Senior Cup Final Snippets

 
Cracking Final between best two teams in the county
Well done to both teams for producing a final that in general lived up to expectations – and to the majority of the supporters for treating match officials with respect!
 
Record gate say Mickie and Keith
We always joke with former Hon Treasurer Keith Scourfield about the size of the crowd and he joined with current ‘money man’ Mickie Phillips to be delighted by the turnout. There were perhaps 1,400 in attendance, including under 11s (free), senior citizens and under 16s for just £1. It wasn’t quite a ‘record crowd’ however because it was marginally beaten recently by Johnston versus West Dragons!

Referees meet for pre-match lunch
As usual the members of the Pembrokeshire Referees’ Society joined match ref Angus Scourfield for a pre-match lunch at The Friars in Haverfordwest. Angus had only a cheese and ham sandwich and a glass of water but assistants James Olyott and Charles Davies were seen tucking into their meals with relish!
 
Bluebirds do well
Well done to Haverfordwest County for its hosting of the final. As usual they had people busy all afternoon as stewards – and the pitch looked immaculate, despite the recent wet weather!
 
Brian’s on the Mend
Normally it is the Pembrokeshire League’s Hon Secretary Brian Hawkins who leads the teams out and does the post-match announcing at presentations but Brian has been ill recently and everyone will wish popular Milfordian a speedy recovery. He was at the match for the first half and then left, having enjoyed a chance to be back in the game he loves.
 
Match sponsored by Manderwood
Manderwood boss Chris Tansey led the teams and officials out, joined by David Olyott (president) and Rowena Lloyd (chairman). It is always a big occasion when the teams line up in front of the stand to be presented to the three of them.
 
Mark supplies the match ball
As usual, the match ball was sponsored by Mark White, of Ocky White Travel Ltd, and it has become a terrific tradition that the man of the match keeps the ball as a memento – and on this occasion it was Goodwick goal-grabber Rhys Dalling who pipped Hakin keeper James Manson to receive it from Mr Tansey!
 
 
Good advice from president Danny
Angus was pleased to receive an early-morning call from Danny Thomas, the president of the Referees’ Society, wishing Angus a good day and with special advice that included an order that Angus must enjoy what is a very special occasion for a ref because it normally only comes around once in their career. Well done Danny boy!
 
 
Whitland support – in Welsh
There were about 40 members of Angus’s family and friends who turned up to support him – and since the family is Welsh speaking those around the group might have wondered why there were people cheering him on yng Nghymraeg.
 
 
Nigel receives his second manager’s award
The winning manager also receives a special memento and this year it was Goodwick boss Nigel Delaney who received the Lillian Holman Memorial trophy, awarded by Royston Holman in memory of his late wife.

Goodwick United eat well at the Phoenix
The Goodwick team and officials met up at  The Phoenix and I’m reliably informed that Chris O’Sullivan beat pre-brunch favourite Adam Raymond in the eating stakes.
Adam and Anthony ‘Chunk’ Couzens won the pool competition – unsurprising because both are renowned hustlers on the green baize!
 
Hakin go for traditional approach . . .
Hakin went for their traditional approach of meeting up quietly at the clubhouse for a relax and a chat about the game, which has always worked brilliantly for The Vikings in the past.
 
. . . But have to leave Gary and ‘Possie’ behind!
But there was one minor hiccup as they left by minibus for Haverfordwest – because there was not enough room for them all and so manager Gary Dawes and coach Andrew Postlethwaite had to travel by taxi!
 
Goodwick look smart after the match . . .
Goodwick United arrived in casual dress for the final but afterwards they looked super-smart in grey suits, white shirts and a new club tie. The only one without a tie was manager Nigel Delaney – they had forgotten to give him one!
 
. . . And chairman Brian looked resplendent in his club pants!
Goodwick chairman Brian Morris, a great club man, was as smart as everyone else but, unbeknown to most onlookers, he also had on his special pair of pants which are not only in club colours but have the club badge embroidered on them! They were presented to him a few years ago and are a bit frayed now – but he keeps them for special days like this!
 
I was wrong – again!
OK. I admit it. I was wrong again!
I apologise to Hakin for tipping them but I had received a special request from my old pal Anthony ‘Chunk’ Couzens not to spoil his big day. I know I have the reputation of being a Jonah as far as finals are concerned but I would point out that I couldn’t really make up my mind because they really are such top teams and was ordered by Fraser Watson to make a choice. Next season I’m going to remain totally neutral!