For any cricketer, the Ammanford Park in the South Wales is the most favorite of all grounds. This ground has fast and flat outfield, a clubhouse which has two balconies overlooking the park having trees, different kinds of flowers and shrubs. On this ground, public are curious to watch a good class of cricket. Other than that, by 1900 hours every Saturday evening, one can smell the exotic cuisines which waft through the arena from the city’s three Indian restaurants.
The Ammanford Cricket Club, have enjoyed good sixteen consecutive seasons in the South Wales league in the top position and were even recognized as one of the most competitive leagues in Britain. Their first reported game was played at the Ammanford ground, before the town of Ammanford could be established. This place was then called as Cross Inn in the Llandybie parish and the game took place in 1853 in the month of July. This game was played over 2 innings between Cwmamman and Cross Inn.
So, cricket has been played since a century and a half at Ammanford ground. The inauguration of this club was in 1886, with the centenary celebrated in 1975. The first secretary of this club was Councilor David Jones of High Street, with treasurer being Hywel Rees. It was also an irony that the first match was played against the Cwmamman team and the present Chairman, Wyn Jones and Secretary, Neil Hobbs, both are Cwmamman residents.
Some of the players during that time were Jim Darbyshire, the Cooke brothers and Ernie Hewlett. The home of the Ammanford cricket is this park and the matches were previously played in 1882 in Tirydail on a field which was adjacent to Afon Llwchwr. This is the precise place where the present ground is situated. Arthur Morris was the captain during that period and he was even one of the principals of the Pontaman Chemical Works. His team included C.P. Lewis who had captained the Wales team in the second rugby international match played against the Ireland team. Moreover, Morris was also the man who founded the Ammanford Rugby Football Club in 1887.
The ultimate move to the park, which at the time was known as the Cross Inn Field, was made at the end of the century, during which, the team had a bowler named Huw Morris, who had the technique to bowl underhand. Moreover, the retired President of the club, Tom Handel Richards, was honored for his long dedicated service to the club. Tom had become the president of this club in 1979. Amongst earliest presidents, some of them include Lt. Col. W. N. Jones from Duffryn whose son Harold had captained the club team in the 1920s.
During the depression period of 1930s, J Owen Parry OBE, who kept the club solvent during the period of severe privation made his two cars available as transportation for the players. The first pavilion of the club was located where the present tennis courts are today. This site was always painted in the club’s color green and white.