing his death. 

 

In 1905 he's back from the dead and in court.  It turns out that he faked his own death to see how his wife and insurers would 'react'.

 

He is now destitute, living with 'friends'.  His profitable surgery has collapsed - presumably due to the scandal.  He no longer owns any properties as they were all in his wife's name and she's sold them off.  He's used some of his remaining money for drugs.  Drugs!

 

Finally, there's the scandal of his increasingly long visits to the local hospital in Barry - where he eats during the day and sleeps during the night opposite the corridor of his favourite nurse, Nurse Amy Evans (!).  Amy Evans is in court defending her honour stating that the policeman who saw her sitting on Dr Livingstone's knee from the street outside was mistaken.  The judge goes around the house they were spotted in and decides the policeman was lying in his evidence and is duly fired from his post.

 

A sad end indeed for one of the town's pioneering sportsmen.

Dr Livingstone I presume?

The next mention of the club occurs in the Barry Dock News of May 30th 1890.On May 24th The second XI met Cadoxton-Barry seconds at Witchill Ground ,the east end team being the winners by 21 runs. Only F.  Boys (13) reached double figures for Cadoxton-Barry, F. Rutter took two wickets and we note that G. Ridler was out hit wicket the first recorded occurrence of this method of dismissal at a Barry game. Barry's reply in chase of a total of just 55 was a paltry 34. Howells took four Barry wickets, and extras top scored with 9.

The firsts fared better, defeating Broadway Wesleyans of Cardiff at the Buttrills by 30 runs.

Higman again shone with the bat scoring 22 of Barry's total of 75, and only the opener, Lewis, with 15 reached double figures. He, and another first, all Barry's batsmen were out bowled. The virtue of blocking the straight one as the not fully acquired. Grogan took for wickets for the Welseyans.

In reply the Wesleyans made 45 with opener G.P. Thomas top scoring with 16. West claimed 6 wickets for Barry, two by caught and bowled and in total no fewer than 17 batsmen were out bowled.

On May 31st, Barry made its first visit to Cardiff Arms Park where the team lost to Canton. Canton scored 73 and Barry could only score 48 in reply.

The seconds entertained Penarth seconds at the Buttrills and were defeated by the heavy margin of an innings and 18 runs in a single afternoon. Put in first Barry seconds managed just 10 all out in its first effort, two of the runs being extras. There were 7 ducks, including the first five batsmen on the card and Bisgood and Stephenson both returned figures of 5 for 4. Only one victim was caught the remainder either being lbw or bowled out. The score, to this day, remains one of the lowest ever set by a Barry XI.

In reply, Penarth collected just 47 runs, with F. Rutter collecting 7 scalps. It was more than enough for Barry who were again skittled out for 19, with Bisgood taking another five wickets, making it ten for the day. 30 wickets fell, with just an aggregate of 76 runs scored over the three innings, of which 23 were bowled or lbw. And no reprieve from a pitch report in those days either.

June opened with a double header against Taff Vale. The result of the second eleven game played in Cardiff is unknown but the first were beaten by 21 runs at the Buttrills. Vale arrived with just five men, Barry kindly loaning the remaining payers to e a game of it.  A move they may have regretted as Vale won by 21 runs. The railwaymen scratch side mustered 63 in its innings, Warsap, the only player in double figures, scoring 25. West took 6 wickets and Higman the remaining four.

Looking at these early scores, once can only wonder at the relative weakness of the Barry batters as again they were bowled out for the low score of 42. Number 11 West top scored with 16 while Andrew claimed seven wickets for Vale.

The Barry Dock News of June 13th speculated on the eventual urban spread in the town linking the then two distinct areas of the town Cadoxton and Barry (Docks) and even predicted that the population would reach 25,000 .While the two villages merged, the population was eventually, somewhat larger and the rivalry between the two areas of the town quite pronounced.

No reports are held for first or second XI on June 14th but the rivalry that was developing between Cadoxton and Barry returned for a second XI fixture on June 21st, with the game at the Buttrills being won by Barry by 30 runs and four wickets after batting second. Cadoxton batted first and the press report states that rain fell heavily throughout Barry's knock "militating considerably against the effectiveness of the fielding and bowling on the part of the Cadoxton team."

