Tom Hordley was another journeyman professional who played for Glamorgan during the early 1890s.
A blacksmith by profession, he had been born in Staffordshire but was brought up in the Dowlais area of Merthyr Tydfil with his cricket-playing skills soon winning him a place in the 1st XI of Hill’s Plymouth CC and drawing the attention of the Glamorgan selectors.
In May 1892 he played for a Colts XXI against the county side in a trial game at Swansea. He claimed four wickets, all clean bowled, and a week later the burly fast bowler made his debut in Glamorgan’s Minor County friendly against Wiltshire at Swindon, before winning selection for the remaining games of the season, during which he claimed 4/19 against the MCC at the Arms Park.
As far as the game against the MCC was concerned, the correspondent of the South Wales Daily News wrote how “Hordley, having struck with his first ball, then sent down four maidens in succession and stifled the batsmen with his accuracy.” After these decent performances, he had hoped for a contract with Glmaorgan in 1895 but following the appointment of Billy Bancroft as the Club’s full-time professional, the Club’s funds were insufficient to secure Tom’s regular employment so he left South Wales having secured an appointment with a Lancashire League club.
He remained in north-west of England for several years and in 1903 was playing for Barrow in the North Lancashire and District League, before returning to South Wales to play for Bridgend CC and appearing in the game between the Gentlemen of Glamorgan against the Players of Glamorgan which took place at Cardiff Arms Park. He subsequently returned to play in club cricket in England and in September 1909 Tom guested for Hill’s Plymouth in their exhibition match against Sussex at the Pentrebach ground which was part of a tour to South Wales which Tal Whittington had arranged afor the South Coast club as Glamorgan were looking to raise funds to secure their elevation into first-class cricket. Shortly afterwards, Tom joined Exhall Colliery CC near Nuneaton and from 1914 Tom also worked in the gas depot of Coventry Corporation.
HORDLEY, Edward Thomas (‘Tom’).
Born – Cannock Chase, 24 April 1875.
Died – Longford, Coventry, 28 September 1929.
Batting and Fielding Record
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| MC Friendlies | 9 | 11 | 3 | 21 | 2.63 | – | – | 3 | – |
Bowling Record
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| MC Friendlies | 854 | 50 | 393 | 26 | 15.10 | – | – |
Career-best performances
Minor County Friendlies – 8 v Monmouthshire at St. Helen’s, Swansea, 1892 and 4/19 v MCC at Cardiff Arms Park, 1892.