St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

PH290

Photograph

Other

David Dow

1904-1905

Photographic postcard. Swansea 1st XV 1904-05 season. Sepia tied, with personnel listed, superimposed at base of image. Dimensions: w6" x h4" (w15.2cm x h9.9cm)

This is a posed photograph of the Swansea first fifteen of 1904-05 - the "Invincibles". This season was the culmination of a purple patch for the Swansea club, who had been Welsh Champions for five of the previous six seasons, being runners-up to Newport in 1902-03. In 1904-05 Swansea were unbeaten all season with a record of: played 33, won 29, drawn 4, lost none. Frank 'Genny' Gordon was captain for his third term after Will Parker had skippered the previous season. Swansea would not regain the Welsh Championship again until 1907-08. We know that the photograph was taken on 24th September 1904, prior to kick-off v Bridgend at St Helen's in the first competitive match of the season. This is evidenced through the presence of Tom Lancey, a wing three-quarter with the Parochial club, who had played for the District XV against Swansea's first fifteen the previous Saturday in the season's opener. Lancey played 8 matches for Swansea this season only. Only one was with the first fifteen, on this day. The other available record of the Swansea first fifteen is in the form of a collage and may also be found on this website (see PH094).

1904-1905, 1904-05, frank gordon, welsh champions, invincibles,