Micky's Pembrokeshire
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‘Chunky’ can certainly play a whole range of sports
First sporting love –and a match to rememberFootball has always been Anthony’s first sporting love, playing for Goodwick United’s under 12s when he was still in primary school, with Mike Robb and Bomber Hughes as the coaches. He went through with Goodwick in all the age groups, progressed to the seconds and then into the first team, where he has stayed for almost a decade, apart from one short spell when he switched to rugby. The undoubted highlight was winning the Senior Cup when they beat Merlins Bridge by 3-1 at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, with goals from Jay Brockway, Nigel Delaney and Kieran O’Brien. It was a great day out and Goodwick’s success for Anthony was made all the sweeter by dint of the fact that that he was adjudged man of the match and received the match ball, which was sponsored by Ocky White’s, as a memento from Chris Tansey, of Manderwood’s, who are the Pembrokeshire League’s main sponsors. It now takes pride of place in the Couzens’ household in a case specially made by his uncle, Alan Rees. |
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Short break with rugbyAnthony’s only break from football came when he switched from Phoenix Park just 50 metres across to The Moor and played rugby for Fishguard and Goodwick as a winger or centre who loved to run at the opposing three-quarters. “I am good pals with Simon James, Richard Hunter, Graham and Evan Davies,” he told us, “and my football was a bit stale so I changed codes. He was soon a regular in the first team and added, |
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“It was very physical and I enjoyed the tackling and chance to take on the opposition – although the rest of the boys still maintain that my passing needed lots more practice! “But the camaraderie was brilliant and I’m still happy to help out with the rugby whenever Goodwick don’t have a football match.”
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Other sports
Moving indoors, Anthony plays darts and pool and announced that he was also the proud owner of a maximum 147 break in snooker, but was chuckling as he admitted that this was achieved on a computer game, rather than on the green baize itself! He used to play a lot of darts for the Jubilee Hotel and the Coach House, but now plays more pool for the latter pub in the local league. They are currently joint top in the table and with team-mates of the calibre of Chris O’Sullivan, Mark Cole, Mike Jones, David Lawrence, Carl Brooks, Brian Kinsella and Tim Evans it is a competitive squad, to say the least!
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Football still first
“Bernie has worked us hard in training,” he said, “but it is down to us players once 2.30pm on a Saturday comes round and we just haven’t been consistent enough. It’s as simple as that.” “I still enjoy playing alongside the likes of Wayne O’Sullivan, Steve Blackford, James Dean, “with Bernie, Brian Morris and Alan Davies all working hard off the pitch. Some clubs would be delighted to be where we are but we know that we can do better and will put in even more effort to maintain the club’s proud name.”
Ask about opponents he respects and he says that there are loads but when pushed picks out Paul Jones, Kristan Bennett and Justin ‘Skinny’ Harding at Hakin United, Jay Brockway (Haverfordwest County) and Steve McNabney (Merlins Bridge) as a few who take some watching in his role as a defender. And finally . . .He’s joined at Phoenix Park by his brother Rob, who plays in midfield or up front, with dad Ian as his biggest fan at the ground and the member of the family who started with the nickname of ‘Chunky’. Mum Margaret is another great supporter and one highlighted by Anthony for all the ferrying around she did when he was a nipper! He is a big Aston Villa fan in the English Premier set-up and has been to Villa Park to watch a few times, and to the Liberty Stadium to watch Swansea City in the last couple of years. But it is Goodwick United that remains as his main sporting love. One only has to chat to Anthony ‘Chunky’ Couzens for a short while to see his genuine enthusiasm for Goodwick United in particular and love of sport in general – and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wishes this likeable young feller many more years of involvement! PHOTOS:Anthony Couzens playing for Goodwick United.Anthony Couzens receives the Senior Cup Final ball from Chris Tansey as reward for being man of the match.Anthony bowling fast for Fishguard.
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Anthony Couzens is known to his pals as ‘Chunky’ and could rightly claim to be one of the most active sportsmen in the Fishguard/Goodwick area because as well as playing for Goodwick United at Phoenix Park for almost a decade he has also played rugby and cricket for the twin towns, darts and pool at different times and golf at Newport Links – and all with a sense of fun that marks him out as a real sportsman.
His other main highlight was having his performances at the heart of Goodwick’s defence recognised when he received the double of ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ and ‘Manager’s Player of the Year’ in the same season when his team-mates decided he deserved their accolade and so did manager Bernie Armstrong.
Cricket capers
Anthony also enjoys his golf and for a while he was a regular at Newport Links with a handicap of 16. He still plays as often as his other sporting commitments allow with Jarred Gethin (handicap of three) and Tim Jones (scratch). He battles hard against both and although he receives lots of shots is quick to admit that it is hard going trying to beat either in match-play golf – but he enjoys the exercise and the superb scenery, nonetheless!
But it is football that remains Anthony’s favourite sport so it is natural that he is disappointed by the current season, where Goodwick United are already out of the West Wales and Senior Cups, and can only achieve a best of third place in the league table.
