David James, who played for Glamorgan in their Championship winning year in 1948, has died at Margam on February 22nd, nine days short of his 81st birthday.

Born in Briton Ferry, James had an illustrious career in club cricket in the Neath area. He played with distinction both for Briton Ferry Town and Briton Ferry Steel, but like so many of his generation, his best years as a young cricketer were lost to the War. Under different circumstances, the young all-rounder might have won a place on the county`s staff.

However, in 1948 the right handed batsman and seam bowler was called into the county side for the match with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, and he marked his one and only first-class appearance by scoring 17 and taking 1-59.

Despite an outstanding record in the local leagues, James was never called up again by the county`s selectors, but he remained very proud of his achievement – especially as 1948 was the year that Glamorgan became County Champions for the first time in their history – and he was a regular attender at the county`s Former Players meeting.

His father, Edward Hugh James, had also played for Glamorgan in their earliest years in Championship cricket, with the left-arm spinner appearing in seven games between 1920 and 1922.

© Glamorgan CCC