Jim Pressdee

In 1949 Jim Pressdee became the club`s youngest player in post-war cricket by making his first-class debut for the county in 1949 against Nottinghamshire at Cardiff Arms Park aged 16 years and 59 days. He was also a talented schoolboy footballer, winning Welsh youth caps as well as playing for Swansea Town, but cricket was his favourite game, and Pressdee opted to be a professional cricketer.

He subsequently developed into a clever left arm spinner and an aggressive batsman, who in the late 1950`s moved up the order to number three. He responded with a maiden century against India at the Arms Park, with one six and 15 four. He continued to be a heavy run scorer in the 1960`s, hitting 1,892 runs in 1961, and a career best 1911 runs in 1962. But whilst his batting went from strength to strength, Pressdee lost confidence as a spinner, and only regained his self-belief after bowling in South Africa during the winter months. Between 1959 and 1962, he had claimed just five wickets, but Pressdee returned to form with avengeance during 1963, and his 104 wickets allowed him to complete the Double.

In 1965 Pressdee claimed a career-best 9-43 against Yorkshire at Swansea, but this was a season when he had many run-ins with the county`s administrators. By the end of the summer, Pressdee had had enough, and his career with the Welsh county came to an abrupt end as he decided to emigrate to South Africa. He continued to play in South Africa for North-East Transvaal until 1969/70, and in the 1980`s he returned to the U.K. where he captained the Glamorgan Colts side in the South Wales Cricket Association. (Compiled by Andrew Hignell - June 2000)