Dean keps running for the Robins

Dean keeps running for the Robins

Dean Driscoll is now 37 years of age but still plays in midfield for Pennar Robins with the enthusiasm of someone half his age, after other stints with Milford United in the Welsh League and a spell with Monkton Swift where they won four league titles in a row in the Manderwood's Pembrokeshire Football League.

He also has three winners' medals in the four Senior Cup Finals he played in - and the memories of a badly broken right leg in one of them which those watching might say was the worst they have ever seen on Pembrokeshire's big day, but more of that later. Dean is one of the more popular players with opposing sides because although he is a real battler on the pitch he shows respect for the opposition and is as nice a feller as you could meet off it

Rugby damage and an early Robins' start

As a youngster he represented the county schools' rugby team alongside Darren Gilbert, Mark Boswell and Colin Burton, but he sustained his first broken right leg at 14 when he got twisted in a tackle and knew that the leg was damaged straight away. He decided to play football when he recovered and when he turned up to ask Micky Marchant about a youth team at Pennar Robins they decided to start a third team and Dean was soon installed in the midfield.

By the end of the campaign he was doing so well that he played the last game in the firsts, against a very strong Fishguard Sports, and was a regular in the firsts alongside Albert Butland, Wayne Williams and a young Peter Jennings after that, with Harry Hangar and Jimmy Anderson as managers.

County selection and mixed feelings

He was chosen for the County Youth team run by John Deason and an undoubted highlight came when he joined the likes of Mark Delaney, Martin Griffiths, Darren John and Jonathan Hicks in a Manchester United tournament against Oldham Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk.

Mark went on to great things at Aston Villa and Dean returned to Bush Camp and had his first taste of Senior Cup success in 1997 when the Robins beat Goodwick 1-0 in the final at Marble Hall, where the team was managed by Bobby Bell and Jimmy Anderson, with Peter Jennings scoring the only goal of a hard match. They had played nine league matches in the three previous weeks, with players of the calibre of 'Weaver' Callan, Pat McQuillan, Mark Ashman, Darren Shaw and Dai Patterson overcoming that hurdle to get within a point of the league title with two matches left. But the bubble burst as they lost 2-1 at St Ishmaels in the week and defeat at Hakin on the Saturday gave the Vikings the league crown and condemned Dean & Co to the runners-up spot!

From Pennar Robins to the Milford United 'Robins'

Dean moved to play at Marble Hall for Milford United after his pals Darren Shaw and Dai Patterson had signed for them, and the trio enjoyed helping managers Mike Lewis and Peter Fearn into the top flight of the Welsh League. But sadly things fell apart and Messrs Driscoll, Shaw and Patterson were the last to leave because they didn't want to offend George Davies, the lovely club president.

Mixed memories at Monkton Lane

He went back to Bush Camp but found it hard to settle back and so switched just up the road to Monkton Lane where Benno Jones was managing the Swifts. It was the start of a very successful time for the Swifts as they won their quartet of league titles but in 2004 their hopes of the double disappeared at the Bridge Meadow Stadium when they lost 2-0 to Merlins Bridge as Nico Algieri scored both goals. Even worse for Dean was the fact that he broke his leg in the first half.

“It was awful as I heard it crack in a straightforward tackle,” said Dean, “and before I hit the ground the pain was unbearable. I knew it was broken and it seemed to take for ever before the ambulance came. I just lay there in agony and could still take you to the exact spot because it was so memorable for all the wrong reasons.”

The rehab for Dean was long and painful but he came through it with typical grit and in 2007 he returned with the Swifts to play in the final against Herbrandston.

“It was 1-all at full time as Steve Davies got our goal and my moment of glory came in extra time when I picked a loose ball up, switched it to my left foot and drove it towards the goal. I can still see it going into the net past Martin Langdon and he still tells me it was a lucky goal – but it was a nice reward after my previous final.”

Back to Bush Camp – and another medal

Dean returned to Pennar Robins at the end of that 2007 season because he wanted to finish his playing days at Bush Camp and in the very next campaign was back at the Bridge Meadow again for the senior cup final – against Monkton Swifts!

“It was quite strange to be playing against some of my old team mates but we won 2-0 as Lee Brockway and Wayne Brunton scored our goals and although there were a few mixed feelings it was nice to have my third winners' medal in the bag.”

Dean managed the Robins' first team last season but he is a shift worker and found it hard sometimes to make training – so James Probert took over and Dean has helped out by playing wherever he is needed.

“Jimmy has done a good job and I am happy to turn out where I am needed. It is harder now in the first team and I ache for the two days afterwards, so perhaps after this season I can help with our other teams. I had a run-out with the thirds recently and it was nice to enjoy a game played at a bit slower pace.

Solid base at Bush Camp

“We are lucky to have Jimmy Anderson as chairman and Alison Lewis as a great secretary alongside the long-serving Derek Hillier, with the likes of Chrissie Lloyd and Gavin Southcott also heavily involved. Pennar Robins is a great club and I just want to see them doing well.  I was lucky as a youngster to come under the influence of Frank Donovan and I will never forget the encouragement provided by that great man.”

And there's no doubting the fact that to that list of names who are influential people at Bush Camp then you can add that of Dean Driscoll because he really is a credit to the club – and to Pembrokeshire Football in general!

PHOTOS:
Dean Driscoll
Dean in action for the Robins
Dean (back row, 5th left) as a key part of the Pennar Robins team