Those of you who have bowled with a wet ball can express some sympathy with the fielding side here.  Bailey top-scored with 15 in a total of 50 all out while Vincent claimed six victims. In reply Cadoxton totalled 80 for 6, Nicholls scoring 28 not out and F. Rutter 24.

Further reports on first or second XI scores are absent during much of June and July possibly due to no reports being submitted or matches not being played which is a pity. What the papers do give though is a picture of a vibrant new town. Within a year of opening the Docks had passed the export of 80,000 tons of coal in a single week and there was some quite troublesome behaviour in the area. Stabbings, Murders, thefts, fights, ship board mutinies, otter hunting (true), women fighting, the attempts to get gas and electricity to the area and the building of new streets were all common fare. Not much room for staid old cricket it seems.

As for the issue of July 25th this was almost given over in its entirety to the reporting of the death of the Docks founder David Davies who passed away on July 25th 1890, just about a year after his vision for Barry Docks came into fruition.

 An interesting letter appeared in the Barry Dock News of August 8th hinting at the difficulties facing clubs in raising players at that time and here it is in its entirety.

 

THE CADOXTON-BARRY CRICKET CLUB.

To the Editor of the "BARRY DOCK NEWS "

 

Kindly allow me space in your valuable paper to draw the attention of local cricketers to the indifference shown by some members of the Cadoxton Club towards the game. In my opinion there ought to be more matches played, especially on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Last year hardly a week elapsed without a match on that day, whereas the present season rolls quickly on, and our committee seemingly ignore the Wednesday team, or, to say the least, forget to arrange matches for them. What I should like to know is whether those who earn their living behind the counter are not as ardent admirers and supporters of the game as those whose luck give them a half-holiday on Saturday?

 

And are there not amongst the shop assistants as good players as the Saturday men?

 

It strikes me that fault lies somewhere. Unless something can be done it would be better to dismiss the Wednesday team. Unless something is done quickly, there is every probability that cricket will give way to billiard playing, for I am told that a movement is on foot with the view of forming a billiard club, and hiring a room at the Witchill or Royal Hotel for promoting this highly interesting game.

 

Yours, etc.,

 

CRICKETER.

 

The next match report finally comes with Barry cryptically named East Barry (in error) in the newspaper report. Fortunately, the playing staff were largely that of Barry and the opponents, Taff Vale, were those scheduled to have played Barry on August 14th anyway.

Vale batted first scoring 69. West took 8 wickets for Barry at Cardiff Arms Park, Higman collecting the other two.

But any chances of a Barry win were curtailed when they were bowled out for just 31. No player reached double figures, the top scorer was R. Dyer with 9, while Andrews matched West's earlier bowling feat by also taking 8 wickets in the innings. Interestingly Andrews and Garnett were Barry players who either worked or featured as guests for Taff Vale.

The News of September the 5th carried a reply to the earlier letter which explained in a little more depth some of the problems Cadoxton CC were having. This is important as their struggles begin to prepare the ground for a merged club.

CADOXTON-BARRY CRICKET CLUB.

To the Editor of the BARRY DOCK NEWS.

 

DEAR SIR,

 

A few weeks back I noticed a letter in your columns commenting, upon the present state of the Cadoxton Cricket Club.

 

I thought, perhaps, the hon. secretary, Mr Wilfred Davies, would have answered the same, but as he has not I should like to add a word or two, and at the same time I think it the duty of the hon. secretary either to resign his office (although late in the season) or else explain why nothing is heard of the club.

 

It seems hard to pay one's subscription for the year, and have nothing in return. At present I believe two is the total sum of Saturday matches played, and both won, so that at present we are the Invincibles and are likely to remain so. Compare this year with last year as to ground, then think of the matches played. Speak up, Mr Davies, and explain matters, and you will oblige many. Yours truly, "A LOOKER-ON."

 

We move on a fortnight for the next reported fixture. Barry again travel to Cardiff Arms Park on August 30th and are defeated, this time by 22 runs in another low-scoring affair.

 

Cardiff scored just 53 runs with three batsmen reaching double figures and F. Forster top scoring in the match with 14. Wickets were shared around and Andrews finished with four.

Barry's batting again failed and they were skittled out for 31. Compared to today's scores, the totals Barry had been amassing were miniscule indeed. There was little wrong, it seems with the bowling, but the state of the wickets had to have had a severe effect on the number of runs scored. Uncovered pitches anyone?

