Micky's Pembrokeshire
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Danny takes a walk down ‘Memory Lane’
There was a real walk down ‘Memory Lane’ for former Pembrokeshire League football referee Danny Thomas when he visited the Bridge Meadow Stadium recently because his home town team Taffs Well were there to play Haverfordwest County in the Welsh League Division One.For those whose geography is a little lacking (Ben Stone of Radio Pembrokeshire thought it was in Mid Wales!), Taffs Well is situated on the A470 between Cardiff and Pontypridd, with the village’s football ground, called Rhiwdda, nestling in the shadow of the lovely Castell Coch, which can be prominently viewed from the M4 as one approaches Cardiff.
Strong-running striker – and Manorbier founder member
They were very strong in the South Wales Amateur League for many years and during his younger days, Danny played as a strong-running striker in a team that also included his brother Roger as a hard-tackling centre half. They changed in the local church hall in those days and washed in an old tin bath!Then work as a plumber brought Danny to Pembrokeshire and it is where he has been settled for many years with his much better half June, his son Darren and his family. Danny started out as a striker at Manorbier, where he helped start the team, and Monkton Swifts, but was injured in a game at Angle before taking up the whistle as long ago as the late 1970s, like most others after talking to local league sec Eddie Oliver.
Good communicator and Third Musketeer!
He quickly earned a reputation as a very good referee with the ability to communicate with players in their own language so that there was no confusion between them about what he wanted! He was a regular as a referee on the Welsh League circuit as he became known as one of the ‘Three Pembrokeshire Musketeers’ alongside Pedr McMullen and Graham Shepherd, with stories about their trips up the line forming part of local football legend!During his time in the middle, Danny took charge of most of the local cup competition’s finals, with pride of place going to the Senior Cup Final and the West Wales Cup Final on the old Vetch Field in Swansea. He has always been an active member of the Pembrokeshire Referees’ Society, representing them on the West Wales Referees’ Society and as chairman and president, a role he is still proud to hold today. He has also been a very good assessor of referees, with his ability to communicate in a positive vein, but has stepped down from that important role of late.
Memories re-lived
Danny was hoping to meet Taffs Well’s Hon Treasurer Don James, who was celebrating his 80th birthday on the Saturday, but Don was unable to travel, although Danny did meet the current Hon Secretary Norma Samuel and a few old-timers from the club who could remember him being there almost 50 years ago, so he must have made something of an impact.Danny took with him his treasured picture of the Taffs Well team from the 60s – and was delighted by the result of the match, where Taffs Well beat Haverfordwest County by 4-3!
Photos
Danny looking out over the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.
Danny Thomas (Standing 2nd right) in the Taffs Well team of 1963.
