Fond farewells to popular cricketer Gareth Rigden

Tributes have been paid to an experienced North Wales cricketer who has passed away.

Gareth Rigden was best known for his successes as an all-rounder with Llangollen Cricket Club, but also had spells with Corwen and, very briefly, Chirk.

For most of his career, Gareth turned out for Llangollen.

He captained the club’s first team through some of their most successful periods in recent years which included promotion to Division 1 of the North Wales Cricket League in 2005. They spent four seasons at that level.

After a few quieter years, in 2015, the Tower Field club were back in the limelight after being crowned Division Three champions.

Gareth scored 337 runs and took 28 wickets in that title-winning campaign, with a best score of 75 and top bowling of 6-12, his finest figures for the club (his stats on Play Cricket date back to 2006).

In 2012, he hit a career best 149 not out versus Mochdre Seconds.

His final season for Llangollen was 2019.

Gareth signed for Corwen in 2022 to tremendous effect, taking a career finest 8-12 that season in a win at Dolgellau seconds that sealed promotion.

Corwen were Division Four champions that campaign and then this year, with Gareth again involved, they claimed the Division Three title.

Llangollen Cricket Club published a tribute to Gareth on social media.

It read: “Former players and others associated with Llangollen Cricket Club wish to send their sincerest condolences to the family of Gareth Rigden, who sadly passed away in the last few days.

“Gareth or ‘Riggers’ as he was affectionately known was a key figure at the club for many years. Gareth captained the club’s first team through some of their most successful periods in recent years culminating in promotion to Division 1 of the North Wales Cricket League. 

“Promotion to Division 1 saw a youth team established at the club and despite the club not currently fielding a team there is little doubt that the youth team enabled the club to continue to be competitive and developed players who still play in North Wales and beyond.

“Gareth was a fine cricketer often opening both the batting and the bowling.

“Gareth was a fierce competitor on the pitch (not many catches were dropped off Gareth’s bowling!) but a gentleman off it.

“The club are delighted that Gareth continued to play cricket up to and including the summer just gone with our friends at Corwen Cricket Club. We know that Gareth had a huge impact there too.

“The photo (accompanying this tribute) was taken on 29th August 2015, a day where the first team travelled to Bangor requiring victory to cement their position as champions of Division 3.

“In true Riggers fashion, he scored a fantastic 75 runs in the first innings and took 4 wickets for only 18 runs in the second. A match winning performance.

“We will all miss Gareth very much and are extremely grateful for his friendship over the years.”