Howard Morgan, who died last week aged 87, played twice for Glamorgan during 1958.
Born and educated in Maesteg, Howard joined Glamorgan’s junior staff during the mid-1950s after showing rich promise as a right-handed batsman and off-spinner with Maesteg Celtic CC. He produced some useful performances with both ball and bat in 2nd XI matches, but with Jim McConnon and Don Shepherd as Glamorgan`s first choice off-spinners, Howard only appeared in a couple of Championship matches in early June 1958 – against Leicestershire at Rodney Parade in Newport and Warwickshire at Swansea.
He left Glamorgan`s staff at the end of the season and trained as a schoolmaster, teaching Geography and PE. He subsequently taught at several secondary schools in Cardiff and the Vale, besides acting as a selector for the Welsh Schools Under-19 team from 1960 until 1985, as well as overseeing the Cardiff Schools Cricket League.
After leaving the Glamorgan staff, Howard played for a number of clubs in the South Wales Cricket Association, including Neath and Briton Ferry Town, besides appearing for the Association’s representative team. During the late 1960s he joined St. Fagans CC and played alongside his great friend and fellow schoolmaster Graham Lewis who also taught at Cathays HS. Howard captained the club in 1969 before moving to join Cowbridge and being a member of a very successful team at The Broadshoard, in addition to coaching the emerging players.
On hearing of Howard’s death, Hugh Morris, Glamorgan’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Howard was a fine player and mentor when I started playing as a youngster with Cowbridge during the late 1970s. He was an astute coach and a fine judge of schoolboy cricketers, as shown by his work for three decades with the Welsh Schools Under-19.”
“Howard was also a methodical administrator with the Cardiff Schools Cricket League, and many young players greatly benefitted from his tireless efforts in these years before the formation of the Cricket Board of Wales. Glamorgan Cricket sends its condolences to his family and friends.”