PHOTOS:
Official presentation party - Brian Hawkins, Gareth Williams, Phil Devonald, Chris Tansey, David Ollyott
Out they come for the big day
Chris Tansey meets the players
A relaxed set of match officials in their changing room
Five old timers from reffing - Danny Thomas, Graham Sheppard, Paul Jackson, Phil Gale and Pedr McMullen
The gutter press and referees
‘Record Gate’ and a smashing crowd
The cracking weather had crowds flocking to the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium to watch the Senior Cup Final and it is small wonder the Micky Phillips, Hon Treasurer of the Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League was delighted because he also predicted the scoreline exactly right on radio Pembrokeshire. He was joined on the gate by former treasurer Keith Scourfield who had his usual beaming smile as he gave out his traditional ‘record gate’ estimate! Well done also to the crowd for their good humour and respect for officials to complete a great day!
Good food – good eaters
Both teams wanted to make it a special day and enjoyed breakfast as teams. Tenby went to the Begelly Arms, where manager Mike Lewis told me his assistant Peter Fearn had the biggest breakfast. Merlins Bridge had some nosh at Caddies Cafe and it seems Ben Field enjoyed his more than most!
Refs tuck in, too
Referee Dean Boswell and his assistants Tom Bevan and Kevin Bowen were joined by fourth official Sean O’Connor, a number of other referees, some former players and even the press for their traditional lunch at The Friars. Phil Gale and Paul Jackson looked the smartest, whilst Chris Stapleton, as usual, showed his prowess with a knife and fork!
Phil travels on the cheap and old-timers gather
You would never look at Phil Gale and think he was a pensioner but he was delighted to use his free bus pass in on the 10.47am from Letterston, have a cup of coffee in Weatherspoons and then stroll across town to enjoy the company of his younger colleagues. It was also great to see other old-timers like Danny Thomas (refs’ chairman), Pedr McMullen (still running the line in Welsh League football), Graham Sheppard and Paul Jackson enjoying a pre-match yarn about the good old days of football! Only one’s forecast was wrong – but I won’t embarrass him by revealing his name!
Well done Deano
Congratulations to Dean Boswell for an excellent match in the middle, ably assisted by his young assistants. He was strong but firm, he gave clear signals for players and crowd to understand – and received praise from Ceri Richards, a former assistant ref for many years in the English Premier League. I’m sure twin brothers Roy and Alan were delighted for him – and now all three have officiated in a Senior Cup Final, which must be some sort of record!
Brian was in total control . . .
There was another great start to proceedings as Brian Hawkins, the Hon Secretary of the Manderwood Pembrokeshire League, led both teams, mascots and officials out onto the pitch to be introduced to special guests – and did a good job on the microphone in dealing with the post-match presentations.
. . . And produced a quality programme
Mr Hawkins had also worked well with Micky Phillips and printer Clive James in producing a very good match programme which had plenty of reading in it and was a nice memento for the players.
Surprised ‘Catts’ receives the match ball
As usual the match ball was sponsored by Mr Mark White, of Ocky White Travel Ltd, who was sadly unable to be present so Chris Tansey did the job – and picked the very-surprised Phil Cattlin as the winner ahead of some of his younger colleagues. ‘Catts’ looked surprised but at 32 showed he can still cut the mustard on a pitch where he used to play for Haverfordwest County.
Special trophy for Micky and Peter
There was also a nice trophy shared by the Tenby management team of Mike Lewis and Peter Fearn, who collected the Lilian Holman Memorial Trophy from Roy Holman, awarded annually in memory of his late wife.
Former players galore
Both teams had loads of former players in attendance, with too many to mention in their entirety but all meeting up and taking a walk down Memory Lane. Now I maintain that is the sort of thing that makes the Senior Cup a special day – and long may it continue!
I got it right!
Now I am regularly teased that I am supposedly the world’s worst tipster but the facts show I have had my share of successes. I actually tipped Tenby to win and so did Fraser Watson but the Western Telegraph sports’ editor Gordon Thomas, lovely bloke that he is, went for his old team Merlins Bridge! It’s nice to know you are not quite perfect GT!
Well done Sean!
On the subject of tipping, quite a few managers or officials got the team right but only Sean Hannon (Neyland) predicted the correct score. Well done Sean – not bad for a cricketer!