Anyway of Barry's meagre total, R. Dyer top scored with just 7 runs to his name. S. Biggs took seven Barry wickets for Cardiff.

And so a pretty mixed season ended. Moves however, were afoot in the close-season to bring Barry and Cadoxton Cricket clubs together, to strengthen cricket in the area by forming a merged club. Again, the report for the local press is pretty self- explanatory and I reproduce it in full.

MEETING OF CRICKETERS AT EAST BARRY. PROPOSED FUSION OF CADOXTON AND BARRY CLUBS. A SUGGESTION TO FORM A DISTRICT TEAM.

A meeting of Barry cricketers was held on Monday last (November 17th), at the Reading Rooms, for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a united team of cricketers for the coming season from amongst the best players of the Cadoxton and Barry cricket clubs.

The attendance was small, there being present  Mr John Robinson, in the chair), Dr Powell, Messrs R. W. Dyer (secretary), T. Higman, F. W. Jones, E. J. Roberts, E. A. H. Stuart, R. Williams, J. Paniards, and W. West.

The Secretary reported that last year nine matches were played by the Barry Cricket Club. At present the club was £13 in debt (around £1400 at today's prices !). The object of that meeting was to consider the question of forming a good team from amongst the members of the two clubs named .A discussion followed, there being a general feeling that it would be better to postpone making any decision until a larger number of players could be mustered.

Dr Powell advocated the amalgamation of the two teams, but this was opposed to by Messrs Higman and Williams, the former stating that if a good team could not be formed from amongst the players of the two clubs, a movement would be set on foot to establish a district club, and that meant that both the Cadoxton and Barry teams would lose some of their best men.

After some further conversation, Mr. Stuart proposed that a district team be established .This proposition found no seconder, and it was decided the he meeting be postponed until January, that secretary being instructed to issue in the meantime circulars and posters setting forth the importance of the matter. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting terminated.

And so the seeds were sown for the formation of a superior cricket club. Members no doubt lobbied hard over the Christmas period and on January 9th 1891, this letter appeared in the columns. While speculative in nature, one could say it was consipirational too. The football referred to here is that of Rugby Union rather than Association football.

THE LOCAL FOOTBALL AND CRICKET CLUBS.

The Barry and Cadoxton district can justly boast of a number of tolerably efficient foot ball and cricket clubs, but somehow or other there seems to be a lack of esprit de corps amongst the members of the respective organisations.

Why this should be the case we are somewhat at a loss to understand. Hitherto there has been an almost entire absence of practice on their part - an indispensable absolutely essential to the success of every club-and they seldom meet for the purposes of play except on the" battlefield."

The object of every athletic club should be, not only to make itself proficient ill the game with which it is identified, but also to form a kind of cementing influence amongst the members as athletes and friends.

The former object can be attained by more frequently meeting on the club grounds for practice, and the latter by uniting together in social gatherings, whereat a better and more intimate acquaintance with each other may be cultivated.

In this direction, therefore, we would suggest to the members of the local clubs that they should occasionally unite together, as is the case in larger towns, in holding smoking concerts and such like harmonious reunions, which would, no doubt, have the desirably effect of embracing them in a bond of common fraternity. Let our Barry and Cadoxton athletes show an example to their Penarth friends in this respect, and we feel sure the result will be, not only gratifying and profitable to themselves, but also calculated to enhance the best interests and welfare of the clubs with which they are severally connected.

While a bit long-winded by modern standards, the sentiments were clear enough and lo and behold, a week later a response again proposing a merger in a roundabout manner followed.

THE LOCAL ATHLETIC CLUBS AND SMOKING CONCERTS.

 To the Editor of the "BARRY DOCK NEWS."

Sir, —Allow me, through the medium of your widely known paper, to endorse, in the heartiest manner possible, the article contained in your last week's issue with reference to the Cadoxton and Barry cricketers and footballers.

I am also, as you say, surprised that the members of the local clubs do not push forward the games as they should. I have noticed, in towns inferior in size to Barry and Cadoxton that they are in the habit of holding smoking concerts, or some such convivial gatherings, for the promotion of the clubs.

