St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future
Item
PH171
Object ID
PH171
Type
Rights Holder
Swansea RFC Memorabilia Community Interest Company
Provenance
Swansea RFC
Season
Description
Photographic copy of an original. Swansea RFC 1st fifteen 1897-98 season. Dimensions: w12" x h10" (w30.5cm x h25.5cm)
Info
This photograph of the Swansea RFC 1st XV is from the 1897-98 season and was taken at the 'town end' of the old grandstand. It has several interesting points. It is one of only a few images of the east entrance to the grandstand whose enlargement dates from 1891. A player has been 'etched out' on the far right of the image. It is not certain who this is. He seems to be a player but possibly did not play this season. The James brothers David and Evan are featured in their first full season back, having had their suspension for professionalism lifted in February of the previous season. A young W J "Billy" Trew is also features in the first of seventeen seasons as a Swansea player. Trew would go on to Welsh honours (26 caps) and the James brothers would finally be welcomed back into the Welsh team in 1899. Entering his last season as a player was diminutive but fiery forward Sam Rice. Billy Bancroft was in his fourth of six seasons as captain. To his left as we view is a young Frank 'Genny' Gordon, who would go on to captain the 'Invincible' team of 1904 -05.
This was a transitional season for Swansea, who had not won the Welsh Championship since 1890-91. With young talent like George Davies, Dan Rees and Billy Trew and with the James brothers back again, the future was bright. Forward Hopkin Davies would debut for Wales this season and Bancroft add to his 22 caps. He would amass 33 before retiring. This season would see forward Bob Thomas capped by Glamorgan County along with Hopkin Davies, Bancroft, Dan Rees and Will Parker. Swansea were on the cusp of a 'Golden era' that would begin with the reclaiming of the Welsh Championship the following season. The original image was copied by photograph and the copy has sustained some damage in the years before it was archived. A second, digitally corrected version is also included here for clarity.
In 1897-98 the record was: Played: 32, Won: 24, Lost: 6, Drawn: 2. Points for:417, Against: 85.
Personnel: Back Row L to R: Harry Ball (Trainer), Livingstone Davies, Fred Scrine, Sam Rice, Tom Jackson, David Harries, Tom Harris, Hopkin Davies, W Bowen (Umpire).
2nd Row L to R:Aubrey Jones, Evan James, Frank Gordon, W J Bancroft (captain), Bob Thomas, Will Parker.
Front Row L to R: W J Trew, Dan Rees, George Davies, David James.
This was a transitional season for Swansea, who had not won the Welsh Championship since 1890-91. With young talent like George Davies, Dan Rees and Billy Trew and with the James brothers back again, the future was bright. Forward Hopkin Davies would debut for Wales this season and Bancroft add to his 22 caps. He would amass 33 before retiring. This season would see forward Bob Thomas capped by Glamorgan County along with Hopkin Davies, Bancroft, Dan Rees and Will Parker. Swansea were on the cusp of a 'Golden era' that would begin with the reclaiming of the Welsh Championship the following season. The original image was copied by photograph and the copy has sustained some damage in the years before it was archived. A second, digitally corrected version is also included here for clarity.
In 1897-98 the record was: Played: 32, Won: 24, Lost: 6, Drawn: 2. Points for:417, Against: 85.
Personnel: Back Row L to R: Harry Ball (Trainer), Livingstone Davies, Fred Scrine, Sam Rice, Tom Jackson, David Harries, Tom Harris, Hopkin Davies, W Bowen (Umpire).
2nd Row L to R:Aubrey Jones, Evan James, Frank Gordon, W J Bancroft (captain), Bob Thomas, Will Parker.
Front Row L to R: W J Trew, Dan Rees, George Davies, David James.
Keywords
1st xv, 1897-1898,
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