**Cricket Legend Supports Swansea Club after Historic Relocation**
Swansea’s long-standing cricket community has received a boost from a distinguished figure in English cricket, as it faces a significant transition. Swansea Cricket Club, which has called the historic St Helen’s ground its home for a century and a half, is preparing to leave the iconic venue. The move comes as regional rugby outfit, the Ospreys, secure plans to redevelop and occupy the site, marking a pivotal shift in the city’s sporting landscape.
Former England wicket-keeper Jack Russell, well-known both for his prowess behind the stumps and his talent as a painter, has stepped forward to help the club during this challenging period. Russell, who enjoyed an illustrious international career between 1987 and 1998, spent many summers playing at St Helen’s with Gloucestershire and holds deep affection for the ground. On learning of the club’s impending departure, he decided to release 150 limited edition, hand-signed prints of his painting depicting the illustrious venue to assist with the club’s relocation expenses.
Mike Hayden, chairman of Swansea Cricket Club, welcomed the gesture, emphasizing its value during what is undoubtedly a bittersweet era. “Jack reached out at the start of the year. He was aware of the historical significance—our 150th anniversary at St Helen’s—and was saddened to hear it would be our final season there,” Hayden explained. The prints, each individually numbered and signed, are being sold to raise vital funds, with the first in the series promised a place of honour in the new clubhouse the club will soon call home.
St Helen’s, owned by Swansea Council, has a rich sporting legacy and has hosted county cricket clashes, including those featuring Glamorgan, up until 2019. Russell himself recounted fond memories of playing there, lauding the ground’s unique setting near the seafront and the longstanding hospitality extended by the local cricket community. He also recalled the ground’s cricketing history, referencing the legendary Garry Sobers’ achievement of hitting six sixes in one over in 1968—a record that remains a cherished part of St Helen’s story.
Despite the nostalgia attached to St Helen’s, Russell expressed optimism for the club’s future: “It’s a shame to see them move from such an historic location, but I am confident the club will prosper under good leadership at their new ground. They have a strong foundation, and the people involved are truly passionate.”
The relocation will see the club move to new premises off Sketty Lane, already home to Swansea Civil Service Cricket Club. Plans have been approved for new facilities, including changing rooms and a clubhouse, with Swansea Council offering financial backing. The two clubs are also exploring a formal merger, aiming to strengthen cricket provision in the city and ensure a smooth transition.
To bid farewell to St Helen’s, Swansea Cricket Club will host two special matches: a gathering of former and current players, and the final home fixture on 31 August—coincidentally, the anniversary of Malcolm Nash’s infamous six-ball encounter with Sobers. Beyond memorabilia sales, the club is preparing a crowd-funding campaign to supplement move-related costs, reflecting both the logistical and emotional challenges of uprooting from such a storied home.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys have submitted redevelopment plans aiming to transform St Helen’s into an 8,000-seat stadium, with hopes of playing their first matches there as early as December. Other local sporting institutions, including Swansea RFC and Swansea University, are expected to maintain access to the ground, even as Welsh rugby faces its own uncertainties with potential reductions in the number of professional teams.
In a final nod to the connections forged over decades, Mike Hayden shared that Jack Russell, who continues to keep in close contact, is expected to be a guest of honour at the opening of the new Sketty Lane clubhouse, projected for April. While leaving behind nearly 150 years of history at St Helen’s represents the end of an era, both determination and community spirit signal a fresh chapter for cricket in Swansea.