Glamorgan County Cricket Club is shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of its former player and captain Barry Lloyd after a short illness at the age of 63.
Born in September 1953, Barry had joined the Glamorgan staff in the early 1970`s and the young off-spinner who was born and raised in Neath was regarded as a potential successor to Don Shepherd`s as the Club’s leading spin bowler. As a result, the Welsh county arranged for the former pupil of Llangatwg Comprehensive School to have a spell on the MCC Groundstaff during 1971 and 1972.
Whilst at Lord’s Barry came under the wing of MCC Head Coach Len Muncer, another outstanding off-spinner with Glamorgan, and a measure of his progress came with his debut for the Welsh county’s 2nd XI in 1971, followed the next summer by his County Championship debut for Glamorgan in their end-of-season game against Gloucestershire at Bristol.
After leaving the Lord’s Groundstaff, Barry also trained as a school-teacher at Bangor College, but he continued to play for the Welsh county during his vacations, and in 1973 made his debut for Glamorgan in one-day cricket in their Sunday League game against Sussex at Hove.
Having completing his studies in 1977, Barry played on a regular basis for the Welsh county in both formats of the game for the next six summers. In 1981 he claimed 53 first-class wickets at just 32 runs apiece including a career-best return of 8/70 against Lancashire at Sophia Gardens. Barry followed this in 1982 by taking 55 first-class wickets, besides claiming career-best one-day figures of 4/26 against the Combined Universities, also at Sophia Gardens.
Barry’s greatest asset was his nagging accuracy and his frugal spells in one-day cricket, allied to his wicket-taking in Championship matches led to Barry winning his county cap in 1982. It was something of a landmark summer for Barry as in 1982 he also shared captaincy duties with Javed Miandad.
Barry continued to play for Glamorgan until the end of the 1984 season and retired from the game with a career tally of 311 wickets for the 1st XI, including 247 in first-class cricket.
Barry continued to play with success in the South Wales Leagues, as well as playing for the Wales Minor County side until 1996 and also appearing on a regular basis for the Pontarddulais 1st XI until 2010. By this time, and to his great pride, his daughter Hannah had graduated from playing as a young girl with Pontarddulais to being selected for the England Women’s team.
On hearing of Barry’s death, Glamorgan Chief Executive Hugh Morris said, “Barry was one of the first captains I played under in Championship cricket for Glamorgan. He was hugely supportive of the young Welsh players in the squad and always wore the daffodil with pride. His passing is very sad news for us here at Glamorgan Cricket as well as for the wider cricket community in Wales, especially Pontarddulais, and we send our thoughts and prayers to his family and wide circle of friends at this most difficult time.”
Keith Griffiths, the Chairman of Pontarddulais CC echoed Hugh’s sentiments about the passing of their affable friendly colleague. “It is a very sad day for Welsh cricket and for us all at the Pontarddulais club, not only players, but officials and spectators who were very fond of Barry. His death has touched everyone here within the Club and the local community.”