Herbie Morgan holds a very special place in the history of Glamorgan CCC, as he was their first-ever batter to score a hundred, and the first double-centurion as well.
Born in Cardiff in 1870, the aggressive right-hander was educated at Weston School in Somerset before joining his father, and brother Fred, managing the family’s farm at Lower Penarth. He was only eighteen when he first played for Glamorgan in 1889, yet despite some impressive innings for Penarth CC, the teenager was not initially an automatic selection during the Club’s first summer of activity. Everything changed in 1890 after Herbie received a late call-up to play against Monmouthshire at the Arms Park.
It proved to be a turning point in his career, as – going in at number seven, the youngster single-handedly took apart the visiting bowlers, striking four massive sixes, and fifteen fours as he rattled up 147.
Herbie subsequently became a regular face in the team throughout the next decade as the Welsh side progressed into the Minor County Championship. Even though the standard of bowling was higher, he continued to score freely for Glamorgan, and at the Arms Park in 1901, Herbie struck the first double-hundred for Glamorgan – and at the time the highest ever score in the Minor County Championship – in making 254, with one six and no less than forty fours, as once again, Herbie treated the hapless Monmouthshire bowlers with complete disdain as Glamorgan also made a record total of 538.
By this time, Herbie had become part of the Glamorgan hierarchy, as he served on the county’s committee from 1898 until 1909, acting as something of a shop steward and representing the views of the players – both amateurs and professionals. Herbie retired from county cricket at the end of the 1905 season, but he continued to be a prolific run scorer in club cricket. In his youth, Herbie had also been a talented rugby player, appearing for many years for the Penarth club, and after the Great War, he held various civic positions within his beloved home town.
MORGAN, Herbert Edward (‘Herbie’).
Born – Penarth, 5 October 1870.
Died – Lower Penarth Farm, 5 February 1933.
Batting and Fielding Record
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| MC Championship | 54 | 85 | 3 | 1716 | 20.90 | 3 | 6 | 48 | – |
| MC Friendlies | 39 | 67 | 2 | 1172 | 18.00 | 1 | 3 | 17 | – |
Bowling Record
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| MC Friendlies | 173 | 6 | 111 | 6 | 18.50 | – | – |
Career-best performances
Minor County Championship – 254 v Monmouthshire at Cardiff Arms Park, 1901.
Minor County Friendlies – 147 v Monmouthshire at Cardiff Arms Park, 1890 and 3/50 v Wiltshire at Cardiff Arms Park, 1894.