The result of such gatherings inevitably means that the clubs increase in popularity, and places them in a position to contend with more first-class teams than the Barry and Cadoxton clubs can at present.

I, for one, would be very pleased to do all in my power to assist in getting up social gatherings as you suggest, say, at intervals of two or three months, and I have no hesitation in saying that the proceeds of such entertainments would place the clubs on a firm footing financially.

 I should very much like to hear other members speak up on the subject, and remain, Yours truly,

"An OLD KICKER."

It was, as is said, a "fait accompli" and by the end of the month the probability of a full merger increased dramatically following an influential meeting of the "Knights of the Willow" at the Witchill Hotel.

The article in the News continued stating that:

"Under the presidency of Mr T. Higman, captain of the Barry Cricket Club, it was unanimously resolved that a new club, representative of the whole district, be at once formed, and that the subscriptions of members for the first year be confined to 5s each.

 

Mr B. Hodinott, the esteemed owner of the Witchill Athletic Grounds, has come forward to the aid of the movement with his usual generosity, and has expressed his intention of placing an excellent pitch at the disposal of the new club free of charge.

 

The duties of temporary secretary have been entrusted to Mr E. T. Williams, of Barry Board School, and it was decided that a general meeting of all concerned in the welfare of cricket in the district be called for this evening (Friday), at the Witchill Hotel, at eight o'clock. We hope this meeting will be largely attended, and that the outcome of the movement will be the establishment of a thoroughly good united club for the district."

 

A full report of the meeting was carried in the News of February 6th 1891 and the deed was done. The clubs were merged but only up to a point as while fixtures were played by the merged team in the summer of 1891, somewhat confusingly both Cadoxton and Barry Docks teams also had their own fixture lists too as they retained their distinct identities. The District team, fore-runner of the Athletic of today though was fixtured against trickier and superior opposition but contained most of the better players mentioned previously in this article.

That important meeting of January 30th 1891 was reported thus:

BARRY & CADOXTON UNITED CRICKET CLUB.

An influential meeting of cricketers was held at the Witchill Hotel, Cadoxton-Barry, on Friday evening last, for the purpose of forming a united cricket club for the district. Dr P. J. O'Donnell presided, and amongst those present were Dr Gore, Messrs B. Hoddinott, R. G. Morris, T. Higman, W. M. Douglas, W. LI. Williams, F. P. Jones-Lloyd (solicitor), R. Dyer, W. Knight, F. J. Thomas (South Wales Union Bank), W. Williams (National Bank of Wales), and E. T. Williams (secretary). .

The Chairman said there had been one or two formal meetings held by a few gentlemen interested in cricket in the district, and the outcome of those meetings was that they had met together that evening to form a district club entirely distinct from the two local clubs now in existence at Barry and Cadoxton.

The new club would be known as the Barry and Cadoxton District Cricket Club, and it had been decided that the headquarters should be at the Witchill Hotel, Mr Hoddinott having kindly promised to place the athletic grounds at their disposal. (Cheers.)

Mr Knight enquired if there were any special rules attached to the club, or was it an amalgamation of the two existing teams. He should also like to know whether working men had the same advantage as others of becoming members. The Chairman said the new club would offer the same advantages to everybody wishing to join. He hoped the subscription of each member would defray all the expenses, and added that the club was entirely distinct from the other two.

Mr Hoddinott said it was decided at the previous meeting that the field be altogether rearranged, and that the turf be refixed. Mr W. Williams then proposed that the club should undertake the expense of laying the ground 40 yards square. Mr Douglas seconded, and suggested that a sub- committee be appointed to take in hand the whole of the work, and see that it was done properly. Both resolution and suggestion were agreed to unanimously, Mr W. Williams, Mr T. Higman, and Mr R. G. Morris being appointed ground committee. Mr W. LI. Williams enquired as to the means of paying subscriptions. The Chairman said the subscription must be paid before the member would be allowed on the ground, and that the subscription must be paid not later than the 1st of May.

The club colours were to be a dark blue tunic, with a cap, bearing a monogram, to match. Mr Knight suggested that the costume be trimmed with light blue. Mr W. Williams suggested that the Local Board emblem, with an illustration of a ship or steamer attached, should be adopted.

The badge incidentally, is that used as a crest by the town’s senior Rugby and Association Football clubs today.