In celebration of Black History Month, we look at the impact Viv Richards had on the club directly from those who played and worked with him during his three year stay at the Welsh county.
Viv played for Glamorgan in 1990, 1992 and 1993 and despite being in the twilight of his career, he scored over 5,000 runs and struck 13 centuries in first-class and one-day cricket for the club.
However, his influence reached far beyond the numbers he posted with the bat, with his sheer presence sparking a winning mindset, which famously culminated in a triumphant day at Canterbury in 1993 when he helped the Welsh county win its first ever one-day trophy.
Matt Maynard - former teammate
"Even though he was entering the final stages of his career, I’ve never seen a player with so much commitment to winning and creating a winning mindset in his colleagues.
"He taught me the importance of never giving in, fighting to the last ball, and making the most of an opportunity if I got a chance.
"He taught me the importance of seeing an innings through until the last ball and I believe I became a tougher and more consistent batsman under his influence.
"He changed my mindset to batting and the game in general. I will be forever grateful that he became a teammate and friend."
Hugh Morris - captained Glamorgan to 1993 AXA Equity & Law League title
"As a young lad growing up in South Wales, my two sporting ambitions were to play rugby for Wales and play cricket for England. Whilst I was unable to follow in the footsteps of my rugby hero Gareth Edwards, I was fortunate to achieve the rare distinction of playing two Test matches against my cricket hero Viv Richards.
"Viv had signed for Glamorgan at the end of the 1980’s and his arrival in Cardiff led to a sea-change in the expectation of players, members and the public, and a transformation of our performances on the field. Viv had been the best player of his generation and one of the greatest players of all time. He had achieved everything he could in the game, and yet he had a burning desire to help Glamorgan win our first trophy in nearly 25 years.
"True to his word, Viv finished his illustrious career by playing a key role in Glamorgan lifting the Sunday League title in his final game as a professional cricketer. His emotional exit amongst all the celebrations will forever be etched in the annuls of Glamorgan history as will the enormous contribution he made to the Club in the time he was with us.
"Someone once said that you should never meet your heroes for fear of disappointment. In the case of Viv that could not be further from the truth. He was an amazing cricketer, an inspirational character and someone I am proud to call a friend."
Steve Watkin - former teammate
"When Viv arrived at Glamorgan we had some very good players but we were never in a position to challenge for anything, whereas Viv had won everything in the game and was determined to go out on a high. He clearly wasn’t someone who settled for second best, and he expected the rest of us to follow.
"No single person should be credited with winning a league title or helping a team finish third in the County Championship, but one person can instil a steel, a confidence and winners’ mentality - Viv did exactly this during his time in Wales.
"Off the field and in the dressing room Viv was pretty quiet and humble, but if you did get him going on a subject it would be great and informative conversation. I remember talking to him in detail about his battles with Lillie and Thompson and was riveted.
"When we finally won a title at Canterbury in 1993 the emotion Viv showed in dressing room after the game brought home to me how much being at Glamorgan and winning had meant to him. We were all grateful that Viv chose to finish his career with Glamorgan and I’m sure his influence continued well into that decade and could be seen in our 1997 triumph."
Andrew Hignell - scorer and archivist
"Viv Richards was still a box office draw when he joined Glamorgan and this was reflected in the increase in the number of journalists covering the Welsh county’s matches. The cricket correspondents from several national newspapers who, in the past, had turned up infrequently at Cardiff and Swansea, perhaps for a quarter-final or semi-final of a one-day tournament, were now regular visitors for the run-of-the-mill County Championship matches.
"As well as a greater media presence, there was also an increase in attendances at our home games, especially the outgrounds including Pontypridd, Neath, Llanelli and Colwyn Bay, as people flocked to these venues eager to watch the finest batter of his generation and, best of all, wearing a Glamorgan cap and sweater!
"Viv had achieved so much during his long and illustrious career, yet there was still so much pride and passion in everything he did, both on and off the field, for the Welsh county. To be present in the Glamorgan changing room at Canterbury in 1993 after our title-winning victory over Kent was a moment I will always cherish. I can still remember hugging Viv and having the great man crying on my shoulder as we embraced. It meant so much for him that Glamorgan had won silverware and that he had also gone out on a high in his last match."
