Fred Mathias

{{Short description|Welsh cricketer}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name =

| country = England

| fullname = Frederick William Mathias

| nickname = Freddie

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1898|8|7|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Abercynon, Glamorgan, Wales

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1955|4|19|1898|8|7|df=yes}}

| death_place = Radyr, Glamorgan, Wales

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off spin

| role =

| club1 = Wales

| year1 = 1926

| clubnumber1 =

| club2 = Glamorgan

| year2 = 1922–1930

| clubnumber2 =

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 29

| runs1 = 522

| bat avg1 = 12.42

| 100s/50s1 = –/2

| top score1 = 65

| deliveries1 = 175

| wickets1 = 3

| bowl avg1 = 42.00

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = 2/23

| catches/stumpings1 = 8/–

| date = 19 June

| year = 2012

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16941.html Cricinfo

}}

Frederick William Mathias MC (7 August 1898 – 19 April 1955) was a Welsh cricketer. Mathias was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm off spin. He was born at Abercynon, Glamorgan, and was educated at Clifton College."Clifton College Register" Muirhead, J.A.O. p337: Bristol; J.W Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society; April, 1948

Mathias served during World War I with the Royal Flying Corps, entering service in 1916 with the temporary rank of 2nd Lieutenant.{{London Gazette |issue=29722 |date=22 August 1916 |supp=y |page=8383 }} By 1918, he was a temporary Captain. It was in 1918 that he was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty". Mathias had flown in several successful engagements, doing considerable damage. He had also completed a number of successful reconnaissance flights.{{London Gazette |issue=30901 |date=13 September 1918 |supp=y |page=10985 }} Following the war he was placed in the Welsh Regiment, relinquishing his appointment on 15 February 1920.{{London Gazette |issue=31786 |date=17 February 1920 |supp=y |page=2031 }} After leaving the armed forced he attended Caius College, Cambridge.

Mathias made his first-class debut for Glamorgan against Nottinghamshire at Cardiff Arms Park in the 1922 County Championship. He made 27 further first-class appearances for the county, the last of which came against Oxford University at the University Parks in 1930.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4529/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Fred Mathias|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=19 June 2012}} In his 28 matches for Glamorgan, he scored 457 runs at an average of 11.14, with a high score of 58.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4529/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Fred Mathias|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=19 June 2012}} This was his only half century for Glamorgan and came against Hampshire in 1929.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/13/13102.html|title=Hampshire v Glamorgan, 1929 County Championship|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=19 June 2012}} He also made a single first-class appearance for Wales against Ireland in 1926 at Ormeau Cricket Ground, Belfast. Winning the toss and batting first, Ireland made 299 all out, during which Mathias bowled seven wicketless overs. Wales responded in their first-innings by making 455/8 declared, with Mathias scoring 65 runs before he was dismissed by Gustavus Kelly. Ireland were then dismissed in their second-innings for 266, with Mathias taking the wickets of Albert Anderson and Robert Bowers, to finish with figures of 2/23 from 7.1 overs. The match ended as a draw.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/11/11938.html|title=Ireland v Wales, 1926|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=19 June 2012}}

Outside of cricket he worked as a stockbroker, but also worked at Cardiff Docks. He died at Radyr, Glamorgan, on 19 April 1955. His granddaughter, Tania Mathias, became a member of parliament.