David Herbert, a former committee member of both Glamorgan CCC and Cardiff CC, and a man whose family have been closely associated with cricket in the Welsh capital city for almost a hundred years, has died at the age of 79 after a short illness.
Born in September 1938, David Owain Herbert followed his father into the Cardiff 1st XI whilst still at school during the mid-1950s. Over the course of the next six decades, David was amongst the leading personalities with the city’s cricket club, besides being a prominent figure with the Glamorgan Nomads as well as Cardiff Golf Club, whose clubhouse and course were just a short stroll from his home in Cyncoed.
A master builder by trade, David joined the family business on completing his education, and helped to oversee the construction of hundreds of properties throughout the suburbs of Cardiff, besides giving practical advice to Glamorgan CCC as the Club developed, from 1998, the Sophia Gardens ground where David himself had played cricket for many years following the move by Cardiff CC away from the Arms Park at the end of the 1966 season.
Indeed, David featured in the final set of matches in 1966 which were staged on the Arms Park cricket ground (where the Cardiff Blues currently play) following the decision by the Welsh Rugby Union to convert the adjoining rugby ground into the National Stadium.
Besides captaining Cardiff CC for several years, and acting as Chairman, and latterly President, of the city club, David also served on the committee of Glamorgan CCC from 1984 until 2005. In his youth, David had also played for the Glamorgan Colts, as well as the county’s Club and Ground side, in addition to regular appearances for the MCC and Forty Club.
During the mid-2000s, David also assisted with the planning and the creation of Cardiff Cricket Club’s new ground at Forest Farm in Whitchurch which, to his immense delight, subsequently staged 2nd XI and MCC University matches. David was also a keen collector of cricketing memorabilia and other sporting artefacts, whilst his son David junior has followed his late father onto the committee of Glamorgan CCC and currently serves as Deputy Chairman .
“David and his family have been the heart and soul of Cardiff Cricket Club for many, many years,“ said Glamorgan’s Chief Executive Hugh Morris. “David was also a passionate supporter of Glamorgan County Cricket Club and we will always be grateful for the important role he played in developing his beloved Sophia Gardens into an international cricket ground. We send our condolences to his son David junior, his family and his many close friends in the cricketing world of South Wales and beyond.”