Stan Trick, a left-arm spinner, was a member of Glamorgan’s squad which won the County Championship during 1948.
He was a prolific wicket taker for Neath CC and Briton Ferry Steel CC in club cricket either side of the Second World War, and on his few appearances at first-class level between 1946 and 1950, he proved to be a match-winning bowler.
As a schoolboy, Stan showed great prowess as a cricketer and a footballer in the early 1930`s. He won international football honours for Welsh Schoolboys and even agreed terms with Brentwood, but he never turned professional and opted to stay in the Neath area, where he could work at his family’s motor garage, and play football and cricket in the South Wales leagues.
His prodigious wicket-taking feats in club cricket brought him to the attention of the Glamorgan selectors, and Stan made his debut in their 2nd XI in Minor County games during 1936. Despite some impressive performances, his work commitments prevented him from playing on a full-time basis and it wasn’t until 1946 that Stan made his first-class debut.
Despite only appearing infrequently, Trick proved to be wily bowler, and he was particularly useful on the dry and spin-friendly pitches at Swansea. Indeed, it was at the St. Helen`s ground during 1948 where Trick produced both a career-best and match winning performance against Somerset, and in each innings he claimed six wickets with his clever spin and subtle flight.
TRICK, William Mervyn Stanley
Born – Briton Ferry, 31st October 1916.
Died – Morriston, Swansea, 27th October 1995.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 15 v Leicestershire at Swansea, 1949; 6/29 v Somerset at Swansea, 1948.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 19 | 22 | 11 | 52 | 4.72 | – | – | 9 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 3094 | 186 | 1087 | 56 | 19.41 | 4 | 2 |