Steve Price is well known around the town centre of Haverfordwest as he pushes his cart and keeps the pavements and kerb sides meticulously clean - but many of those who stop to say 'good morning' might not know that Steve has been involved in local sport for 30 years and is a keen batsman at Johnston CC - and is still doing a great job coaching youngsters at Merlins Bridge AFC!

Early start with Scarrowscant and a final with The Saints

Known to all as 'Pelly, Steve would say that football has always been his main sport from the time that he was a nipper and then played for the newly-formed Scarrowscant United team that was so well run by Wyndham Owens.

"I was just 13 then,”  ‘Pelly' told us, "and from the start I played in goal because I loved throwing myself around in the mud.

"Wyndham was a great bloke and there was a real camaraderie amongst us youngsters and we hung on to every word he told us.

"From there I joined St Davids City, which was a bit far away for me but Dave Heighway and Tony Jones used to drive a few of us there, including Dave's son Lee and Pat Hopkins. 

"We were delighted when we made our way through to the final of the Wiltshire Youth Cup but there was no happy ending because we lost 3-1 against Milford Athletic but it was a memorable day for us all."

Senior football at Crundale and with the Bluebirds

Steve started out in senior football with Crundale and from there helped out a couple of clubs, including Hook Sports when they started up a team, and he helped them win the Division Five and Four titles, but was again on the losing side for the divisional cup finals.

"I also enjoyed playing for Haverfordwest County's team in the Pembrokeshire League and I am proud to say that I also had a couple of games for The Bluebirds in the Welsh League, one of them at the Bridge Meadow and the other in Pontardawe.

"You could tell it was a higher standard of play but I loved the experience and gave of my best, as I have always tried to do, wherever I have played."

Loved it at Clarbie – and now coaching for The Wizards Juniors

'Pelly' also played for a couple of other teams like Clarbeston Road.
"What a load of real characters there are there, like Huw Bevan, Del Lewis, June Harries, Steve Browne and the rest who sum up all that is good in local football."

But his career in football took a new turn two years ago when he agreed to become involved in coaching junior football at Merlins Bridge, where Kevin and Karen Jones have established a strong foundation for the club to build from its grass roots.

"I took my leader's badge and with Duncan Hart and Tony Jones we have done really well, coming third in the under 15s league in the season just finished, as well as reaching the semi-final of the cup.

"Our players are really starting to show maturity in their approach and we are looking forward to the under 16s league next season - my next step then will be to go on another coaching course at the level above."

Total support and some darts for fun

Steve is lucky that he has total support from his partner Ann, who goes along to watch anything he takes part in, and the happy couple now have a seven-month old son Joshua, who will soon be receiving a small pair of goalkeeping gloves, just in case!

He also enjoys darts as he turns out all year round for the Glen Hotel team in the county town that also includes Michael Parry, Mark Petrie, Gary Pope, Ashley Shearer and 'Coley'!

Cricket in school and at Burton Juniors

Steve has also played cricket for as long as he can remember, starting out at Tasker Milward School with Mr Hugh Nicklin, who took him along to play junior cricket at Burton where he was well coached by Brian E Griffiths in a team that included Dean Flood, Henry Thomas, Richard Scriven, Simon Ash and Phil Griffiths.

"We were a useful side," said Steve, "and we reached the final of the Ormond Youth Cup but lost to an experienced Carew team that included Nicky Scourfield and Steve Cole. Those who know me might be surprised to learn that 1n the 1986 youth team I won the best batting and best bowling awards!

Senior cricket too at Oatfield Park

"When I moved into senior cricket Burton had players of the calibre of Dai and Steve Griffiths, Neil 'Grizzly' Adams, Tim Owens, Paul 'Bomber' John, BE and WMB Griffiths, plus characters like Winston Griffiths and Johnny Birch. Steve Jones was at his best then and I still rate him as a fantastic player!"

"I played in the second team that won the Division Four title and my top score there was 86 not out in a game played on the club's small old pitch, which was nicknamed the 'Postage Stamp' by sports writer Bill Carne!”

More clubs and lots of enjoyment

Then at the start of one season he was asked by Geoff Martin if he fancied helping out just down the road at Hook and 'Pelly' enjoyed a couple of seasons there in the company of Geoff and his brother Gary, Keith James, Brennan Lay, Martin 'Stavvie' Rees and Jamie Phelps - and readily admits that he couldn't have played with a nicer bunch of lads!

Steve moved back to Burton briefly at the time that ace Pakistani fast bowler Mohammed Ali was playing but felt strongly that such stars were too good for local cricket and joined Haverfordwest, where he encountered real gentlemen like the late Steve James and Micky Phillips, plus too many others to numerous to mention.

"I played in two Alec Colley Cup Finals for the second team where we beat Tish but lost to Llangwm - and really enjoyed being part of The Town's third team which was the inaugural winners of the Ken Morris Cup Final in Narberth, where I scored 49 runs in one of the innings.

"As part of the second team at Haverfordwest I also helped them win the Division Two silverware, something that few seconds' teams will ever do - but of course we couldn't get promoted because the first team were already in Division One!”

Glad to be at Glebelands

'Pelly' decided to finish off his playing days at Glebelands because old friends Ross and Danny Dewstowe were playing for Johnston and he has really enjoyed his time there alongside Steve and Richard James, plus John and Delyth Summons, two great ambassadors for the club..

"It's been great there but a dodgy knee has kept me out at the start of this season, but there's still a bit of cricket left in me so I will definitely be back because I enjoy the friendships I have made there, as I cherish the others I have made around the county through sport.

"I might not have a display cabinet full of trophies but I have wonderful memories in football and cricket which no amount of money could ever buy!"