William Richards, a master grocer from Neath, was a talented batter and a useful bowler who played for the Cadoxton club as well as appearing during the 1860s and 1870s in county cricket for Carmarthenshire, Breconshire and Glamorganshire.
Born in Llandybie in Carmarthenshire, his early cricket came both for and against the West Walian county. In June 1865 he played for Glamorganshire against Carmarthenshire at Dolgarreg before the following year at Merthyr Mawr, playing for Carmarthenshire against Glamorganshire. The summer of 1866 also saw William feature for the Gentlemen of Swansea and South Wales against the United England XI and, as a member of the South Wales Cricket Club – and a very well connected member of Cadoxton CC, he was included in the South Wales XI which travelled to Wrexham to play North Wales during July 1867.
At the end of the 1867 season, William featured in the Players team which met the Gentlemen at The Gnoll. He made 27, with his appearance for the professional team, as opposed to the gentlemen, as in the visit to Wrexham, indicating that he might have also played, on occasions, as a paid participant rather than as an amateur.
May 1868 saw William feature in the Cadoxton side which met the United South of England at The Gnoll – a match which he, no doubt, helped to publicise using posters displayed in his shop, located in the centre of Neath. He also featured in, and promoted, the match between the Gentlemen of Swansea and the Australian Aborigines at the Bryn-y-Mor Field.
He also appeared in 1868 and 1869 for Breconshire and had a chance to display his bowling skills by taking ten wickets in the match against Herefordshire as well as seven in an innings against the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He made a number of further appearances for Glamorganshire in 1869, playing against a Colts XXII, Monmouthshire, Breconshire and Radnorshire besides playing for the Gentlemen of South Wales against the Players.
In August 1869 William was also in the Cadoxton side that met the MCC at Lord’s, although he did not have his finest hour with the bat and bagged a pair. In 1870 he played for Glamorganshire against West Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Breconshire, with him taking eleven wickets in the game at Brecon. Suitably impressed, the Breconshire selectors chose him for their friendly with Worcestershire. He died suddenly iof kidney failure n hospital in Swansea during April 1871
RICHARDS, William
Born: Llandybie, 1837.
Died: Swansea, 3 April 1871.