The Rogerstone Directory - History Articles

Cricket in Rogerstone

The first known report of Rogerstone cricket was found in the local press which reported that a cricket match was staged in the 1860's between The Gentlemen of Machen and The Gentlemen of Rogerstone. Unfortunately due to a dispute the match was never finished.

The next known cricket team of Rogerstone was in 1900 when the Newport and District League was founded. Rogerstone were the inaugural winners of this league in that season. In those days the team was mainly made up of the immigrants from Shropshire who came to Rogerstone with Nettlefolds steelworks in ca. 1886 - 1888. The team was then nicknamed the 'brown paper baggers'. This was because, unable to afford cricket bags, they always turned up for matches carrying what little kit they had in brown paper bags.

Currently the only known member of this team was Moses Picken. His gold league winners medal currently being in the possession of his grandson Dennis Picken. Since Moses also played for the Rogerstone soccer side at that time it is almost certain that the side would have been composed of at least the nucleus of the famous soccer team at that time. It is uncertain where this team played their matches.

The next known Rogerstone side played in the early 1900's. It is not known if this was a continuation of the 1900 side. It is known that they played their matches in the field on which is now built the Wern estate. (Avana Bakeries etc.). When the Welfare Grounds, given to the village by Lord Tredegar, were opened in 1928 the then Parish Council invited the cricket club to play their cricket on the Welfare Grounds. It was at this point the club changed its name to the current name of Rogerstone Welfare Cricket Club. In these early days cricket matches were a social event for the village and until the early fifties the club took a collection box around the spectators to raise money for the club. With the possible exception of a break during the Second World War the club has played continuously to the present day. Renowned members in those days were the Benthams, Norths, Lowerys, Prices, Walshes, Prices, Stephens, Steventon, Davis, Robinsons, Matthews, Tobitt, Jones, James, Joseph, Seargent and others.

In the early days the Club owned its own wooden pavilion measuring about 20 ft. by 10 ft. with a small concrete balcony. There was just enough room for 11 players to change. There was no electricity, no shower facilities or even a water supply. Showers were available in the converted stables attached to the old Welfare house. There was also a scorers hut which remained in use until the mid to late 1950's. This was also used as a store for the marking equipment. The club also had a pair of wooden sight screens with top halves which could be lowered when not in use. The Welfare house (Tydu House) was also used for teas and Club meetings. In the 1950's the club prepared the wicket on a Friday night by cutting with a small hand mower and rolling with the large roller still on the grounds to this day. To get as much weight on the roller as possible the local children were invited to sit on it and have a free ride. The Club also owned a small, or light roller, which is also still on the grounds to this day. Cutting the outfield was the responsibility of the groundsman Mr. Groucott and later Mr. Albert Jarrett. In these days there was no charge for the ground.

In the 1960's the Parish Council agreed to pay for the cost of renovating the wooden cricket pavilion on the condition that ownership of the building passed to the Parish Council. The outcome was a much larger, though still wooden pavilion approximately double the size. There was still no water supply, electricity or showers. The tea rooms and showers remained as before. This extension was built by Mr. Bellew a local builder whose son Dennis played for the club. Incorporated into the balcony rails were 3 uprights close together like cricket stumps on either side of the entrance.

Over the years the responsibility for wicket preparation became the responsibility of the groundsman and the Parish Council then charged the Club rent for the use of the wicket and facilities. The wooden sight screens have long disappeared as has the scorers hut. In the 1960's new steel framed sight screens were purchased via Llanwern Steelworks. The frames of these screens are still in use today used to support white removable canvass screens. As stated previously the two manual rollers are at the ground to this day. The Club itself has over the years purchased three motor rollers to assist in wicket preparation and one of these is a recent acquisition.

The first concrete based practice wicket was located in the corner of the ground near the children's playground; Nets were erected during the season and taken down at the end of the season. This practice wicket was in the worse possible position since it was facing west and the setting sun. Thus on a sunny evening it was almost impossible to see the ball. Subsequently nets were moved to the West side of the ground alongside the old tennis courts. This position, however, was deemed unsuitable by the Parish Council because it was too near the main area where children were likely to play. The nets were then moved to the South corner of the ground.

Initially no games were played at the Welfare grounds on Sundays and the only Sunday cricket was away games. Often these were turned into coach trips and a day out for people other than the cricketers. Eventually the club requested the Parish Council to allow Sunday cricket at the Welfare Grounds. A referendum of all parishioners was held and about 95% of the returned papers were in favour of Sunday Cricket. The Parish Council then agreed that six Sunday games could be played each season. This was eventually increased.

To be continued.

Rogerstone Welfare Cricket Club 1928 team

Cricket at the Welfare grounds ca. 1930

Rogerstone Welfare Cricket Club Invincible side 1938

D.A. Picken - Rogerstone Local History Society
A. Trinder - Rogerstone Welfare Cricket Club

[back]