Cricket Witness No 3 - The Daffodil Blooms

85 The Wooller Way a mighty successful career on today’s great innings.” If Allan still held any self-doubts about a career as a professional cricketer, these were blown away by this innings at the Arms Park and the heartfelt show of support from his friends and former coaches. A few weeks later, he agreed professional terms with Glamorgan for 1947, even though he was technically still under contract with Plymouth Argyle. But Allan had made his mind up that cricket came before football and when, during the Spring of 1947, the Chairman of the Plymouth club told him that the season had been extended and that he had to continue playing football, he replied “Not bloody likely. I’m going to Wales. I’m playing my cricket!” 4 Having walked away from a professional football career, the all- rounder went on to enjoy an outstanding first full summer with Glamorgan. He struck four further centuries with 146 against Northamptonshire at Kettering followed by 111 as Worcestershire visited Ebbw Vale. He then made 105 against Somerset at Weston- super-Mare, before posting yet another century against Surrey when the south London club visited the Arms Park. Besides excelling with the bat, and being a more than useful bowler, Allan also developed into a key member of the county’s fielding unit, standing at leg-slip alongside his good friend Phil Clift whilst Wilf stood at forward short-leg to complete a formidable gaggle of close catchers. Standing close to the wicket was a completely new experience for Allan who, given his athletic abilities, had previously been stationed in the outfield. But during one game on a rain-affected wicket, he was summoned into the leg-trap as Austin Matthews found great assistance bowling on the damp surface. After finding the inside-edge and seeing the ball lob up gently into the leg-side, the bowler turned to Wilf and said ‘I’d like to have a fielder there.’ The captain quickly looked around, caught Allan’s eye and motioned to him to move into leg-slip. It was in this position that he remained for much of the next decade. Remarkably, he had never received any tuition on close-catching, and at first largely relied on his instinct. Arnold Dyson, the veteran slip fielder and forward short-leg, however did offer a few words of guidance as Allan later recalled: “I remember taking a catch one day having gone a long way to my left. I was on the floor with the ball in my left hand and Arnold at forward short-leg said ‘How many times have I got to tell thee? Don’t anticipate!’” 5