page revision date : 30th June 2010
Roy helps create footballing history
A little piece of Pembrokeshire Footballing history was made at the Bridge Meadow Stadium recently when the Senior Cup Final saw Goodwick United beat Merlins Bridge in a final which was refereed by Roy Boswell, with his brothers Dean and Alan as his assistants.
It certainly attracted attention from the media because there can surely never have been a final before where three brothers were in charge – and it is unlikely that it will ever happen again anywhere in the country.
Roy has been involved in cricket since he was a nipper in Johnston and says he will never forget his special day out.
“I was thrilled when league sec Brian Hawkins phoned me to ask me what I was doing on the 17th April because he had a match for me – which was every Pembrokeshire ref’s dream of the Senior Cup Final.
“It got even better when I discovered that both Dean and Alan were to be my assistants – what a final treble!”
Special day out
The special day soon came around and Roy had to work in the morning, having some help from fellow postmen in Milford Haven to complete his round early so that he was home by 10am, had a cup of tea with wife Julie, easily his best supporter, checked again that he had everything before being picked up by Alan and whisked off to meet Dean and over 20 other refs for a pre-match brunch at The Friars, in Haverfordwest.
“I ate surprisingly well and wasn’t really nervous until Brian (Hawkins) came in to the changing room to say they were ready for the pre-match presentations” said Roy, “and once the game started I was fine – although I couldn’t believe how quickly it went.
“I had to book three players and give two penalties but the players were very good in accepting decisions and the crowd was good as well, so it was a great day to be involved.
“It was a great family day because Julie, our children Craig and Jade, plus Dyan and Dawn, who are my brothers’ wives, were also there. My elder son Jamie couldn’t join us because of work but everyone else helped to make it a great day.
“We had a few drinks with the players before we enjoyed ourselves in town and when Julie picked me up at 10pm I was ready to go home!”
Fitting reward – and key injuries
It was fitting reward for someone who has always been 100% in his involvement with football, from the time he started out with Johnston as an 11 year old. He played there, with an under 16 runners-up medal, before a short spell with Merlins Bridge – when they beat Goodwick in a fore-runner of his ref’s final. He also missed out on a Senior Cup winners’ medal with Johnston when a Chris Walters tackle in the training the week before the final left him unable to play! But he was thrilled to be involved at that time because they had great players like Wally, Richard and Steve James, Gary Stephens, Micky Algieri and big John Codd.
He also missed out on a Second Division Final as referee in unusual circumstances because the Boswell boys all played in a friendly to help charity and got injured. They had gone along expecting to officiate but all three were roped in to play: Roy went in goal and saved an Adam Morgan ‘special’ but broke his wrist and big brother Dean reffed the final in his place!
No favourites for Roy
He took up reffing when he had knee trouble at 32, having taken the course a few seasons before – with his first match being Hook versus St Florence, when he had to calm down brother Dean, who was playing for Hook. He also showed that he has no favourites because he booked son Jamie and one of his best pals in Peter James, to show that he wouldn’t take any messing about!
So what of the future for Roy? We asked the question and feel that his answer sums up perfectly what he is about:
