Our History

1940's - 1960's

Season 1945-46 was an unofficial season but a full list of 42 fixtures was played.

Tom Phillips of Spring Gardens Gorseinon was later elected as Captain.
The first season after the war, 1946-47, with T.B. Bevan, chairman, W. Lang, secretary and W. John, treasurer, the club was captained by Mr. Pat Murphy, and although not enjoying a good season, record wise, at least the club had been re-established after six years of inactivity. One must be greatful to those people at the helm together with vice chairman Elvet Lewis, and J.R. Gale, D.L. Evans, W. Inkin, H. Harrison, Reg Skyrme, Dai Illtyd Williams and C. Moore of the committee.

A significant development in season 1948-49 was the establishment of a youth team to bridge the gap between school and senior rugby. Will Lang was ably supported by Mr. Hermas Evans. Mr. Will Lang had been very conscious of the void in Welsh rugby circles for teenagers whose schoolboy days were only just behind them. it speaks volumes for the club that Hermas Evans was elected secretary of the new Welsh Youth Rugby Union, a position he held until 1955. Later he was to serve as W.R.U. Representative from 1963 until 1982 and during his term of office he had the distinction of being Chairman of the International Board sitting with Mr. Danie Craven "Mr. South Africa" of Springbok rugby.

In the late 1940's a most illustrious character played for Gorseinon, namely Mr. Doug Jones who went on to play in the front row for Swansea for many seasons. he had two final trials for Wales and has always been regarded as very unfortunate not to be capped.

1950 saw change at the helm of the Gorseinon Rugby Club with the introduction as chairman, of Mr. Elvet Lewis who served the club as committeeman, vice chairman and chairman for 35 years, also Mr. Len Roberts a past player of the club who became treasurer and held the position for 28 years and is still an active life member.

As the years went on the club had some lean times on the playing field but in 1955 under the captaincy of Louis Gazzi they went to the semi-final of the W.W.R.U. cup at Swansea ground , St. Helen's against Seven Sister's only to lose in the replay 5-3

The following year they were again successful and reached the semi-final against Carmarthen after a marathon of replays with Penclawdd.

Gorseinon's most outstanding team during their history to date was that of 1962-63 which won the West Wales R.U Championship by beating Carmarthen at Stradey Park, Llanelli. Seven members of the team had played first class football at sometime or another and it was captained by Alan Jones who had played with Swansea and Neath. The era naturally is regarded as the most successful in the history of the club and several new records were established with wing Billy Sweetman scoring six tries against Abercrave. In season 1966-67 we saw the club playing in both semi-finals of the W.W.R.U. competitions, but losing to Pontarddulais in the Cup and Seven Sisters in the Championship.

Season 1969-70 heralded the re-introduction of a Youth team which had not been operating for nine years and many fine players were produced including three internationals:- Adrian Walters, John Morgan and John Madden with Malcolm Hedges reserve to the great Terry Homles in the 1974 Welsh Youth team.

As previously mentioned the Youth of 1969 produced internationals, but one player who bettered himself in later years was David Cole. he played for three seasons for Neath and captained the club in1980 and along with Alan Jones (brother of Lewis).