St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

PH222

photograph, B&W Mounted on card. Swansea veterans team 2nd February 1907. Photographers: A & G Taylor, Swansea. Dimensions: w12" x h8" (30cm x 20cm)

Photograph

CIC

1906-1907

This photograph depicts the 'Veterans' Team that played in a match against a current or 'Present' Swansea fifteen at St Helen's on Saturday 2nd February 1907. the match was a 'Benefit' fixture for the mother of former Swansea and Wales forward Bob Thomas. Thomas played for the club from 1891-92 to 1900-01, playing 231 matches, 224 of which were with the first fifteen. He won 4 Welsh caps 1900-01 but after retiring from rugby, had a serious accident in August 1905 at the Mannesmann Tube Works in Landore where he worked. A pair of tongs pierced his right palm, incapacitating him from work. this led to mental issues and as his family was struggling for money, a benefit match was played for him in February 1907. This photograph featured the 'Veterans' team. £130 was raised for Bob Thomas' family. Sadly Bob died on7th March 1910 as a result of the physical and mental injury he suffered from the accident. Tom Russell was one of the well known names in the team and his family donated this somewhat damaged photograph to Swansea RFC in July 2007. The personnel in the photograph are: Back row (L to R): Mr Edwin Copus, Billy Bowen, Eddie Morgan, D J Thomas, C Hughes, Arthur Jones, Harry Bevan, William Farr.
2nd Row (L to R): Syd Jones, Andrew Matty, Thomas Russell, Bill Grey, A Lewis, Livingstone Davies, Arthur whapham, Will Parker, Fred Meager, Jack Prescott, Dr. Edgar Reid.
3rd Row (L to R): Tom Jackson, Jack Davies, (Llandeilo), Teddy Thorogood, Frank "Genny" Gordon, Tom Chegwidden, Dick Jones, Hopkin Davies, Teddy Bishop.
Front Row (L to R): Harry Ball (Trainer)[ obscured], W Hill, Jack Davies (Pontardawe), Syd Bevan.

PH222.jpg, PH222a.jpg