St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future
Seven
Transcript:
This is part seven in the eleven part audio trail on David ‘Dai’ Samuel. This object, a silver pocket watch, is closely related to the previous item, a mantle clock awarded to William ‘Billy’ Bowen, through a Public Testimonial fund. Only captain Billy Bowen received the large mantle clock, some of the other players receiving one of these silver pocket watches.
Dai Samuel likely would have received one such timepiece, just like the one now on display at St Helen’s. This particular object was awarded to forward Harry Bevan, an engraving within confirming as such. The familiar engraving reads: ‘Swansea Football Club Premier Welsh Team 1890-91: Harry Bevan, Forward.’ Undoubtedly, with exception to the name, both Samuel brothers would have received identical gifts. Where the Samuel brother’s watches ended up however is unknown, the remaining items in the family’s possession having now been shared with the St Helen’s Archive, and now with you.
The pocket watch’s case itself is made of silver, which contains a white dial with roman numerals. It has a subsidiary seconds dial. The goldsmith is named on the object as X (Xaver) Ganz, a German watchmaker who established his own business in Swansea in 1854.
Leaving the 1890-91 season behind, and moving forwards to the following season of 1891-92, the story of the Samuel brothers at Swansea RFC changes. The brothers did begin the season, playing nine games each, but by November they were absent. It was rumoured that they had asked for payment to play – a move which would have professionalised them and had them suspended. Later interviews reveal this not to have been true. It is likely that Dai and Jack simply could not afford the time to play. Both worked in the tinplate works at Cwmbwrla, hard manual labour that would see them easily replaced by others should they have not turned up.
Without the Samuel brothers, captain Billy Bowen, in his final season as captain, was not able to replicate the successes of the previous two campaigns. The Cambrian Newspaper tied the lack of success to the ‘retirement’ of the ‘brother’s Sams’ along with Ned Charles and how the forwards had been ‘worsted’ and how Swansea RFC as a whole was in need of ‘good honest scrummagers’. Dai and Jack Samuel did not play again that season, despite having been originally selected for the Welsh Trial match in December.
Despite the Cambrian’s concerns, 1891-92 was not the final season for the ‘brother’s Sams’. Both would go on to play one more season for Swansea, along with a further international game and for the new innovation of a county side.
Please don’t forget to click next to follow on to the few parts remaining in this trail.