When the Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League team travelled to take on their counterparts from the Neath and District League recently one of the talented players in Gary Dawes' team was 23 year old Bradley Barrett, who plays locally for Hakin United after previously turning out for several other clubs.
 
Bradley played at left back and clearly enjoyed his county senior debut as he formed a formidable back four alongside Goodwick's twin centre halves Wayne O'Sullivan and Scott Delaney, plus team captain Steve 'Squashy' Allen.
 
"We worked well with goalkeeper Patrick Hannon (Neyland) and I was delighted we managed to keep a clean sheet," said Bradley, "as my Hakin team mate Ben Steele scored what turned out to the vital only goal of the match.
 
“I was delighted to keep my place against the Swansea League in Garden Village and again we won by a single goal to win the SB Williams Cup for Pembrokeshire.
 
"I'd heard a lot about Gary Dawes as a manager and it was he who phoned me to ask if I was available, which of course I was.
 
"Gary, Steve Briers and Ian Baker were really well organised, and although Gary shouted advice to me a couple of times I learned a massive amount from the experience and hopefully I'll get other games with him in the future!"
 
Those victories were the start of a good period in football for Bradley because on the Saturday he turned out in the same position for Hakin United in their top of the table clash with Merlins Bridge at The Obs.
 
"We won 4-1 against one of my old teams and completed the double, after beating them 5-3 earlier in the season at The Racecourse, – and seven days later we won 2-1 at Goodwick as another huge plus for the club, so we are on target for winning the league and although we were disappointed to lose in the Senior Cup semi-final we will keep aiming to win the league.”
 
Coincidentally, it was at Merlins Bridge where Bradley set out as an eight year old in their age-group squad that included Gregg Walters and Joe George, and was coached by his father Denny, who played as a central midfielder for a few local clubs.
 
"My brother Jamie was a British gymnastics champion at under 14 level and played football for Johnston but twice broke his leg in matches last season, whilst my sister Denni was also a player at one stage.
 
"My mother Susan has been a brilliant help and a great taxi driver for me, and I have also had great support from my other sister Katie.
 
“Gregg and I regularly scored upwards of 50 goals a season and the real highlight for us as kids came when we went to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to play in the Welsh Final against Swansea, where we lost 2-1 - but although disappointed we were thrilled to play at such a famous place.
 
"I also played for the county team run so well by Angie Nicholls and Gavin Scotcher, whose son Elliott was a very good player, and we played in the Tom Yeoman Shield, which meant travelling all over Wales and then finishing up in Aberystwyth.
 
The Bridge didn't have a team after under 13 and so I played three years with Haverfordwest County alongside Gregg Walters and Julian Walters as we came runners up to Tenby in the junior leagues.
 
"Playing senior football at the Bridge Meadow was a big step up but it helped to play alongside players of the quality of Gethin Roberts, Dai Davies, Craig George and James Manson as the late Derek Roberts and Jonathan George did a great job as our managers.
 
"I made my debut against Hundleton and scored the only goal of the match but sadly the second team was disbanded and I joined the likes of Jamie and Lee Palmer, Scott Crawford and the rest at West Dragons, where we won the Third Division and completed the double by beating Broad Haven 3-2 in the section final at Monkton Lane after trailing early on.
 
"From there I rejoined Merlins Bridge, who were managed by Matthew Price because I was living there and knew the likes of Steve McNabney, plus Nathan, Peter and Simon Thomas - and marked my debut in a 5-2 win over Hakin United in the Jubilee Cup with two goals.
 
“I also played for Haverfordwest County under 19s in the McWhirter League and our strong squad came third a couple of times with players of the calibre of Joe Brill, Ben Steele, Gregg Walters and Liam Fawcett.
 
"We were managed by Steve Batty and Colin Fawcett and we were very lucky to have this pair of top coaches looking after us so well - and it was Steve who converted me from playing up front to slotting in at left back because I trusted him to make the right decisions and although there is nothing like scoring goals a really do enjoy my new role."
 
It seems the admiration is mutual because Steve Batty told us,
"Bradley Barrett is a talented player who is not only strong in the air and a very solid tackler but a good distributor of the ball who can push forward in support of his front runners.
 
"We were sorry to see him go but it is to his credit that if he doesn't have a game and we are playing he pops along to help with the pre-match warm-ups, as he did by working with goalkeeper Sam Franklyn prior to our recent win over Risca United.
 
When Bradley became too old to feature regularly for the Young Bluebirds he had a season under Christian Griffiths at Johnston and although it wasn't the best start for The Tigers they kept battling away and eventually clawed their way out of the danger zone.
 
But before the start of this season, however, he was invited to join Hakin United under new coach Kristan Bennett and after giving it some thought decided it was a good move and has had no regrets whatsoever about making the switch.
 
"Kristan has settled us in really well as a unit and I am enjoying the battle for places that keeps us all on our toes in a squad that has a real mix of very experienced and young players who enjoy each other’s company and stick together on the pitch."
 
Chat to Bradley Barrett for a short while and his enthusiasm for football is both apparent and sustained - and although he has had several clubs he is well thought of wherever he has been and long may he continue to be involved in Pembrokeshire league and representative football because he is a credit to both!