Born in Ceylon, and raised in London, Jack Geoghegan had a cosmopolitan background before making Swansea his home from 1889 onwards. During his time in South Wales he played with distinction for the Swansea club and made thirteen appearances for Glamorgan, initially as a professional and subsequently as an amateur.    

Jack was educated at St. Charles’ College and played his first cricket of note for the Notting Hill club in London. His success for them led to his selection as an opening batter for the Middlesex Colts during 1886 prior to a spell as a professional in Cumbria with Whitehaven CC. In 1889 he secured a position with Swansea CC and moved to South Wales.    

In June 1891 Jack made his debut, as a professional, for Glamorgan in their match at St. Helen’s against the MCC. He made 7 and 9* and was not called up again by the Welsh county’s selectors until July 1896 by which time he had become an amateur having become the steward of the Colonial Club in Swansea. His return to the Glamorgan side saw him meet with more success as he made 17 and took six wickets in the match against Monmouthshire at Newport.    

In June 1898 Jack made a career-best 82 against Cornwall at St. Helen’s, but the following month saw him involved in an unfortunate spat with officials from the Swansea club, largely over his selection in the Glamorgan squad for their away match with Worcestershire. Having initially been chosen for the match at New Road, the list was subsequently altered which Jack believed was done so that he could play instead for Swansea at Llandovery.    

Jack was deeply hurt by this petty-minded meddling by Swansea officials and refused to travel to Llandovery. It also reflected his desire to play at the highest level. Fortunately, matters were patched up with the all-rounder playing for Glamorgan in their subsequent Minor County matches that summer. He continued to play for the Welsh county until 1901, chiefly as a middle-order batter, with his final appearance coming in a rather light-hearted game against the Public School Nondescripts at St. Helen’s in which he made an unbeaten 55 against the team raised by the Bransby Williams family of Killay House.

After retiring from playing, Jack became an umpire and stood in a number of games at St. Helen’s, besides becoming “mine host” of The Duke of Wellington Hotel. On the outbreak of the Great War, he worked with colleagues from the Swansea club in the recruitment of soldiers for the Western Front. Sadly, he had a stroke in 1915 from which he partially recovered, before suffering a second and fatal heart attack during April 1916.

GEOGHEGAN, John Philip Arthur (‘Jack’)

Born – Colombo, Ceylon 1867.
Died – Swansea, 11 April 1916.

Batting and Fielding Record  

	M	I	NO	RUNS	AV	100	50	CT	ST
MC Championship	6	9	1	110	13.80	–	1	5	–
MC Friendlies	6	9	4	120	24.00	–	1	2	–

  Bowling Record  

	Balls	M	R	W	AV	5wI	10wM
MC Friendlies	170	11	82	6	13.67	–	–

Career-bests  

Minor County Championship – 82 v Cornwall at St. Helen’s, Swansea, 1898.

Minor County Friendlies – 55* v Public School Nondescripts at St. Helen’s, Swansea, 1901 and 4/57 v Monmouthshire at Rodney Parade, Newport, 1896.