Geoff Holmes was a most effective all-rounder for Glamorgan in limited overs cricket during the 1980`s. During the course of his career, Geoff returned some remarkable bowling figures, including 5/2 in the Sunday League match with Derbyshire at Ebbw Vale in 1984, as well as claiming a hat-trick at the same ground in 1987 in the Sunday fixture with Nottinghamshire.
The young Geordie had been recommended to Glamorgan by Len Muncer, the MCC coach and former Glamorgan stalwart, after Geoff had an impressive spell on the Lord`s groundstaff during 1974. He duly confirmed his rich potential by scoring a century against Gloucestershire at Bristol after only a handful of innings in the Championship. Geoff subsequently developed into the typical all-rounder of the modern era – batting anywhere in the order from three to six, opening the batting in one-day games, bowling nagging medium pace, being a livewire in the field and running like a whippet in between the wickets.
His most productive season in Championship cricket was in 1985, when he amassed 1,129 runs and won his county cap. He also played and coached in South Africa, and during 1989/1990 Geoff hit a career-best 182 for Border against the Western Province B side. A back injury forced him to retire from county cricket at the end of 1991, which was his Benefit Season.
He subsequently joined the Principality Building Society, before in 2005 returning to the cricket world as he became Director of the Cricket Board of Wales. For the next few years, he tirelessly promoted cricket at grass roots level in Wales and helped establish a coaching and development framework which has become the envy of many counties. Tragically, Geoff died suddenly in March 2009.
HOLMES, Geoffrey Clarke
Born – Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 16th September 1958.
Died – Cardiff, 23rd March 2009.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 125* v Somerset at Sophia Gardens, 1990; 5/38 v Essex at Colchester, 1988.
In List A cricket – 73 v Warwickshire at Edgbaston,1984; 5/2 v Derbyshire at Ebbw Vale, 1984.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 203 | 325 | 50 | 7529 | 27.38 | 9 | 34 | 82 | – |
| List A | 181 | 165 | 29 | 3474 | 25.54 | – | 18 | 53 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 6932 | 223 | 3963 | 88 | 45.03 | 2 | – |
| List A | 4232 | 42 | 3430 | 136 | 25.22 | 3 | – |