Evan David was a member of one of the foremost sporting families in South Wales during the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the David’s being well known in cricketing and hunting circles, besides owning a number of racehorses. Sadly, his love of all things equine was to cost Evan his life as he died in February 1926 near his home in the Fairwater district of Cardiff in an accident falling from a horse whilst exercising it and fatally rupturing his spine.
Born at Radyr Court, his father Evan William David was the manager of Lord Shrewsbury`s estate with Evan being educated initially at Cheltenham College before going to Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge. He subsequently trained as a solicitor, besides taking every opportunity to play cricket, either for Fairwater CC, the South Wales CC or Glamorganshire. He made one appearance for the latter, against Breconshire at Brecon on 24 and 25 June 1874 but bagged a pair.
The following year he played for the South Wales CC at Hove against the Gentlemen of Sussex but again he met with little luck with the bat, making 0 and 6. Despite playing for both the Fairwater and Cardiff clubs, Evan’s next match of note was not until June 1884 when he appeared in the South Wales Cricket Club’s trial at Swansea. He was chosen in the Next XVIII but only made 4 and 3 and did not feature in any other major games.
Evan lived at Fairwater House and was a cousin of Edmund David who captained Glamorgan in their inaugural match in 1889 against Warwickshire at Cardiff Arms Park. He was also a cousin of Hastings Clay, a member of the sporting family who hailed from Piercefield Park in Chepstow.
