Royston Gabe-Jones

Roy Gabe-Jones became the youngest county cricketer in the 20th century when he made his County Championship debut against Leicestershire at Cardiff Arms Park in 1922 aged just 15 years and 9 months. The schoolboy had a fine debut, showing great spirit with the bat, and being a livewire in the field. Gabe-Jones came from a sporting family, with his father having played for Glamorgan back in the 1890s. Gabe-Jones inherited his fathers passion for sport, and shone on the games field at Blundell`s School in Tiverton, playing rugby and cricket for his school. Each summer, he returned to South Wales, and during the summer holidays of 1922, was playing as usual for Clydach Vale CC with only dreams of playing county cricket. Yet after a string of good scores, he was included in a Glamorgan Colts game in early August, and his steady batting and outstanding fielding impressed the watching county selectors. They were keen to improve the fielding of their team, many of whom were on the wrong side of 30, so when several players dropped out of the squad for the Leicestershire match, Gabe-Jones was drafted in to make a remarkable debut. The schoolboy made a stubborn 6* against the Leicestershire bowlers, watchfully defending his stumps, and helping Glamorgan side to secure a draw. His ground fielding also drew praise, yet despite such a fine debut, this was remarkably his only first-class appearance. He continued to play in club cricket and for the county's 2nd XI, but the county selectors never turned to Gabe-Jones again at Championship level. After leading the Blundell's 1st XI, and attending Cambridge University, Gabe-Jones went into business in Cardiff and played rugby for Cardiff R.F.C.
Andrew Hignell