Cricket

In April 1899 the Parks Committee received a request from two cricket clubs asking for a part of Llandaff Fields to be set aside for cricket. The request was rejected on the grounds that everyone had an equal right to use the Fields, and cricket was adequately provided for at Sophia Gardens and Cardiff Arms Park. This was overruled by the Council, which instructed that one field be allocated for cricket without granting exclusive use of it.

In February 1900 the Parks Committee instructed the Superintendent to prepare three cricket pitches on the field to the west of the footpath, but not in such a way as to "set apart a site for the exclusive use of any particular club".

In June 1904 the Parks Committee decided that twelve pitches be provided in Llandaff Fields, and also that between late March and early May each year, no other games were to be played in the areas set aside for cricket, so that the pitches could be prepared for the cricket season.

Practice pitches equipped with nets were provided in 1905. By April 1905 there were 12 match pitches and 3 practice pitches. The practice pitches were originally of turf but from 1907 coconut matting was used. In 1914 these practice pitches were laid with asphalt and the coconut matting was placed on top.

By May 1912 the general condition of cricket pitches was cause for concern and the Superintendent's report referred to holes for which the cricketers were to blame.

During the First World War a large percentage of various recreation grounds was converted to garden allotments and this especially applied to Llandaff Fields. The effect was to stop cricket, not only for the war period but also afterwards because it was not possible in a short space of time to restore the quality of turf essential for cricket.

In the 1920s two pitches were provided in the former sewage field which had been levelled by this time.

In 1930 five pitches were available in Llandaff Fields and these were the only ones provided in the Parks and Recreation Grounds. Eight clubs applied for use of pitches in that season and 76 matches were played.

Sources of Information

In general, the information in this section is taken from A. A. Pettigrew, The Public Parks and Recreation Grounds of Cardiff, Volume 3, chapter on Cricket.