Glamorgan defy early odds to win Championship promotion

Ben Kellaway and Kiran Carlson have been part of Glamorgan's promotion success

On 21 April, you could have been laughed at for suggesting Glamorgan would be promoted from Division Two of the County Championship - especially with a game to spare.

Not even a helping hand from the weather could save them from a heavy defeat against Middlesex at Lord's, gaining just one point - which was promptly lost because of a slow over-rate.

That left Glamorgan with a not-so-grand total of 15 points, stone cold bottom of the table by a distance, after an opening defeat against Leicestershire at home and salvaging a draw following-on away to Gloucestershire.

But since then, Glamorgan have been unbeaten in the four-day format, winning five and drawing five.

They got over the line thanks to a rain-ruined draw at Derby, but it was the home game against the same opposition in early May - where Glamorgan were one wicket short and the opposition 30 runs short - that new coach Richard Dawson saw as a turning point.

Cardiff had a reputation as the home of draws, but three home victories have followed.

"When I took the job on, I always thought the changing room had a lot of good players, experienced players with a crop of good young potential coming through who have stood up and performed as well," said Dawson.

"We had a nice blend so it was just (a question of) changing the mind-set that we can win games in Cardiff, and once you've done it once you've got that self-belief to continue to play well.

"When we've had positions in matches to turn the screw, we have players who've done that."

'Guts and determination'

Captain Sam Northeast, who will re-join Kent for 2025 as he prioritises his young family in his home county, was also keen to emphasise how far the team had come since that disastrous first month.

"At the start of the season we wanted to win Division Two, Northeast told BBC Sport Wales.

"In the last few weeks a lot of rain has played havoc with the game, so to come here and get the points to make sure we're promoted, it's a great effort from everyone considering where we were after the first four games when we thought we were in trouble.

"It takes great guts and determination from the team, and it's been a team game where everyone has contributed so that's the most pleasing thing.

"The message from Daws (Richard Dawson, about first innings runs) has been really clear and the first few days has always put us in a good position. When we've got the likes of Ben Kellaway and Mason Crane to finish off games with the ball, we've always believed we could get the 10 wickets."

More than two decades have passed since the promotion of 2004, when captain Robert Croft and coach John Derrick took Glamorgan up in the Championship as well as winning the One Day League.

"When I signed (in 2010), we got really close and I didn't think it would take this long to get here again, there've been a couple of near misses," reflected Glamorgan's longest-serving player Chris Cooke.

"We've been building a core of players for five or six years, we've got really close and we've got a sprinkle of quality with some players coming in and a different coach, maybe that's made the difference.

"It wasn't looking great getting zero points at Lord's in the third game and being bottom of the table, but to go on the run we did is testament to the players and coaching staff, and everyone associated with the club.

"Richard Dawson hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel, he just wants us to play good, hard cricket and do the basics well, and the atmosphere's great."

But Cooke realises how different life in the top tier could be - as Glamorgan's current squad try to do what their predecessors in 2001 and 2005 could not do and stay there.

"It's going to be tough in the First Division so we can't rest on our laurels and go up to compete, to try to stay up, and the hard work starts now," he said.

A stress-free season's end

While efforts to strengthen the squad will not be put off, the final home game against Lancashire starting on Wednesday, 24 September could have an air of celebration, as Northeast says his farewells.

"It'll be nice to enjoy it and not have the stress of looking at bonus points, there's no doubt I'm going to miss it but it'll be a nice way to finish at home knowing we've got the points and promotion is sealed," Northeast reflected.

He leaves with the club's record score of 410 not out, the record limited-overs score of 177 not out, a Lord's ground record of 335 not out and a player of the match award in the 2024 One Day Cup final - quite a collection from four years at Glamorgan.

"There've been a few (personal) milestones along the way, and winning the one day comp last year. There've certainly been some real high moments and I found my love for playing again when I came here (to Glamorgan), so I'm going to truly miss the place and the people," he added.

There was no champagne celebration in the Derby dressing room, as the Glamorgan players were on the bus home when promotion was formally confirmed by the end of the Lancashire-Middlesex match, but they have every right to enjoy the party when it does come.