Adge John does a great job as regular scorer for Saundersfoot Cricket Club and it comes after many years as a good wicketkeeper/batsman at Kilgetty, where he set out as a nipper, followed by a few seasons at other nearby clubs.
 
In our chat with Adge we discovered, after almost 40 years of not knowing his real name, that he started out his life as ‘Anthony’ but was given his nickname in his early days by a great character at Kingsmoor Cricket Ground named Billy Evans – and it stuck so well that even his mother called him ‘Adge’!
 

Early start to his scoring

 
His cricket scoring actually began many years ago when his older brother Mike used to score for Kilgetty when they played at Merrixton Farm – but sometimes had to leave at 5pm – so Adge, who had gone along as a supporter, had to take over the scorebook.
 
And when skipper Teddy George, another lovely character at the club, sometimes had to go to work at roughly the same time on other occasions then it was Adge who inevitably came on to field!
 
“I just loved being involved,” he told us, “and as I got a bit older I played alongside terrific characters like Billy Evans, Wallace Poole, Graham Jenkins and Barry Wood. I also had one season with Pembroke Dock, four years at Narberth and then at Saundersfoot, all of which I enjoyed in different ways.
 
“I was classed as a wicketkeeper/batsman in those days but to be honest I never thought much of my prowess behind the stumps but I did manage to score a few half centuries and had a top score of 91 for Kilgetty at Haverfordwest.
 

Other sports

 
As well as his cricket, Adge was also a more than useful goalkeeper as he stood between the sticks for Kilgetty, Narberth and New Hedges/Saundersfoot at different times.
The undoubted highlight came when he played for New Hedges/Saundersfoot and they beat a very strong Johnston side 2-0 in the Senior Cup Final, and he also coached the second team and assistant manager of the firsts and then chairman for seven years.
 
He also played rugby for Cwm, near Ebbw Vale, and Abercarn when his work took him to Newport.
“My friends now might be surprised to learn I played at full back in the Gwent Valley League and I quickly learned that you had to be able to stand up for yourself in the fights that seemed to break out in most games,” he added with a chuckle!
 

Back to the cricket and joining the scorers union

 
“When I finished playing cricket my wife Libby and I were living in Saundersfoot and when my old friend Phil Jones asked me to score for them I was reluctant because by then I was having trouble with my eyesight.
 
“My peripheral vision had almost gone and I thought I might make a fool of myself but Libby encouraged me to give it a try and I have to say the other scorers have been amazing in helping me, without ever making me feel embarrassed in any way.
 
In fact, Teagan Cartwright, one of the younger scorers who does a great job with Cresselly Firsts saved him from serious illness, or perhaps even worse.
 
“I also suffer from Type One Diabetes and during the match she noticed that I had drifted off into a hypo caused by dangerously low sugar levels and acted very quickly, calling for help but also feeding me loads of jelly babies to force my sugar levels back up before help arrived.
 
“She was so calm and reassuring and I was delighted to send her some flowers as a ‘thank you’!
 

Saundersfoot highlights

 
Ask Adge about highlights with Saundersfoot and he would nominate being involved as scorer when they won The Alan Brown Cup at Whitland as they beat Llechryd – and he chuckled as he told us it was the equivalent of winning the Harrison-Allen Bowl for clubs in the lower divisions!
 
On the subject of The Bowl another memorable moment came last season when they reached the semi-final before losing to Lawrenny – but it also ranks as one of his major disappointments because Saundersfoot had chances during the game to reach their first final!
 
“Another big moment last season was when we beat champions Neyland on their own patch because it showed our players that when they play to their full capacity they are capable of living with the best in the county.
 
“We have a great bunch of players and I’m lucky that James Caine, one of the stars of the side, always picks me up for matches, home and away, because I can’t drive any more.”
 

And finally . . .

 
Adge is very philosophical about his deteriorating eyesight but still hopes to carry on for a spell yet – but it is good to report that canine help is on the way.
 
He has been in training to be provided with a guide dog and after undergoing specific training went through the initial process in April before everything was shut down.
 
But now he has heard that he has been allocated a two-year old black labrador named ‘Benji’, which is sure to help him in future years – and we wish Adge every success and happiness because he really represents all that is good in Pembrokeshire Cricket and Pembrokeshire Sport!