‘WH’ Williams, who played eight times for Glamorgan in Minor County Friendlies between 1889 and 1893, was a leading member of the South Wales CC during the late 1870s and 1880s, besides rising to a leading administrative position with both the Bute Docks Railway Company as well as the Great Western Railway Company.
After some good performances with bat and ball for Cardiff CC, his first major matches for the South Wales club came during 1877. William played initially against the Gentlemen of Sussex at Hove, before appearing in their games at The Oval and Lord’s. He subsequently became a regular face on their London tours, besides playing for a Cardiff XXII in their fund-raising games against the United South of England in 1880 and against a United Eleven in 1882. He was also a talented rugby player besides captaining the 1st XI of Cardiff CC during 1888 and 1889.
These two seasons also saw William play a role with the embryonic Glamorgan CCC, firstly serving on the Glamorgan committee and helping to advise about the abilities of several young players. He also appeared in the trial match against Llwynypia in 1888 before going on the county club’s London tour in 1889, besides leading the Glamorgan side in their match later that summer against the MCC at the Arms Park.
‘WH’ lived in Llandaff, where he was a leading figure with Fairwater CC for whom his brother John Evan Williams, also acted as Secretary. Their mother was a member of the David family and it was in Llandaff and Cardiff where he first trained as a surveyor and land agent, working for the David family’s business in the coal metropolis.
He subsequently secured a post with the Bute Docks Railway Company, with his business commitments meaning that he was only able to make one further appearance for Glamorgan in 1890, against Monmouthshire at Cardiff. In 1891 he found time to appear in the matches with Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Devon but ,at the end of the season, he secured a position as Chief Surveyor and Land Agent for the Great Western Railway Company, based at Paddington, and moved to live in Buckinghamshire.
WILLIAMS, William Herbert.
Born – Bedwas, 1857.
Died – Burnham, Buckinghamshire, 24 April 1931.
Batting Record
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| MC Friendlies | 8 | 11 | 3 | 108 | 13.50 | – | – | 3 | – |
Bowling Record
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| MC Friendlies | 135 | 5 | 66 | 1 | 66.00 | – | – |
Career best performances
Minor County Friendlies – 37 v Somerset at Cardiff Arms Park, 1890 and 1/16 v Surrey Club and Ground at The Oval, 1889.