One of the reasons that parents like Parry Evans get involved in sports’ clubs is because their children are starting out as nippers and so dad (and sometimes mum) go along to watch and are roped in to help – and in Parry’s case that was certainly so because now, a large number of years later, he still works tremendously hard with Aberaeron Rugby Club, and as well as watching most games he is also the club’s unofficial press officer.

Although they are situated outside Pembrokeshire it is fair to say that Aberaeron are very much part of our District H set-up and currently promotion candidates from District Three (West) A and a pleasure to watch with their attacking approach to the game.

We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk are in touch with Mr Evans regularly and over the years have become used to speaking to him most weekends and enjoy a chat about scores and scorers – and he even sends us his analytical match reports that go on the club’s web-site and in the Mid Wales press outlets.

So, it is a pleasure when we occasionally meet him on the touchline of Pembrokeshire clubs like Llangwm, Neyland, Pembroke, Haverfordwest and The Quins when Aberaeron are the visitors and we  not only talk about that match but about characters we know and the state of Welsh Rugby in general.
 

Family matters . . .

Going back to our initial comment about involvement, in Parry’s case it started when his talented son Dylan (now 45) set out at with Aberaeron from age 19 and played 15 years for the first team until he retired at 34, and still holds the club record for most points in a season as a very good place kicker and try scorer.

Staying with the family a minute more it is perhaps the time to mention that always behind him in the work load he has since undertaken for the club has been his long-suffering wife Audrey, and as well as Dylan they have a daughter Delyth – and four lovely grandchildren who all live nearby.

He has to admit that she didn’t see much of him on Saturdays in the season up to three years or so ago because one of his lesser-known roles was to drive the mini-bus alongside other great stalwarts in Glyndwr Evans and the late Doug Jones.

“The bus wasn’t the easiest to drive,” admitted Parry with a typical chuckle, ”but the biggest problem seemed to be that for away games everyone was in no hurry to go home and since the driver couldn’t have a pint it always seemed a long journey back and very late before we got home!”
 

Warmly welcomed – and soon club chairman and then fixture secretary (and unofficial press officer)!

Going back to Dylan’s start at the club Parry was very impressed with the way they looked after youngsters, and the welcome given to parents like him, and in 1997 a solicitor names Cliff Williams suggested he should join the committee, which he did – and three years later Parry was elected as chairman.

“The chairman usually took on the role for two years but I was honoured to stay in office for four years and after that I was persuaded to become Fixture Secretary, thinking it would be for just a short while - but I stepped down at the end of last season, 19 years later! 

“I’d just reached 70 and thought it was time to ease off and let others have a chance but I still sort out the programme for home matches, something else I got roped in to 17 years ago, as well as preparing the match reports for all the games, home and away, on Sunday mornings, for our web-site, the Cambrian News and sometimes for a feller I’ve got to know called Bill Carne!”

Parry played rugby in the centre during his own school days at Lampeter Comprehensive School and but there were few rugby clubs locally in his younger days and no youth rugby so then he switched to football whilst in Cardiff College, playing in the local league – before he found work commitments kept him occupied when he returned home.

When he had a bit of time, he decided to take up golf and reduced his handicap to 20 but then hit a plateau and decided enough was enough so he three his clubs away.
 

Immensely proud of the club today

Coming back to the present time Parry is rightly proud of the  superb playing facilities at the club, including not only the excellent playing surface on both pitches but the changing rooms and clubhouse as well – and he is still a serving committee member.

He is delighted that the club has won 12 out of its 14 league matches so far with excellent coaches, some lovely running from their classy backs and with total commitment from their pack in their distinctive light blue and yellow strip.

“We had 42 players in training over recent weeks and there is an air of confidence at the club. We are a relatively young squad and the players are great with us old fogeys although I have to admit that I have been around so long at Aberaeron Rugby Club that I reckon that in general I know well more of their fathers, some of whom were also proud playing members of our smashing club!”

That comment is typical of Parry Evans’ pleasant nature and the way he plays down his involvement at Aberaeron RFC, where he is held in high regard by all, and in the community in general for his commitment to their rugby club – and certainly by us at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk!