Three Englishmen of Wales

CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket Podcast

In this episode we speak to three Englishmen who have made their home in Wales and have played most if not all of their adult cricket here, representing Wales in their Seniors Teams at Over 50s, Over 60s and Over 70s levels.

Mick Staddon was born in Battersea and played most of his early cricket on Clapham Common, playing for Belleville Junior Boys and later attending Battersea Grammar School. The school can boast two England players amongst their old boys, Mike Selvey and David Smith.

Mick’s time at the school was sandwiched between them both. He attended Swansea University from 1968 to 1972, training as a teacher and stayed on in Wales after completing his studies. After some persuasion from the legendary Bill Edwards, he turned out for Swansea under the captaincy of Hywel Lewis.

The club returned to the South Wales Cricket Association First Division in 1976 when Rodney Ontong was the club professional. Mick captained Swansea for two seasons between 1980 and 1982 and vividly remembers the 1981 Welsh Cup Final when Swansea played Ammanford Cricket Club and were beaten by the third division side who were inspired by the phenomenon that was Linton Lewis.

Mick finally finished Saturday cricket aged 60 and has loved his Seniors cricket, giving him the chance to extend his career and loving the camaraderie between the players.

Mike Turner learnt his cricket first at Dorchester Grammar School and a minor public school in the West Country. He then played at University and in Oxfordshire before moving to Wales in 1972. He first played village cricket before being recruited by Lampeter Town Cricket Club for whom he played for over 20 years.

After an invitation to play for Llandysul Cricket Club he played for them for 17 seasons, playing his final league game against Maesteg in 2019. Mike believes he is, currently, the oldest player to play in the South Wales Premier League at 73, although this may be a record that will be broken by Ron Walton who may return to top flight cricket with Merthyr Tydfil Cricket Club. He is now the first team manager at Llandysul.

Peter Bettelly spent his formative years in the East Midlands and although he loved the game he did not play his first proper game of cricket until he started a working life in South Africa where he spent 4 years in and around Cape Town.

He moved to West Wales in the 1980s where he played for Cardigan Cricket Club in the West Wales Cricket Conference for 20 years. He started his seniors cricket career aged 40 and has played for all the Seniors age grades from Over 50s to, currently, the Over 70s.

He remembers playing a charity game in his native South Notts and bowling to Brian Clough and sharing a dressing room with Derek Randall.

All three guests talk about their cricketing lives and the joy they have experienced playing the game at all levels.