Wilfred Wooller

[Muteswan]

Born on this day 1912 in Rhos on Sea,

Wilf Wooller, who is acclaimed as one of the greatest all-round sportsmen that Wales has ever produced.

Wooller won his first Welsh rugby cap while still a pupil at Rydal School in Colwyn Bay and played his last game of county cricket for Glamorgan aged nearly 50. In between he scored a hat-trick for Cardiff City F.C, represented his country at squash and served as an England cricket test selector. Wooller's achievements over four decades were remarkable, considering that he also spent years as a prisoner of war at the Changi camp in Singapore, during World War II.

He spent 36 years as secretary and then president of Glamorgan County Cricket Club. He reported on rugby and cricket for a London newspaper and presented the BBC's Welsh Sports Parade programme in the 1960s.

Additionally, he played in Wales' first rugby win over England at Twickenham in 1933 and captained Glamorgan to its first County Championship in 1948. In December 1935 he also contributed to one of only three Welsh wins over the All Blacks.

(The History of Wales)

 

[leighton]

Great man, of his times. Amazing life story. Tony Lewis told some good tales about him in his book.

Imagine (say) Gareth Bale spending 4 yrs in a POW camp? The mind boggles.

 

[Muteswan]

Great commentator too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZUVL3SqqZo

“It’s gone , way down to Swansea...”

 

[TheLoneRanger]

Hell of a sportsman, but a very, very hard man - in body and attitude.

I remember him commentating on a Glamorgan Sunday League match, and Glamorgan were fielding. The ball was hit along the ground to Glamorgan fast bowler AA Jones, fielding on the boundary. He bent down, legs wide apart to pick up the ball, and it rolled through his legs for a 4.

Wooler said live on tv, "We are AA Jones' 4th county, field like that again and he'll be playing for his 5th!!"