Tom Schofield was one of the best amateur wicket-keepers in South Wales during the late Victorian and early Edwardian era. Given his success in club cricket with Bridgend, he would have made more than five appearances for Glamorgan in Minor County Friendlies had the county not been able to call upon Sam Brain on a regular basis.

Having first played cricket in his youth for Bridgend CC, Tom gained further experience by appearing in a decent standard of cricket in both Northern England and North America before returning to live and work in his native town. His first appearance for Glamorgan came at the Arms Park during May 1893 against a Colts XXII before featuring in the line-up away to Herefordshire as well as in the friendly against a Cardiff and District XI. He subsequently made a single appearance in 1894, 1895 and 1896.

An advertising and bill-posting agent by trade, Tom joined the county committee in 1903 and helped the Club promote its Minor County fixtures, as well as helping to plan the campaign for first-class status. He was still assisting the committee in 1920 when the campaign achieved its goal, and Schofield was a very proud Club Chairman during their inaugural summer in the County Championship.

Tom also acted as secretary of Bridgend RFC, having first played for the town club whilst at school. From 1894 until the early 1920s, he was a well-known rugby referee, officiating in club, county and – from 1907 – international matches, besides being a national selector after the Great War. He also founded the Bridgend and District League, and advised the Welsh Rugby Union on a number of issues, including making the scrum less violent and much safer for its participants.

The compassionate side of Tom’s character was also to the fore during the Great War as he served with the Glamorgan Motor Volunteers driving ambulances with injured troops to various military hospitals and rest homes throughout South Wales.

SCHOFIELD, Thomas David.

Born – Bridgend, 4 August 1864.
Died – Bridgend, 2 January 1928.

Batting and Fielding Record  

	M	I	NO	RUNS	AV	100	50	CT	ST
MC Friendlies	5	6	1	10	2.00	–	–	2	6

Career-best performance  

Minor County Friendlies  7 v Colts XXII at Cardiff Arms Park, 1893.