St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

MD011

Medal

CIC

Swansea RFC

1905-1906

Medal, bronze or brass. Enamelled blue border and GB Union Flag on obverse with "1907" beneath. "Football match U.S.B. within border. "April 1907" on plain reverse.

This medal commemorates a match between Swansea 1st XV and a District League XV at St Helen's on Saturday 21st April 1907. The match was arranged to raise funds for the Swansea branch of the United Services Brigade (USB), who cared for retired British servicemen. It was the second such fund raising match at St Helen's, the first one having been played on 21st April 1906. That first match was arranged by Swansea's outgoing captain Frank 'Genny' Gordon. Gordon had been a member of the 3rd Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers in his earlier years and had wished to contribute to old soldiers' welfare on his retirement from rugby after 13 seasons with Swansea (five as captain). The WRU insisted the match be billed as a Swansea XV, not a Gordon's XV. The match saw the last appearance of Frank Gordon at St Helen's as a player. 2,000 watched the 1906 match which was kicked off by Lieut. Gen. Sir James Hills-Johnes V.C., G.C.B. Sir John Llewelyn kicked off the second-half. After the match, gold pendants were presented to the players. The USB were raising money to move their operations to Alexandra Road from Wind Street. The following year another match was played between the Swansea 1st XV and District XV on Thursday 11th April 1907. But only about 200 attended the mid-week match and again medals were presented to the players, this example being one of them. The new institute for the USB was opened in Alexandra Road by Lieut. Gen. Sir James Hills-Johnes in August 1906. The District XV were easily beaten in both these charity matches, though only a very weakened Swansea side turned out for the second match. The fixture was dropped after 1907.

medal, 1905-1906, 1905-06, swansea district league, united services brigade, frank gordon