Details

Glyn Matthews wore this vest when he competed in competitions for Roath Harriers.  Founded in 1882, Roath Harriers was the first athletic club in Wales which focused on athletics and did not include any other sports.  In 1968 they joined with Birchgrove Harriers and became Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club.

The Roath Harrriers colours were chocolate and gold so this vest would have originally been brown in colour.

Glyn tells us: “When I was in Canton High one of the teachers, Watson, thought I was quite good at Athletics so said I should join the Roath Harriers.  I lived in Virgil Street, Grangetown and would cycle to the club.  I joined in the 1940s and wore the vest from then. 

The cross county course started at the bottom of Penylan Hill, you would run up the hill and turn right into the cross country course.  This was before the houses were built at the base of Cyncoed.  We would then run over the fields for half the distance, past Morgans Tea Gardens then along the road and be back to the bottom of Penylan Hill.  It was 7 miles altogether.  On Saturdays I would run competitively and during the week I would train by running around Roath Park.”