SPORT IN GOWERTON.
The village of Gowerton has a proud history for the playing of sport. The Gower Road cricket club, one of the oldest in South Wales, was founded in 1880 by Sir John Roper Wright, a local benefactor who was instrumental in the development of the Elba steelworks and thus, in bringing the process of steelmaking to the village.
Those mortgage repayments were a significant financial burden on the three clubs between the mid-80s and mid-90s. However, the vision and hard work of the committee members of all three clubs at that time, secured the ground that the residents of Gowerton benefit from today.
Sir John was also a founder member of the rugby club in 1884 and at that time he purchased the lease of a parcel of land that today forms the majority of the Athletic Ground that is now home for the Bowls, Cricket and Rugby clubs.
Gowerton Bowls Club: The Bowls club was formed in 1912 and initially played in the Welsh Private Greens league. In the 1980s, with membership on the rise they were able to form a second team and that side joined the Llanelli league.
Tennis was established at the ground in 1899 and the Bowls club was founded 13 years later. The playing of tennis at the ground has since lapsed but the other clubs continue to provide the sporting opportunities for all ages within the community that the recent pandemic has helped us to realise are so important to our physical and mental well-being.
The pavilion built in the early days of the club was starting to show its age by the late 1980s and the club demolished it and constructed the building that serves as their home today.
Three members of the club have achieved the distinction of representing Wales: S. Hurley (1931-2), W.R. Davies The closure of the steelworks in 1965 meant that the owners, (1936-46) and Cliff Williams (1979-82). Richards, Thomas and Baldwins, who had secured the The club has received the fixtures for their two leagues, ground as a result of the rationalisation of steel in 1946, sold and they get underway in late April early May. the playing fields. At that time, the sports clubs were unable to afford the £5,000 purchase price and another local This year, matches will play under a modified format and businessman Arthur Roe purchased the ground and the will be 12-a-side rather than the traditional 16-a-side to sports clubs set up Gowerton Athletic club to oversee the allow them to comply with the COVID restrictions. management of the ground. The Chairman and captain of the club is Phil Davies and Arthur Roe decided to sell it in 1984 and the Athletic club Martin Symes is secretary. purchased it, at a cost of £60,000. A grant of £20,000 was received from the sports council of Wales and the balance of New players of any age or gender are always welcome £40,000 was raised by a mortgage from a local Brewery and and anyone interested in playing can contact Martin on tied to the barrelage output of the Rugby Club over a ten mobile: 07970 674 737 or email: martinsymes0@gyear period with the mortgage repayments being met by mail.com the three constituent clubs.
