Gowan Clark played 37 matches for Glamorgan between 1889 and 1903 following the accountant’s decision to move to Cardiff from his family’s home near Aberystwyth.
His family were closely connected with the railway trade with his father – who played for the Ceredigion club in Aberystwyth – serving as an agent for the London and North Western Railway. whilst his brother Cresswell also worked in Abergavenny for the Company before emigrating to become General Manager of the South African General Railways. Gowan also followed in the footsteps of his father and brother by working initially in the audit office of the London and North Western Railway before securing a post in Cardiff with the Rhymney Railway Company for whom he eventually acted as company secretary and accountant until 1918.
A talented batter and spin bowler, Gowan played for Glamorgan in their inaugural match against Warwickshire in 1889 before becoming a regular in the Welsh county’s side during the 1890s and from 1897 in the Minor County Championship. Gowan was a heavy scorer for Cardiff CC and in 1891 at Newport he came within five runs of posting his maiden hundred for the Welsh county as he made 95 against Monmouthshire – “an innings of freedom and forceful strokes” was one newspapers summary about what proved to be a career-best innings.
Gowan remained a regular in the Glamorgan line-up until 1903, besides acting as captain of the Cradiff club from 1897 until 1902. He subsequently served on the committee of both Glamorgan and Cardiff CC until after the Great War as Glamorgan made their way in first-class cricket, besides acting as auditor for Cardiff Athletic Club. Gowan was also a prominent member of St. Andrew’s Church in Windsor Place in Cardiff and undertook a lot of work as a layman within the Llandaff Diocese.
A bachelor throughout his life, Gowan was also an uncle to Norman Riches and helped to coach the young batter in his formative years before the Great War.
CLARK, John Gowan.
Born – Aberystwyth, September 1864.
Died – Cardiff, 28 November 1937.
Batting and Fielding Record
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| MC Championship | 11 | 19 | 1 | 146 | 8.11 | – | – | 3 | – |
| MC Friendlies | 26 | 41 | 4 | 631 | 17.10 | – | 3 | 20 | – |
Bowling Record
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| MC Friendlies | 303 | 8 | 244 | 12 | 20.33 | 1 | – |
Career-best performances
Minor County Championship – 29* v Berkshire at Reading, 1900.
Minor County Friendlies – 95 v Monmouthshire at Rodney Parade, Newport, 1891 and 5/11 v Wiltshire at Cardiff Arms Park, 1892.