St.Helen’s Balconiers

The Society was founded at the end of August 1972 by a small group of Glamorgan Members who generally sat in a corner of the original pavilion balcony, hence the title "Balconiers". It was during Glamorgan Championship fixture against Northamptonshire that the Society was formed as a result of a superb hard hitting opening partnership of 330 by Alan Jones (105) and Roy Fredericks(228 not out – at the time a first wicket record for the club, and the highest partnership by any pair in the County Championship during the 1972 season.

Our small group were so impressed by this achievement that they went to Wilf Wooller (Glamorgan's Secretary at the time) and asked him if they could get some buckets together and make a collection in appreciation of this superb opening partnership. Permission was granted and from that very day the Balconiers were established.

This Association was initially formed to donate a monetary award for a Glamorgan "Man of the Match" at games held at St. Helen’s in Swansea. Membership was initially small with funds for player awards being raised through raffles, coffee mornings, dinners, barbecues etc.

In the early years control of the Society remained with the founder members who were known as "Elders". This was abandoned in 1983 by the formation of a more democratically based Committee. In 1972 membership fee was 50p, then in 1993 it was increased to £2 per annum and it was kept at this level for the past 15 years, However at the 2007 AGM it was passed to increase the Membership fee to £5 per annum from Season 2008.

The organisation of Away Game Tours was commenced by John Williams in the early 1970s. Their popularity is such that anything up to 8 major away visits are now arranged every season and these trips are currently titled as "Daffodil Cricket Tours". In the last 35 years the Balconiers have created the opportunity for Glamorgan Members to support their team all over the Country which otherwise would not be the case.

Over the seasons funding methods have irrevocably changed because it was realised that the same small -scale money raising events could not go on for ever. Up to the early 1980's the Beer Bar and Tea Bar on the ground at St. Helen's was run by a gentleman by the name of Fred Jenkins and the building for this purpose was known to everybody as "Fred's Shed". After Fred had passed away the Balconiers Committee realised the potential for raising funds by taking over "Fred's Bar" during Glamorgan Matches at St. Helen's.

Our Society has always been fortunate to have an excellent group of Volunteers who have run both Bars and provided top quality food and drink at reasonable prices for the past 25 years! Every penny profit from the Bars goes back to Glamorgan Cricket in one form or other.

In the past 10 years the Balconiers have taken on a new role in leading a campaign to ensure that it is financially viable for Glamorgan to continue playing first class cricket at St Helen's.

Our small but hard working Committee have raised over £175k+ in the last 10 years to ensure that first class cricket continues to be played in the West. Please come and support us at this year's 5-day festival when Glamorgan play Northamptonshire in the LV County Championship commencing May 21st, followed on May 25th by the game between Glamorgan and Worcestershire in the Friends Provident Trophy. There are still Sponsorship and Hospitality packages available, anyone interested should contact Clive Hemp(01792-201354) or myself John Williams(07973-479613).

Finally, it is very much worth your while to join the BALCONIERS, it only cost just £5 per annum! Remember every penny we raise goes back to Glamorgan. In addition to the £175k+ we've raised to keep first class cricket in Swansea the Balconiers over the years have:

1. Helped finance the development of Glamorgan Young Cricketers abroad by contributing towards their air fares ,which we did last winter when eight of our players went to India.
   
   
2. We have totally finance and organised an end of season Players Presentation Evening for the past 30 years. This involves donating Trophies to players for performances of outstanding merit during the season.
   
   
3. Have given financial support to all Glamorgan Players Benefits from the very beginning and similarly we look forward to support our Captain David Hemp in his benefit year this season.
   
   
4. We have in the last 10 years totally financed the Marketing, Promoting and other Pre-Festival on-costs involved in setting up Festival Cricket at Swansea, this in addition to the donation we make to Glamorgan at the end of the season.

Daffodil Tours – 2008 (.PDF download)

Daffodil Tours – booking form (.PDF download)

Useful Contacts

John Williams(Chairman) for Daffodil Cricket Tours(remember there's a welcome for you to join us at the Hotels even if you don't live in South Wales) and other general Balconiers' matters. john.balconiers@hotmail.com Tel: 01792-414333 Mob: 07973-479613.

Ann Voisey(Vice-Chairman) for Membership Tel: 01792-203296.

Clive Hemp(Treasurer) for Sponsorship and Hospitality, clivehemp@aol.com Tel: 01792-201354.