Monkton Swifts Pen Pictures:
 
 
Taylor Gullam          
18       
Goalkeeper               
Apprentice plumber
 
Taylor has taken over between the sticks from Stuart James and established himself as a very good goalkeeper despite still being a teenager. He has previously played for Swansea City and Haverfordwest County Academy, works well with his back four and is an excellent shot stopper, as he proved with some good saves in the semi-final.
 






 
Gareth Finnegan      
21       
Right back                
Instrument technician apprentice
 
Gareth is a skilful player who can slot in a variety of positions, especially in midfield, but played at full back in the semi-final and caught the eye with solid defensive play and positional sense. He is very good on the ball and adept at passing out from the back, as well as moving up in support of front runners.
 
 




 
Ross Jones                 
20       
Centre back              
Welder
 
Plays with a maturity beyond his age in a challenging role and is improving all the time since he works so hard in training and listens to the coaches; advice. He is very quick over the ground and reads the game well so that he can plug gaps at the back, is very good in the air and  likes to pass the ball out of defence rather than hoof it upfield!
 
 






 
Jake Seaton               
26       
Centre Half               
Scaffolder
 
Played in the back four in the semi-final but equally useful in other roles if he is needed because of his all-round game that includes tackling and covering team mates well in pressure situations as another good reader of play. Strong in the tackle and good in aerial duels that make him a player to watch in the odd set-piece moves as a former striker who still loves to find the net.
 
 
 




Chris Richards         
32       
Left back                   
Scaffolder
 
The club captain and he certainly leads by example as he gets totally involved in all the team does. Reads the game really well from the back but not afraid to move forward if the chance arises – and in the semi-final caught the eye with some sweeping cross-field passed from his trusty left boot that set up several chances. A very good all-round player who can slot in anywhere!
 
 



 
Martyn Carroll        
28       
Midfielder                 
Instrument technician
 
 
One of the more experienced player in the squad who is a Monkton man through and through, and a key man in their midfield ‘diamond’ as he puts his high skill levels to good use, as he did with a spell at Haverfordwest County. He can play in any outfield position because he has all the necessary attributes like vision, strong tackling, pin-point passing. If he plays well then The Swifts tend to play well.
 
 







Jason Finnegan        
30       
Midfielder                 
Scaffolder
 
The older of the Finnegan brothers and a very good utility players as he can play full back - or in his semi-final position of midfield where he was so good at breaking up play and then using the ball to good effect. One of those players who quietly gets on with his own role but makes it easier for others to do theirs. He has a nice touch on the ball and not afraid to push forward if the chance arises!
 
 





 
 
 
Jamie Wilkes            
21       
Midfielder                 
Scaffolder
 
Another talented younger player who is getting better with every match as he plays in the midfield ‘diamond’ favoured by his coaches and gets on with the job as he puts his fitness to good effect in the ‘covers every blade of grass’ cliché. Previously played for the Haverfordwest County Academy and is always available to take passes – and use the ball well.
 
 






Declan Carroll          
29       
Midfielder                 
Electrician
 
Another quality player from the Carroll family who had a brief spell with Haverfordwest County and then played well at Carmarthen Town as a midfielder capable of scoring exceptional goals, as he did in the semi-final for The Swifts  where he gave his side the lead with a piece of clinical finishing and set up the other goal with his close control and superb final pass. He can beat opponents with ease and could be one to watch in the final.
 
 





 
Ben Steele                  
29       
Striker                       
Bricklayer                 
 
Quite rightly regarded as one of the best goal-grabbers in the county who has enjoyed previous success with Haverfordwest County, Hakin United and Carmarthen Town, where he played last season,  but now back on home territory. Very passionate about his game and his worked hard to use his high skill levels to their best effect – as he did in the semi-final as his run through the middle after a good ball by Declan Carroll saw his score a scorcher of a goal. Certainly one to watch in the final!
 
 
 




Dylan Davies             
25       
Striker                       
Valero worker
 
Joined The Swifts from Hundleton and has certainly made an impact with his ability to score goals as he has that innate sense of being in the right place at the right time. Not the biggest striker but is very quick off the mark and always alert to the half chance – and has the added asset of doing a lot of dog work and off-the-ball running for others to help set up chances. Another to watch out for with goals on the big day.
 
 
 







TJ Powell                  
27       
Midfielder                 
Welder/plater
 
From the well-known Powell footballing family in the south of the county and like those before him has an excellent footballing brain, with the ability to pop up in the right place at the right time. He is a very strong tackler and good in the air for his height, as well as being good on the ball and a useful passer.
 
 
 





Blake James              
29       
Striker                       
Welder/plater
 
His coaches compare Blake to a ‘Duracell Bunny’ with his high energy play and enjoying the action whether he plays in defence, midfield or on the flanks up front. He is a technically correct and skilful player as a bonus, strong in the tackle – and loves getting involved up front and grabbing goals!
 
 
 







Paul Miller                
24       
Midfielder                 
Valero worker
 
 
Very quick around the field and loves to win the ball and hammer his way forward to get his front runners into action. Naturally strong in the tackle and a very good club man who will play in any position he’s needed and give his usual 100%. Hugely respected by his coaches and  always ready for action.
 
 






 
Billy Abrahams        
24       
Right back                
Electrician
 
 
In his first season at Monkton Lane after moving down the road from Hundleton and beginning to make an impact with his quick reactions to the game and strength of tackling. An added bonus is the fact that he enjoys pushing forward in support of his front runners and was rewarded with a good goal when he played against Merlins Bridge
 
 


 



 
Luke Phillips             
29       
Left back/Centre half          
Carpenter
 
A very strong-tackling defender who loves to make an impact with his good passing skills out of defence. He is strong in the air and has excellent positional sense in whatever position he tales part. He is a born competitor and another who has been instrumental in the side’s season so far.
 
 





 Chris Lloyd               
53       
Manager                    
LBS Builders sales rep
           
‘Lloydy’ has earned a reputation as a very astute manager after a long spell as boss at Pennar Robins and then with Angle before joining Monkton Swifts at the start of this season and linking well with his old pal Stuart James. They have been compared as the Brian Clough and Peter Taylor of Monkton Lane but no-one is able to say for sure which is which of those characters! Played most of his own football as a centre half with Pennar Robins who had a no-nonsense approach with his strong tackling and aerial ability. ‘Lloyd’ has also done good work coaching with the Haverfordwest Academy set-up.
 
 
 


 

Stuart James             
38       
Manager                    
Ledwards project manager
 
Stuart played for many years as a goalkeeper with Pennar Robins and is still capable of playing first team football, as he has proved on a few occasions this season to prove he has lost none of his skills as a good shot-saver and someone who likes to take control of his penalty area. But now using his wealth of experience in the game as co-manager with The Swifts and helping develop talented young players alongside quality experienced players like Ben Steele and Declan Carroll.
 
 
 





James Russell           
29       
Assistant coach         
Welder/plater
 
James would be a certainty for the squad but has a knee injury which is keeping him out of the action but, good clubman that he is, he helps out the coaches in the background. For many years a top goal scorer but could also play anywhere with his high skill levels for a big lad, and clever reading of a game who is so good at bringing others into play. Fiercely competitive and must be desperate to miss out on a cup final.