Cricket Witness No 5 - Whites on Green

25 Chapter Three The Bancrofts It was not just William Bancroft (senior) who played a leading role in establishing St. Helen’s as a fine sporting venue. His son William (junior) and grandson Billy went on to be major influences in both the summer and winter recreational activities at the Swansea ground. It was perhaps inevitable given the relationship between JTD and the Bancrofts that William Bancroft (junior) should continue the good name of the family in cricketing circles in South Wales, as well as further afield from his home in Swansea. His formative years were spent at the Bryn-y-Mor ground, playing for the Swansea Colts, and the town’s 1 st XI, in addition to being coached by his doting father who took much pleasure in passing on tips to his enthusiastic son. Indeed, at the age of sixteen – William (junior) was chosen to play for the Glamorganshire side against Carmarthenshire at The Gnoll in Neath in 1864. Any nerves that he may have had were quelled as his father was also in the Glamorgan side, along with several of his friends from the Swansea club, including JTD who had helped to assemble the side. A measure of the high regard JTD had for the schoolboy can be gauged from the fact that young Bancroft opened the batting with the Squire of Penllergaer – a man who was to play a major role in his adult life. The summer of 1868 was the first milestone in Bancroft’s playing career as that summer he recorded his inaugural half-century at county level, making 51 against Breconshire, besides appearing in the match at Bryn- y-Mor against the Australian Aborigines. He also showed prowess with the ball, taking eleven wickets in the county’s match in 1869 against Radnorshire. A bright future was therefore forecast for young Bancroft, but with his father still employed by the Swansea club, there were not any immediate openings in the Swansea area. Having completed his apprenticeship as a boot-maker, William (junior) could have focussed instead on this, but cricket was his love, and like his father before him, he realised that he could broaden his experience by moving away from the family home. With offers coming in from clubs over the border, the all-rounder decided to further his career by playing as a professional with Settle, Dunfermline, and Merchiston Castle. Despite these engagements in Northern England and Scotland, Bancroft regularly accepted invitations from JTD to play for the South Wales CC on their annual visits to London and the south-east. Despite having to make some long and tiring journeys by train, young Bancroft no doubt hoped that some decent performances at Lord’s and The Oval would help him secure lucrative offers from other clubs. But