BANCROFT, WILLIAM JOHN (1871-1959), rugby player and cricketer;
b. 2 Mar. 1871, son of William Bancroft, Carmarthen Arms, Waterloo Street, Swansea, the eldest of 11 children. He plied his craft as a shoemaker. He was born in Carmarthen but was brought up in the shadow of Saint Helen's sports ground, Swansea. He played for the local youth team, the Excelsiors, before playing his first game for Swansea on 5 Oct. 1889. After only 17 games, and without a trial, he was chosen to play for Wales against Scotland in Feb. 1890 after the first choice, Tom England of Newport, was injured. Bancroft proceeded to gain 33 caps in consecutive matches between 1890 and 1901, a record which was not broken until 1954, by Ken Jones (Newport). He was an incomparable back with the keen eyes and sure hands of a professional cricketer; he spent long hours perfecting his kick, and it was his penalty drop-kick which won the match against England in 1893, when Wales gained the triple crown for the first time ever. He led Wales to its second crown in 1900. He was one of the first to be employed as a professional player by Glamorgan Cricket Club (founded in 1888) in 1895 at £2 per week. He d. 3 Mar. 1959 at Swansea.
His brother, JACK BANCROFT (1879-1942), was a notable back for Swansea and Wales, winning 13 caps between 1908 and 1912.
Bibliography:
- J.B.G. Thomas, Great rugger players (1959);
- David Smith and Gareth Williams, Fields of Praise (1980);
- J.H. Morgan, Glamorgan County Cricket (1952);
- S. Wales Evening Post and S. Wales Echo, 4 Mar. 1959.
Author:
Professor Gareth W. Williams, Aberystwyth
