Cardiff Cavaliers Cricket Club

A Tribute to Cardiff Cavaliers Cricket Club in its 30^th Anniversary Season in 2008 & to mark the launch of our Official Club History

We’re 30 years of age! I say ‘we’ as this club is all of us and well done to everybody past and present - what an achievement! Deserved congratulations must go to everybody who has made this rare milestone possible, including the 200 plus players who have shown the Cavaliers spirit, and everyone who has played an often unsung, but priceless part ‘behind the scenes’, in helping to run this great club. Part of our anniversary celebrations is the launching of this on-line history – you can click here to find out about other special events planned for this year and we extend a warm welcome to old Cavaliers to join us.

We have had our share of memorable moments and, like all sports clubs both professional and strictly amateur, like ourselves, these have included many ‘highs’ and, of course, some ‘lows’ as well. However, as we embark upon celebrating this proud achievement, I would like to reflect, very briefly, on the past and look forward to the future.

The club began in 1978 as a group of employees from various Post Office sections in different parts of Cardiff. That group was small and often had to overcome challenging difficulties, such as finding money to pay for kit, raising a full team, trying to stay competitive and trying to maintain enthusiasm, often in the face of regular defeats, but all these difficult hurdles were overcome. Over the years we have ‘evolved’ to the point that we now have a top class website (which you can see for yourself), last season saw us ‘close our doors’ as we had nearly 40 paying members, competitive teams in both outdoor and indoor leagues, a new home ‘base’ at the Cathedral School, magnificently supported annual tours and dinners, and financial solvency.

However, it’s important not to neglect the efforts of the ‘boys from 1978’ and those who have come along since, to drive the club along its 30 year journey with, it must be said, some difficult times to survive. Therefore, an integral part of our anniversary celebrations is the launching of this History section which will ensure that all such efforts will, as far as possible, be permanently recorded and, above all, appreciated.   

Unfortunately, much of the first 12 years or so of the records were not kept but this has not deterred us from carrying out this important piece of work. 

Of course, the club must continue to look forward, and plan and prepare for the future. Tomorrow’s matches will become our future history so it’s our aim that this will be a ‘living document’. In the years to come we will look to improve and build upon this impressive collection of material.

In leading this project, we are indebted to Warwick Armstrong who took on this mammoth task on behalf of the club - its comprehensiveness and readable style stands comparison with those of many other clubs and societies. We salute also three of our founder members - Graeme Brown, Nigel Moore and yours truly - who have been involved since the start and who continue to play and support in whatever way we can.

Thanks also to those who have ransacked their lofts, turned out their drawers, trawled their photo albums and, perhaps most taxingly of all, scoured their memory banks to help him get us to this stage.

We hope you enjoy reading about the origins, traditions and milestones of the Cavaliers. Please feel free to comment on it, correct it, or add your own ‘lasting memories’ to help enrich the reader’s experience – we especially want to try and fill in some of the gaps from the late 1970s and the 1980s. Simply email us and we’ll get in touch.

Steve Davis

Chairman

20 March 2008