It's 'Go, Johnny! Go!' at Heywood Lane

It's 'Go, Johnny! Go!' At Heywood Lane

When Tenby United won the Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup at the end of last season no-one was more delighted than Johnny Palmer because the young prop had played in most of their matches during the season and really enjoys being part of the Seasiders' set-up. He also featured the previous season, where Tenby won Division Four (West) by winning 20 of their 22 matches.

Johnny is only 24 years old and so is a relative youngster in the hurly burly of the front row after starting out with Pembroke but moving to Heywood Lane a while ago because he felt he wasn't getting enough time on the pitch with the Scarlets. So he joined Tenby and was made very welcome by coaches Emori Katalau and Arthur Maulio-Martino, playing alongside the likes of Geoff Martin, Nicky Guymer and Rob Clarke in the front row.

Memorable Moments

The 2010/11 season was certainly memorable because the Seasiders lost their opening match of the season and then won 20 of their next 21 fixtures to secure the section silverware, gaining promotion to Division Three (West), where they held their own as well as winning the KO Cup. In that time Johnny didn't score a single try but has the answer:

“You can't make them for others and score yourself,” he says with a chuckle, “and I made lots!”
The Seasiders certainly went in to the 2011/12 final at Cardigan as underdogs against Aberystwyth, who were playing in a section above Tenby, but a hat-trick of tries by pacy young winger Simon Stanford in the first 15 minutes put Tenby on the front foot and they were never really in danger of missing out after that as they went on to win 23-14.
“We enjoyed that match,” said Johnny, with his gift for understatement!

Early start

He started his rugby for Pembroke as a nine year old, when his dad Dafydd took him up to Crickmarren, and with mum Olwyn have been his best supporters ever since – whilst brother Matthew (26) also plays for Tenby in their second XV. There is also another rugby connection because his uncle Stuart played second row for Pembroke and Wales Youth.

Johnny played all his junior rugby at Pembroke up to the age of 16 and then took a year out and played football for Monkton Swifts and Lawrenny, where he played wide on the left flank because he was the only left-footer in both teams. But then he returned to the oval-ball game and helped Pembroke win the Pembrokeshire Youth Cup Final by beating Aberystwyth at Pembroke Dock.

Other sports

Johnny also used to play cricket for Hundleton and if you ask him what his speciality was he would say,
“I was a slash and dash batsman who also bowled a bit!”

He can back this up with a top score of 38 not out in only four overs – and a best bowling analysis of 3 for 16.
He is also a keen member of South Pembs Young Framers' Club in what little spare time has left and plays rugby for them in local competitions.

New season – new challenges

So now the new season has started at Heywood Lane and Johnny has enjoyed his pre-season training with new coaches Gareth Thomas and Mark Heywood. This campaign takes the Seasiders into a new division and they know that they will play some tough teams. But Johnny is still very young in propping terms so we are sure he has a lot more to offer yet.
“I am really enjoying my playing for Tenby and at the moment I am just happy building up experience and developing skills,” he told us.

So we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wish Johnny Palmer continued success at Heywood Lane in his tough position, and we are confident we are going to hear lots more about him in the forthcoming season and for many years to come!