Tony Cottey

Photo Credit – Glamorgan Cricket Archives.

At 5 foot 4 inches, Tony Cottey may have been one of the shortest players to play for Glamorgan, but few have had a bigger heart than the right-handed batsman from Swansea. During the 1990`s Tony was a consistent batsman in the middle-order, scoring 1,465 runs in 1995 and 1,543 during 1996.

His gritty determination resulted in many solid innings, and amongst his finest innings was a remarkable 77 off just 42 balls against Northamptonshire in the AXA League game in 1998. Glamorgan had been set a stiff target of 174 in a mere 24 overs, but Tony used all of his experience and know-how to lead Glamorgan to victory with three balls in hand.

Tony was also a fine player of spin bowling with his nimble footwork, deft sweeping and rock-solid defence being the hallmarks of his play. He had a modest season with the bat during 1997 as Glamorgan became County Champions, but even so, he still shared a match-winning partnership with Matthew Maynard against Essex at Cardiff and helped to guide Glamorgan to a crucial victory. He returned to form in 1998 by passing a thousand runs in first-class cricket, but at the end of the season he rejected a new two-year deal with Glamorgan, and joined Sussex on a five-year contract, for whom after retirement from playing in 2004, he has worked in their commercial department.

Tony had made his Glamorgan debut in 1986 after a brief, but quite successful career as a professional footballer with Swansea City, during which time he won Welsh Youth soccer caps. After deciding to concentrate on cricket, Tony soon established a regular place for himself in the Glamorgan side, as a middle-order batsman and occasional off-spin bowler.

He won his county cap in 1992, and in 1996 was appointed the county’s vice-captain. The following year, Tony scored 203 against Leicestershire, fittingly on his home ground at St.Helen`s where he had first played as a schoolboy with the Swansea club. During this career-best innings, Tony also shared a record seventh wicket partnership of 211 with Otis Gibson.

COTTEY, Phillip Anthony        

Born – Swansea, 2nd June 1966.

Best performances for Glamorgan:

In first-class cricket – 203 v Leicestershire at Swansea, 1994; 4/49 v Leicestershire at Swansea, 1996.

In List A cricket – 96 v Sussex at Hove, 1998; 4/56 v Essex at Chelmsford, 1992.

MINORUNSAV10050CTST
First-class197320491034638.182155137
List A19517131360725.762167
Tony Cottey’s career batting record for Glamorgan
BallsMRWAV5wI10wM
First-class1004207041164.00
List A73736721935.36
Tony Cottey’s career bowling record for Glamorgan