Billy Slade was a member of the Glamorgan team which defeated the 1964 Australians at Swansea besides being one of the best close-to-the-wicket fielders for the Welsh county, claiming 100 catches in his 67 first-class appearances
These skills were to the fore when Billy and his colleagues defeated Bobby Simpson’s touring team. In the Australian first innings, Billy took a pair of smart catches in the leg-trap as the cream of their tourists batting talent was sent packing by Don Shepherd and Jim Pressdee. He added another smart catch to his tally in their second innings as they fell 37 runs short of their target before joyous celebrations took place at the St. Helen’s ground with the Glamorgan diehards joined by thousands who had attended the National Eisteddfod which was being staged a mile or so away.
Billy had first played for the Club’s 2nd XI in 1959 when only seventeen, whilst two years later he made his County Championship debut against Hampshire at Swansea. He proved to be a capable middle-order batsman, with his career-best score of 73* also coming at St. Helen’s against Derbyshire during 1963.
He was released by Glamorgan at the end of 1967 and continued a successful career in club cricket He also coached at Marlborough School, besides leading Wales in the ICC Trophy during 1979.
SLADE, William Douglas
Born – Briton Ferry, 27th September 1941.
Died – Neath, 22nd December 2019.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 73* v Derbyshire at Swansea, 1963; 4/144 v Middlesex at Lord’s, 1962.
In List A cricket – 28 v Warwickshire at Neath, 1963.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 67 | 116 | 11 | 1482 | 14.11 | – | 3 | 100 | – |
| List A | 4 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 13.00 | – | – | 2 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 3027 | 146 | 1493 | 32 | 46.45 | – | – |
| List A | 54 | 2 | 38 | 0 | – | – | – |