(writes Andrew Hignell)
Worcestershire are the visitors this week to Sophia Gardens for their Specsavers County Championship match against Glamorgan, with their visit to Cardiff in September 1969 seeing the Welsh county secure a title-winning victory as Tony Lewis and his team were crowned County Champions.
It is very appropriate that the members of Glamorgan’s Former Players Association, including a number of players from the Championship-winning squad of 1969, will be gathering at the Sophia Gardens ground on Tuesday – the third day of the match against Worcestershire - for their annual get-together.
Glamorgan had entered the match against Worcestershire in September 1969 needing one more victory to clinch the county title. After an imperious 156 by Majid Khan, plus some probing bowling by Malcolm Nash and Ossie Wheatley, Glamorgan secured a first innings lead of 82. Some quick-fire runs in the second innings allowed Tony Lewis to set Worcestershire a target of 255, but they could only muster 108 with Tony Cordle taking 5/42 and Don Shepherd claiming four wickets before the sizeable crowd at Sophia Gardens could celebrate the Club’s second-ever Championship win.
Tony Lewis, the victorious captain told journalists shortly after the 147-run win, “I am so very proud of my team. We have a small and closely-knit squad who have largely stayed free of injury throughout the season. Everyone has made an important contribution at one time or another towards this success. It’s been a fine team effort and to clinch the title here at our headquarters is very, very special.”
The late Don Shepherd had claimed the final wicket and as the Club's record-breaking bowler later said “I put an arm around Tony’s shoulder. It was a moment of immense satisfaction for both of us and for the rest of the team. Those ten years that encompassed the 1960s, with the victories over the Australians, the times we nearly won the Championship, then the Championship itself. It`s about as good as it gets in the game.”
The match at Sophia Gardens was broadcast by BBC Wales and as Alan Jones, Glamorgan’s record-breaking opening batsman, recalled, “Amidst scenes of a truly Welsh celebration, the news of our victory was transmitted all over Britain by the BBC who were present at the Worcestershire game. Congratulations flooded in from all over the world. It was another great day to be Welsh, even Prince Charles, who later that year was to be seen at Caernarfon Castle at his investiture, sent us a telegram. Our supporters had been tremendous throughout the year, and it was a just reward for their loyalty.”