Swansea 'old lady' St Helen's bids cricket farewell

Swansea Cricket Club celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2025

Most of the cricketing greats in history have graced the famous St Helen's ground in Swansea during illustrious careers.

Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Shane Warne and Brian Lara to recall just a few.

And of course Garry Sobers, who became the first batter to score six sixes in an over on 31 August 1968 while playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan.

Now exactly 57 years later, it was left to the players of Swansea seconds and Pontardawe firsts in a South Wales Cricket Association (SWCA) game to bring down the curtain on cricket on the picturesque ground that overlooks Swansea Bay towards the Mumbles.

While the pantheon of legends have struck boundaries or taken wickets at the famous old ground, the final act belonged to some lesser known names in the 35-over contest as Pontardawe batter Owen Barton scored the winning runs from a ball from Swansea seamer Jacob Protheroe.

Visitors Pontardawe failed to follow the fairytale script as they defeated their young hosts by six wickets, with the sun finally setting on cricket at St Helen's just before quarter to seven on a glorious Swansea evening.

Sad day for Swansea

Alan Jones and his brother Eifion played for Glamorgan at St Helen's

With Welsh rugby union team Ospreys due to move here in 2026-27, this was the last act of cricket at a ground that has seen the sport played here for more than 150 years.

Among the hundreds watching events unfold on the cricketing swansong were some Glamorgan greats, including Roger Davis, who famously caught Sobers' fifth six in the Malcolm Nash over before stepping over the boundary.

Then there was batting legend Alan Jones, who played in a pivotal role in two Glamorgan wins against Australia in 1964 and 1968.

"I never thought this day would happen, especially in my days," said Jones.

"This has been one of the happiest grounds of my career. I have played so many games here and have so many happy memories playing with my brother Eifion as well.

"This has always been the home of cricket for us and it's a very disappointing day."

Jones' sentiments are shared by many in west Wales with witnessing cricket at this stadium in Swansea forming part of their own history.

There is also a sense of regret, and maybe even anger, that cricket is not continuing here with frustrations among the locals towards Ospreys, Swansea Council and Glamorgan Cricket, who have not played at St Helen's since 2019.

Ospreys posted a social media message they would be moving into St Helen's on Monday less than 24 hours after the cricketing finale.

This drew a stinging response from another Glamorgan legend, who learned his trade at Swansea.

Former England spinner Robert Croft celebrated his 1,000th first-class wicket at St Helen's in 2010 and has strong ties to the ground.

"I wish the Ospreys and their supporters well and all the good fortune in the world but to post a picture like that and also in using some of the terminology, will be incredibly insensitive to a lot of people," wrote Croft.

Messages from all around the world

Swansea stalwarts Steve Davies and Mike Hayden, who have both been involved with the club since 1981, admit it has been a sad time, although say it maybe not totally unexpected.

"It is a day that has been 30 years in the making so we have kind of known it would come," said current treasurer and former chairman Davies.

"Sadly in my time here there has not been a penny of capital investment put into this ground.

"The last time Glamorgan played here [in 2019], 27 balls went out of the ground.

"Could they have put some ball catchers netting up around the ground like they do at other venues? But they did not choose that option.

"The cricket squad and outfield is fantastic but the rest of the ground is a really sad old lady."

Past and present Swansea players staged a game last Monday to commemorate the move.

"We have had people visiting here from all over the country to have one final chance of playing," said Davies.

"It is the spiritual home of Glamorgan and everybody holds it in high esteem."

Davies said he has a range of emotions.

"There have been some high highs and some very low lows," he added.

"This is a very sad day. I have tried to hold it together but shed a few tears."

Spectacular setting

St Helen's is very close to Swansea Bay

Current chairman Hayden made his Swansea debut as a 19-year-old and recalled times when West Indies greats like Richie Richardson and Jeff Dujon used to be the club's overseas professional.

"It was quite daunting because there were some big characters there," said Hayden.

"Sitting in one corner of the dressing room, you had Ezra Moseley, who was a Test opening bowler for West Indies, Geoff Ellis, who was a Glamorgan player."

The venue and the spectacular view over Swansea Bay towards Mumbles just made players feel special.

"St Helen's just has an aura about it," said Hayden.

"From the first day I got here to today, it has a feeling that's different to any place I've ever played.

"It's probably one of the most picturesque grounds, not only in Welsh cricket, but in world cricket.

"It has been a very poignant week. It's sort of crept up. We've known it's going to be the end, but as we have got closer to that last day, it's hit home.

"I have had messages from India and Australia today wishing us well."

Looking to the future, remembering the past

Swansea Cricket Club will no longer player at St Helen's when they leave the venue at the end of August

Davies says this is the final week of cricket, regardless of whether the Ospreys development will go ahead with the uncertainty surrounding the future of Welsh rugby.

Plans for the relocation to Sketty Lane, a mile down the road, are at an advanced stage with a fresh square already laid and drainage work having started..

The move, which will see Swansea merge with Swansea Civil Service, is being overseen by Davies.

"We will move on and go the new ground and start again," said Davies.

"A new cricket square has been put in and having significant outfield drainage is going on at this time.

"That is a quite a lot amount of money, about £200,000. We have also designed a new facility and changing rooms. We will have outside nets and also hope to have a new indoor barn.

"The new setting at Sketty Lane is going to be fantastic, although unfortunately it won't have the St Helen's outlook and history of the place."

Hayden admits he had bittersweet memories of the final day.

"Primarily the future of the club is the most important thing and it's pleasing to see we've got our plans in place for next season," said Hayden.

"We've got a very strong junior section, so the club will survive beyond the change of grounds.

"But to be the chairman that says goodbye to St Helen's is difficult. We will miss the old place."

He will not be the only one.

The final home Swansea team to play cricket at St Helen's

Pontardawe are the final team to win a cricket match at St Helen's