page revision date : 1st October 2008
Dave Laugharne - a busy man at 79 years young
It would be hard to find anyone in Pembrokeshire Sport who derives more pleasure from their off-field involvement than Dave Laugharne, who was fixture secretary for the juniors at Merlins Bridge and then Haverfordwest County AFC for more than a decade - and is still busy doing a lot of work for junior football at the Bridge Meadow after the juniors moved there two seasons ago.What is amazing is the fact that Dave is now 79 years young and never misses a training session or weekend matches, taking the cash at midweek sessions and generally doing things that need to be done.
Small wonder then that another stalwart in Trevor Morgans said of Dave,
“He is a remarkable man who has the energy and enthusiasm of someone 20 years his junior. We know how much work he does, the kids think the world of him and we love him being involved with us.”
Up until recently Dave was even busier because he organised all the Saturday matches, checking with referees and opposing teams, plus liaising with club coaches so that everything goes smoothly despite having so many different age categories.
What kids don’t know
What those kids don’t know is that Dave was no mean footballer in his day, playing for Narberth in a Senior Cup Final and representing Pembrokeshire against the Combined Services. What Dave regrets is that there was no real organised football for children in those dim and distant days around the Second World War and much of his early play took place in impromptu matches on the old school pitch near Coronation Avenue in Prendergast.
But then came the end of the war he joined real characters like Johnnie and Posh Harries, Alec Thomas, Harold Griffiths, Dai Smith, Ernie Cowley and Freddie Codd in a team which played in Summer Cup competitions all over the north of the county. The last three had played Welsh League for Haverfordwest County before the war but they looked after 16 year old Dave as they were very successful at these competitions and were often supported by two bus loads of supporters.
Prendergast Villa founder member
Dave was then a founder member of Prendergast Villa alongside Gordon Thomas (Snr), Cecil Williams and Llewellyn James – and when he joined the army he played for his battalion alongside Ray Daniels (Arsenal) and Arthur Proudler (Aston Villa) as well as for Hazelmere Athletic and Camberley in the Surrey League.
He returned to Haverfordwest and played for the County for a while but was then asked to join Narberth by Ernie Hoyland, their player/coach. He enjoyed six very happy years there and picked up a league runners’ up medal as well as a Senior Cup losers’ medal after going down by 1-0 to Goodwick United at the old Bridge Meadow, losing key striker Ernie Hoyland after only ten minutes and having to play the rest of the match with ten players (no subs in those days!).
1955 saw him play for Pembrokeshire with Billy Jewels and Colin Davies, whilst Emil Pruscha was a colourful keeper who twice saved a penalty in a match, both conceded by Dave, who bought the custodian a pint after the match!
Steve starts him off
Work commitments meant that Dave had no time to travel to matches at Jesse Road but he eventually started out with his football coaching when Steve Thomas coaxed him into helping at Merlins Bridge, where he took over from another great club man in Roy Patterson as the main administrator.
He has been involved ever since, helping in the move to the Bridge Meadow two seasons ago when the junior section took up residence, and have access to the fine facilities there. He is every bit as enthusiastic as he ever was and really enjoys giving something back to a sport he clearly loves – and there is no doubt that Haverfordwest County junior section is very lucky to have someone of his calibre and vast experience still involved as he approaches being an octogenarian but is more than willing to do all the little jobs necessary for his club’s success.
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