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‘Jack’s’ just the job
at the Bridge Meadow
Gareth Elliott joined Haverfordwest a couple of years ago when he moved into the area and in the short time since he has endeared himself to the Bridge Meadow faithful and been chosen by club manager Derek Brazil as club captain.
This is recognition from the management team who appreciate his committed approach as he plays at the heart of the defence, never afraid to tackle his heart out or win long balls in the air, whilst the supporters love the way that he shows total commitment on the field and a willingness to chat to them off the field afterwards.
As manager Brazil said,
“I chose him to skipper the team because I knew he would lead by example since he believes in the same standards that I do, carries things out on the pitch to the very best of his ability and is looked up to by the rest of the players because he is a very good player and reads a game well. Selecting him as skipper was the best decision I have made so far at the club.”
Gareth is known to all at the Bridge Meadow Stadium as ‘Jack’ and some believe his nickname comes from the fact that he originally hailed from Swansea but this is not the case. When he was a young lad of 12 in Fochrhiw, near Bargoed, he was chosen to attend the Football Association of Wales Development squad which trained at Treforest, near Pontypridd, where former top player Tommy Hutchinson was the coach and dubbed him as ‘Jack’, a name that has stuck with him through until now.
Gareth played for Pontlottyn Juniors when he set out in the game and, apart from his debut, when he ran around like a headless chicken as a winger, has been a central defender ever since, apart from a short spell when he joined the Bluebirds first and he slotted in at right back. He represented the Rhymney Valley Schools’ team from under 11 to under 16 age groups and at 15 he joined the Cardiff City School of Excellence run by Gavin Tate and then by Colin Pascoe, playing at the heart of the defence alongside James Collins, the current Welsh international who plays at West Ham. Ask Gareth about support he has received and he would be quick to name his mum and dad, Susan and Neil Elliott.
“They have been great and I could never thank them enough,” says Gareth. “When I was playing for Norwich City Juniors there was loads of travel and they never grumbled on the long trips to play for the Canaries in competitions.”
But Gareth was unable to gain a place with a top side and so at 17 he joined Merthyr Tydfil under the management of Keith Walker at Penydarren Park, playing for the Martyrs in the Dr Martens League alongside Lee Baddeley and Gareth Abraham but having his progress hampered by a broken collar bone and a broken leg.
“The collar bone was the worse injury because I had just been called up for the Welsh Under 19 squad and Merthyr were playing at Waterlooville, near Southampton, when an opponent fell on me, with the ball already out of play. I knew my shoulder had gone straight away, it was agony – and after the match I had a trip back on the team bus of almost five hours!”
“From there it was Barry Town I joined in their last season in the Welsh Premier before I helped Grange Quins gain promotion to the top echelon of Welsh football from their base at the Leckwith Stadium, near Ninian Park, Cardiff.. But then my girl-friend, Rebecca, moved with her work to Pembrokeshire and I decided to join her since I had enjoyed a short spell on loan at Haverfordwest just after recovering from my broken leg at Merthyr,” he said.
“So I joined the Bluebirds in 2005 and it was the best move I have made because I really enjoy playing there with a great group of lads. I set off with Deryn Brace and now have Derek Brazil as the ‘Gaffer’, assisted by Marc Evans and Micky Ellis.”
It seems the respect is mutual because Gareth rates Derek highly, although he says that the rich Irish brogue of his boss isn’t always easy to understand in the pre-match talks when he gets excited!
Gareth has taken his captaincy responsibilities seriously again this campaign:
“Last season I only missed one match, and that was for suspension. There’s a great bunch of lads around me, with Neil Thomas, Terry Evans and Tom Ramuset supplying the experience alongside excellent local players like Jack Christopher, Nicky Woodrow, Bobby Briers and Craig George.
As well as respect for Derek Brazil he is also full of praise for the club directors like Rob Summons and David Hughes, who run the club so well.
It seems that the feeling is mutual because Mr Summons, a man of few words, says,
“‘Jack’ Elliott is a credit to the club with his attitude. He has been a cracking skipper and was a good choice by Derek Brazil for the job. Long may he continue to lead by example because as well as being a very good footballer he is a smashing lad. He is respected by the players and very popular with our supporters because he always has time for them.”
Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk could pay Gareth Elliott no higher compliment than that and long may this 26 year old continue to play at the Bridge Meadow Stadium!
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