Hakin United - West Wales Cup Champions

Belated congratulations to Scott Davies and his talented Hakin United squad as they can now boast of being not only the Pembrokeshire League Senior Cup winners but have proved themselves as the top team across our county, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath after winning the West Wales Cup against Tenby at the swansea.com Stadium.

It also allows The Vikings to lay strong claims to being the county’s most successful team since their proud record since 1945/46 reads:

Division One Champs - 20

Division One Runners-up- 13

Senior Cup Winners – 13

Senior Cup Runners-up 13

West Wales Intermediate Cup Winners – 4

West Wales Intermediate Cup Runners-up 2

West Wales Senior Cup Runners-up - 1

This all-Pembrokeshire final emphasized the success from our county because as well as these two teams, Monkton Swifts also reached the last four before bowing out to The Seasiders at The Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium - and The Vikings played a stormer at Stebonheath Park, Llanelli, as they beat a very experienced Swansea team in St Josephs in a tense last-four match where they kept their nerve and their huge crowd of travelling supporters cheered a late cracker of a goal from Leon Luby that saw them reach their second West Wales Final in three years.

They came second in the league to Goodwick United but showed their commitment in the Senior Cup by beating their old rivals 3-0 in the quarter finals and then a strong Pennar Robins’ outfit 4-1 before and an all-Milford Haven Final saw them beat a gritty Milford United by 2-0.

Beat four West Wales Premier League clubs in run to the final

In the West Wales Cup they showed their pedigree because in their five-match run-up to the final, four of their opponents were in the much-vaunted West Wales Premier League, which is supposedly a step up for clubs in West Wales Football.

But Hakin showed they are no respecters of reputations because after a bye in the first round they beat West End 2-0 (Cameron Thomas and Liam Parks) at The Obs and then took on Clydach Sports at home from the top echelon of the Swansea Senior League and thrashed them 13-0 as Jack Britton (5), Liam Parks (3), Jordan Kilby, Jack Griffiths, Kieran King, Justin Harding and Morgan Dolling got on the scoresheet.

Next up was Seaside, another premier team, and on this occasion there were goals by Ashley Bevan, Shane Wilson, Jack Britton and Jack Griffiths before they were on the road to take on Dafen Welfare (Premier League) and came away with a hard-fought 3-1 thanks to Ryan Wilson, Liam Parks and Jack Britton being on target.

Ask manager Scott Davies for the toughest tussle and he would nominate the semi-final, not only for it being such an important day for the club but because of the quality and immense experience of the opposition.

Followed their winning format for the big day

“We decided from the outset that were going to follow the same format as every other match,’ Scott told us, “so we all met at the clubhouse for 3.30m and went straight to Swansea, where we were ready to go into the ground when it opened at 6.15pm, made ourselves comfortable in the changing room and then went out onto the pitch for a stroll.

 “We were immediately spotted by our supporters, who have been immense all season but somehow gave us more of a lift when they saw us and the noise was amazing - and I still believe they were worth a goal start with their singing and cheering.

“We got changed and loosened up and then it was time to announce the squad and the starting line-up that Anthony (Mayhew) my trusty assistant, and I had picked and it is always the hardest part of the job because there are inevitably disappointments.

“But what is great about our squad is the fact that there are no big egos waiting to burst out and those who just missed out helped in every way they could, which was brilliant.

Slow start but a fantastic second half

“Of the game itself, it has been well documented on PembrokeshireSport.co.uk and we didn’t get off to the start we expected and had few grouses about trailing in the first half - but when we brought on Cameron Thomas and Jordan Kilby at half time and Shane Walsh five minutes later we seemed to lift out efforts and we were soon level and then in front as Ashley Bevan showed he still has what it takes with a shot and header to put us in front.

“Then Leon Luby fired in our third and although we conceded a late second goal for Tenby, who deserve every credit for making a match that Pembrokeshire Football could be proud of, it was an amazing relief and joy to collect the cup - and I will never forget the response we had from our supporters afterwards - they were fantastic!”

A great moment to savour for stalwart club members

The Vikings were thrilled to win the cup for the old-timers who have invested so much time in the club, like current assistants Michael Cooper, Leigh Broome and Alex Greenish, plus other great club stalwarts like Chris Tansey and Jimmy Yeomans, Daisy Picton and Paddy Wheeler, Claire and Lance Rutherford, to name but a few.

“We finally got back to the changing room and relaxed together,” Scott continued, “and then it was a quick shower and off to a night-club called ‘The Cwtch’ in Swansea city centre, which we had hired for the night and with about 150 of our supporters who, like us, had booked hotel rooms, celebrated until about 5am!”

Celebrations continued next day

Some players and friends didn’t even get to bed, such was their joy, but Scott admits he showed that at 39 he might be one of the youngest managers to win this coveted silver but still has become a little more sensible than when he was a player because he did go back to the hotel and get his head down for all of two hours!

When the players regrouped, some with a hint of a hangover, it was straight back to their Obs headquarters and further celebrations as some actually managed down the pizza and chips made available for them, whilst others still persisted in having a liquid diet - but nicely rounded off their wonderful celebrations as they were again joined by a heap of supporters!

Great moments recalled

Scott had earlier mentioned great characters like Chris Tansey and Jimmy Yeomans, who have both been excellent players in their time and served the club as sponsors with Manderwood - with Chris as an outstanding manager who experienced the joy of winning the West Wales Cup, initially in 1999-2000 when Colin Fawcett was player/manager and Chris took over on the touchline - and then in 2004 when he led the team alongside Gregg Dalton and ‘Daisy’ Picton.

Jimmy was a very talented player with The Vikings and went for trials with Coventry and Bolton Wanderers -  and reached a final trial for Wales, where he was selected – but on the day of the match, where it was being played at The Bridge Meadow, it was discovered that he had an English birth certificate and so he was withdrawn from the match!

A night to remember for the local press too

This correspondent was delighted to travel to the match with former player and manager Colin and Karen Fawcett, and enjoyed his excellent summarization of the way the game was going - and also travelling together were Daisy P and Paddy Wheeler, other great Viking club men, with Mr Picton even caught on camera, wiping a tear away when the trophy was being presented!

Daisy has been involved at The Obs for 48 years and recently stepped down after a long spell as president – what a nice way to go for a great club man!

It all adds up to a club which clearly knows how to keep their conveyor belt of talent moving, with work always going on outside of actually playing. For Scott Davies and his dedicated assistants, it is now a chance to refresh before another campaign where they will certainly have the same management duo.

As to the players, they will surely be looking forward to another challenging season but are already out together at a new sport as a number of them have been seen watching team mates Jake Merry (Haverfordwest) and Jay Power (St Ishmaels) playing cricket – but are not quite ready to put the whites on yet!