When England lost their drastically reduced 20-overs a side match against South Africa at Sophia Gardens there was a number of bitterly disappointed cricketing fans from Pembrokeshire who had waited for hours in terrible weather, with the 6.30pm start delayed until the match getting under way just before 9pm - and their scant reward was a total of 12.5 overs, from which South Africa won.
 
To be honest, this writer feels that no game should be decided on the basis of 7.5 overs for the visitors and five overs for England under the Duckworth-Lewis method - but for the authorities it meant that no refunds were needed so their financial needs were met!
 

Dedicated groundsmen at Sophia Gardens

 
But a thought also needs to be spared for the ground staff because after so much tireless work in pitch preparation and practice facilities over previous days being made for both countries, they finally saw the game resolved at 9.45 pm and in that time the covers had to be put on and taken off a couple of times - and by the time all the equipment was stored away, the covers put on properly for the night, and other vital jobs completed, it was almost midnight before they were ready to leave.
 
Heavily involved were two Pembrokeshire folk in Ben Milsom, who is on the professional ground staff with Glamorgan County Cricket Club and his father Ian, known to all as ‘Minky’, who for a number of years has worked there voluntarily and thoroughly enjoys his involvement alongside skippering Herbrandston Seconds to the title in Division Five this season and playing as vice-captain in the Welsh Over 50s fourth team.
 

‘Minky’ is very popular with spectators

 
We had to contact our old friend, and former pupil, Minky about his role, not only on match day but in the days before - and over the season because it’s surprising how many cricket lovers don’t know of his involvement.
 
Although on match days the other groundsmen are sometimes surprised when they hear people shout to him from the boundary when they spot him doing a range of pre-match activities, as well as during the game, and he is asked by youngsters for photographs with them, and even the odd autograph!
 

Internationals, Welsh Fire and Glamorgan matches have all been supported by Mr M

 
Minky had also been busy in the other major matches at Sophia Gardens this season, not least in the other one-day international against the West Indies, where he really enjoyed the atmosphere on a much better day for cricket, weather-wise.
 
He was also there for all four games played by Welsh Fire in ‘The Hundred’ and Glamorgan’s matches at home in the Metro Cup, being very lucky that he could sleep down at Ben’s place on The Bay if there was a late finish.
 
Prior to match day against South Africa there had been a lot of activity there, with lots of preparation, with Ben kept busy in cutting the outfield under the watchful eye of head groundsman
Rob Saxton - with Minky involved in setting up the different advertising boards around the boundary, altering the boundary ropes to the required distances, making sure that the practice nets were properly put out the two days before and any other requests from either team dealt with.
 

A difficult day, to say the least!

 
On the day in question there was also disappointment earlier on because the Disability Cup match between The Pirates and The Tridents had to be postponed - and the discs marking the inner circle for fielders carefully placed, as well as installing the black sheets over the sight-screens to match the needs of floodlit cricket.
 
“We knew that heavy rain was forecast so has decided to have all the covers ready, including the vital hover covers that could be put out quickly to protect the square when it rained, alongside the large outer covers that protected much of the rest of the playing surface.” 
 
At the end of the evening they had to put the main hover-covers back on, plus the supporting drainpipes to take surplus water off the square, the supporting covers, known as ‘50s’, which make sure almost all the outfield is also safe from the deluge - and everything is then locked away so that very tired ground-staff trudged off, with Minky  staying overnight in the capital with the younger Milsom before driving back to Milford Haven next day.
 

Still very active on the local cricket front

 
It is good to report, however, that Ian is also very active at Herbrandston Cricket Club, where he captained the second team to the silverware in Division Five and used the experience he has gained there and with previous club Neyland.
 
He also plays cricket for the Welsh Seniors over 50s team as a medium-pace bowler and lower-order batsman who is vice-captain to Chris Newport (from the Swansea area) - and enjoys the regular games, which demand real commitment because they play against a number of the English counties in league and cup action. Minky and Co reached the quarter-finals of the cup competition but lost to a very strong Essex Senior side as he took on the role of skipper for the day.
 

And finally . . .

 
He also helps coach the Pembrokeshire Ladies’ team and enjoys umpiring in cup games across the county and in the indoor league, which will start again soon under the expert guidance of Patrick Hannon.
 
But come next season Ian Milsom will continue his love of cricket by playing for Herbrandston Seconds in Division Four and being back helping Glamorgan County Cricket Club at Sophia Gardens with his son Ben, Rob Saxton and the rest who work so hard in their dedicated posts!