There was a great mood of anticipation in the Glamorgan camp ahead of the 1978 season, with players and administrators eager to build on the successful run in the 1977 Gillette Cup. There was a new management team in place, following the retirement during the Autumn months of Wilf Wooller as Secretary. Phil Clift was his replacement, whilst Tom Cartwright also hung up his boots and became the Club’s first-ever Manager working, like the other officials under the Chairmanship of Ossie Wheatley who had taken office in 1977. There were new faces out on the field with Peter Swart, the 31 year-old all-rounder from Rhodesia replacing Collis King as overseas player after several years of success with Haslingden in the Lancashire League.
Despite everyone’s hopes and dreams, the new era failed to materialise as 1978 proved to be a summer of frustration rather than celebration. Somerset swiftly put paid to any thoughts of another trip to Lord’s in September as the West Country side recorded a comfortable 70-run victory in their second round encounter in the Gillette Cup at Sophia Gardens. There were brief hopes of an appearance in the Benson and Hedges Final as Glamorgan, after finishing second in their group, secured a quarter-final at Edgbaston, but Warwickshire snuffed out these pipedreams as they produced a workmanlike performance to beat Glamorgan by 46 runs.
In the John Player Sunday League, Glamorgan finished in mid-table winning six of their sixteen games, with the highlights being provided by the Jones brothers. In June, Alan became the Club’s first batsman to score a century in the 40 overs competition as he made an unbeaten 110 against Gloucestershire at Sophia Gardens and guided the Welsh county to an emphatic five-wicket victory after David Shepherd had made a century for the visitors. In July, Eifion Jones saw Glamorgan to a thrilling two-wicket victory in the televised contest against Sussex at Hastings. Chasing a target of 189, the Welsh county looked like falling short, but he smashed the final ball of the game, delivered by Geoff Arnold, for six over mid-wicket to see his team to their target. Click here to read more about this match.
But in the County Championship, Glamorgan ended up in 13th place, admittedly an improvement of one place, but on several occasions they squandered a decent position after the first innings. An example came in the game against Middlesex at Swansea where the initiative swung to and fro after a four-wicket haul by Swart had seen Middlesex dismissed for just 200 on the opening day. But Mike Selvey proved to be Glamorgan’s nemesis as he claimed 5/52 to give his side a slender lead of 38. Alan Wilkins then led a Glamorgan fightback before an 84-run stand between Roland Butcher and Ian Gould saw the visitors amass a lead of 302. With the wicket now assisting the spinners, John Emburey claimed what at the time were career-best figures of 6/29 as Middlesex eased to a 176-run victory.
Had Glamorgan possessed greater fire power in their seam attack, they might have capitalised on situations like the one at St. Helen’s and elsewhere during 1978. Despite his best efforts, Swart only claimed 36 Championship wickets with one writer, casting his eye at other county’s bolstered by high-quality paceman compared Swart’s brisk medium pace to a pony racing against thoroughbreds in the Derby. Nash also claimed just 39 Championship wickets at 40 runs apiece and, despite some excellent spells in the shorter form, proved most effective in the longer form when the shine was still on the ball.
The weather also played a decisive hand in several Championship matches during the first half of 1978 with 30 out of 40 playing days affected either in part or in full, and with gate receipts falling, the Club’s finances were affected. High on the agenda of the committee was the task of improving things, both from a financial and playing perspective. Bolstering the bowling resources was one option, but without any fiscal clout behind them, the Club’s officials were unable to successfully negotiate with any high-profile names, not that many were on the market in any case as the rumblings of the Packer affair continued. Tracksuits and training kit, as seen above, weredonated by Bristish Airways, whilst the price of membership and daily admission were duly raised in a bid to improve the cashflow. But, as events unfolded in 1979, it was the precursor for the Club’s worst season on record in the County Championship.