From Chris Peregrine, South Wales Evening Post 19th Dec 2014:
A sporting competition dating back 81 years ids facing the end of the road. Swansea Central cricket league has been going since 1933 but a fall off of clubs means the last ball may already have been bowled.
Unless new clubs come forward soon, officials are set to reluctantly pull the plug on the Saturday league. A resue initiative has been launched and they are calling on teams currently involved on only friendlies to consider signing up. The officials are also continuing to talk to Cricket Wales, the governing body in Wales, in an effort to save the day. A January 31st deadline has been set by which time an influx of fresh blood is needed to make the league viable. It is down to five teams, Tower, Waunarlwydd, Dunvant Rugby Club, Bryn and Penygroes. In it’s heyday, there were 30 teams.
Ex Tower player and secretary Mike Durke has taken on the role of leading the recruitment drive to ensure it survives. “ We are down to five teams” he said. “ we are facing a cricket crisis in Swansea. We don’t want to play the same teams all the time”. He said young players were not coming through to replace the older ones who had played for years. “ We want to give young people in Swansea & surrounding areas a chance to play” he said. “ I don’t know if they would rather watch sport than run around or they would rather be on their computers. Some clubs have fallen by the wayside. Ten years ago we had three divisions of ten teams. We are all gutted. We are going to give it to the end of January and are asking old players to come along to us with ideas.We may consider changing the format of the game”. League Secretary John Hunt said: “ It’s sad if something doesn’t happen, the league will fold.”
Anyone who can help can email mikedurke@rocketmail.com or ring 07973417710