Alun gets a flagAlun's an all-rounder at St Mary's Field

We always talk about football players and referees but it is good sometimes to remember that there are others who help make up a club – and mention their yeoman work in keeping that club workmanlike.

Take Fishguard Sports, where Alun Thomas is a classic example as he helps run the second string and will do anything else necessary at St Mary's Field, as he did when the Sports held their annual Eddie Merry Memorial Tournament – and Hakin United beat New Quay, from Cardiganshire in the final.

Not only was he involved but had to act as unofficial ball boy when the ball was kicked into some undergrowth beyond the touchline, which included some nasty-looking brambles. Alun temporarily 'borrowed' the corner flag, waded deep into the greenery and used the flag itself as a means of prising the ball away from some brambles before returning to terra firma.

He returned the flag to its rightful place and the spare ball was ready for use again before he got on with his other jobs. So well done Alun Thomas – and keep up the good work at St Mary's Field!

In the hedgerow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And gets the ball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography is definitely NOT Huw's forte!

What a picture!Huw Bevan is highly regarded for his coaching work at Clarbeston Road and rightly so because after finishing as a player he has been involved at all levels with the club and been a great supporter of ladies and disability football. But my mole at Clarbie tells me that there is no chance of him ever switching to be a sports photographer!

Huw's son Tom has done brilliantly to be included as a referee on the EUFA Development Group for Wales and one of his games at the end of last season was to be assistant ref for the Wales versus Poland under 17 girls international at Carmarthen Town. Naturally, Huw went along to give support and Tom asked dad to take a picture of the players and officials lined up prior to the start of the game as a nice memento.

Tom couldn't wait to see the photo at the end of the match, when all was revealed – Huw had stood at the wrong side of the pitch so was almost 60 metres away and only had a long-range snap of the rear ends of all involved.
Tom is still chuckling about it now – and it will be some time before he trusts his camera to Bevan Snr for a long while!


Dedicated dieting at Burton Cricket Club


Chris & SteveIf you should bump into Burton Cricket Club stalwarts Steve Jones, Chris Campbell and Graham Morris in the next few weeks you might think that they are looking a trifle thinner – and there is a good reason for it because the trio are on something of a competitive diet!

It seems they were chatting in the 'Jolly Sailor', where Chris is the popular mine host, when one of them was teased about his widening girth by the other two, and set up a chain of events which has seen all three reducing their food intake after an official weigh-in to verify their starting poundage.

It seems that the one who loses most weight up to the club's annual dinner will receive £25 from each of the other two and I'm sure he will donate the dosh to some worthwhile charity – and be sure that through our mole in Burton we will let you know what happens!

Graham Morris

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Craig ButlandWell done Craig at Imble Lane

Someone else who deserves a pat on the back is Craig Butland, a cricketing teenager at Pembroke Dock Cricket Club who plays senior cricket but also guided their youth team to the Ormond Youth Plate Final this season.

Craig was captain as the Dock got knocked out of the Ormond Cup itself but he rallied his troops, organised the transport to away games and even organised the supporters' bus for the final, which was played at Cresselly. He made sure that all the team looked superb for the big day and played their hearts out in defeat. It is clear that Pembroke Dock Cricket Club is in good hands with such an eager teenager as Craig Butland so heavily involved!


 

 

 

 

 

Bernie with bassBernie's bass are top notch

Bernie Armstrong is best known as a goal scorer with Goodwick United, Merlins Bridge and a few other clubs and he's also one of Pembrokeshire's best table tennis players – but it seems that Bernardino has another sporting string to his bow.

Bernie is a dab hand at fishing in the sea around his home at Goodwick, judging the tides to perfection and knowing just where to get the bait, where to fish and at what time. This was shown recently to perfection when he just trotted down on to the quay at Goodwick, spent a couple of relaxing hours with rod and line, and returned to Armstrong Mansions with two lovely sea bass.

Nice guy that he is, Bernie gave one of the bass away and the other was nicely cooked by Mr Armstrong (another skill he has!).

I've just realised that I'm singing his praises – and he didn't even offer me a sniff of one!

 

Mark GeorgeWhich is our dressing room?

Staying in the Fishguard area for a moment longer, it seems that Mark George has had his leg pulled with Fishguard RFC and quite rightly so! Mark plays alongside twin brother Matthew and both were involved in the recent game against Bryncethin to celebrate the opening of the palatial new changing facilities at the Phoenix Centre – but was unavoidably late to the match. He rushed over to club chairman James Morgans and asked which changing room was being used by the Seagulls – and Mogs pointed him to the posh new glass door on which is engraved in six-inch high letters 'Home Changing Room'!

Mark quickly trotted over to get changed but has had his leg pulled since – so come on you Fishguard rugby players – it could have happened to anyone of you! (And they all chorus 'No, it could only happen to Mark George!')

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenny gets told off

One of the absolutely brilliant back-room workers at Haverfordwest County is Lenny Lewis, who is in his mid-70s but still does a tremendous job almost every day it is dry in tending to the splendid pitch at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.

No weed escapes Lenny's eye and he assists Rob Summons with the enthusiasm of a man half his age – but sadly blotted his copybook at a recent second-team match on the seconds' pitch.

The ball was rolling slowly towards the touchline but so eager was Lenny to help that he showed his footballing skills by putting his foot on the ball – a foot inside the field of play. A blast from the referee's whistle was followed by a little telling off for Mr Lewis, who had his leg pulled by those around him. But he took it with his usual good humour and certainly won't stop the ball again like that – and at 76 years young he was just too quick for his own good.