PHOTO:
Haverfordwest County's 'Last of the Summer Wine' quintet at a recent away match at Goytre

 
This week we turn the ‘Sports Spotlight’ focus on to four supporters of Haverfordwest County who still travel to almost all the away matches across the breadth of South Wales with huge enthusiasm, and no little anticipation, despite having a collective tally of well over 200 years watching their club through its highs and lows.
 
David Hughes is 68 and is club chairman and commercial director, whilst Barry Vaughan (69) has been Hon Secretary for the past 17 years – and they are mere nippers alongside John Hughes (82), still the club’s announcer after more than two decades in the role, and Kenny Roberts (81), a former committeeman.
 

Feeling young in comparison

 
It was nice to be the youngest in the car travelling to Goytre United at a mere 67 years young for a combined total of 368 years at an average of 73 years per person – and more remarkably, the intrepid quartet I have the honour of being with, have supported the Bluebirds for an amazing combined tally of 252 years!
 
And me? I’ve trotted along to the Conygar Bridge Meadow for the past 20 years or so and travel to the odd away game to cheer them on when matches are floodlit at great venues like Goytre United (my favourite venue) plus Cambrian and Clydach.
 

Boss David recalls Ferry trips and local derbies

 
Haverfordwest County chairman David Hughes was taken to watch Haverfordwest County by his father Ellis when he was eight and can vividly recall those early seasons when it was a thrill to go on the ferry from Neyland to watch Pembroke Borough at London Road.
 
“There was a huge crowd on the ferry and at the ground, and even more when we watched local derbies with Milford United at Marble Hall – I loved it from the start! There were players like Frank Donovan in the opposition, a man who played for Great Britain the Olympics!”
 

Long range supporting and a return to the Conygar Bridge Meadow

 
David was well and truly hooked and has been an avid supporter ever since, even when he taught at Bedford School and Dulwich College Preparatory School, keeping a close eye on results until his retirement, where he returned to his home county.
 
He was soon invited to join the committee and stayed there until he felt the club was going the wrong way and stepped down – only to renew his involvement when Rob Summons took over the reins and asked him to become vice chairman and commercial director, a job he still does with panache today.
 

Looking back – and forward

 
“There have been highs and lows,” admitted David, “perhaps more of the latter, and with relegation from the Welsh Premiership as one of the biggest ones, but we are trying very hard to regain our status there, and I really hope Wayne Jones and his players can get us back there this season.
 
“As a youngster I love watching Gwilym Cain and Arthur Lemon whilst Stan Richards and Ivor Allchurch were pure class – will we ever see their like again? I doubt it. Ronnie Rees was another great character and Don Smitham had real style as I think back, but I could list another 50 stars of yesterday.
 
“We don’t have that strength in depth today but we have a good set of lads with Wayne Jones and Steve Batty doing well respectively with the senior and youth sides. Premiership football is a must – and a Welsh Cup Final would be the icing on the cake at some stage!
 
“We have a great set of hard workers (but always need more!) and I still enjoy my work at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, with trips to away matches an important part of that involvement, where we not only discuss lots of football but pop music of the 60s, boxing through the ages and even a bit of politics, so the journeys fly by!”
 

Barry’s a Bluebird through and through

 
Barry Vaughan was just four years old when his father Josh, who like Barry was a respected referee, took him along to the old Bridge Meadow in 1949 – and he’s been a Bluebirds’ supporter ever since.
 
“We used to stand next to another great fan in Ivor Rowlands and although I was only a nipper I can remember re3legation in 1954 – and the joy of promotion under Stan Richards in 1955, followed by the winning of the Welsh League Championship a year later – amazing!
 

Star players and best moments

 
Barry can still recite the names of that team, from goalkeeper John Thomas through the likes of Charlie Dyke, Ray Chennard and Cliff Pawlett, who was the local pin-up for all the young girls in the town. Others that Barry recalls with ease are Don Pearson and David Landry, plus managers of the calibre of Arthur Willis and Ray Davies.
 
One of his best moments came when the Bluebirds drew 3-all with what was the Cardiff City first team in the Welsh Cup on a Thursday afternoon, and when the bell rang at Haverfordwest Boys Grammar School there were over 300 eager pupils racing to the Bridge Meadow to watch the second half as the visitors had big names of the time like Graham Vearnecombe in goal, Danny Malloy, Ron Stitfall, Colin Baker and Alan Harrington.
 

Refereeing and long-term secretary

 
Barry refereed for nigh on 20 years and worked in Saudi Arabia for five years but in all that time he still followed his team, phoning dad Josh every Sunday for scores and scorers.
 
“I also went to Iceland when we played in Europe and we lost 1-0 in Cardiff and then 3-1 in the away leg – but it was an amazing adventure for the club!”
 
Barry is now fast approaching two decades as Hon Secretary and is well-known in Welsh football circles.
 

Kenny recalls characters galore

 
“The time will come when I’ll have to step down,” he admitted, “but stop following Haverfordwest County? Never!”
 
Kenny Roberts is a sprightly 82 and still has the passion for Haverfordwest that he has had for 61 years, after watching his first match in 1954.
“I played for the club in the Pembrokeshire League as a wing half (midfield to you youngsters) and Des ‘Dobbo’ Roberts was a first teamer who could score 50 goals a season,” Kenny told us.
 
“Dai James was another fine player at that time and two of my favourite players over the years were Donny Smitham, who could land the ball on a sixpence, and Ray Davies, as a defender and manager.
 
“Mel Charles was a character and we had other Welsh internationals in Ivor and Len Allchurch – but it isn’t generally known that Arthur and Sid were also playing here to make a quartet of Allchurch brothers!
 

Loved local derbies and grounds lost in the mist of time

 
“But best of all for me were the old local derbies with Pembroke Borough and Milford United. What a pity we don’t have them anymore, with all the anticipation the week before, the banter with rival supporters, and really tough matches.”
 
I used to love going to Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, but even more so to places like Ton Pentre, Ebbw Vale, Abergwynfi, Barry Town and Lovells Athletic, who were known as ‘The Toffeemen’ because the company that ran them made sweets!
 
“A lot of those teams have gone now but I still love to go off to watch the boys and manager Wayne Jones, who all treat us supporters with great respect.”
 

Great programmes and Welsh-speaking announcer

 
John Hughes is the last of the quartet and another wonderful supporter who looks really good for his 82 years, after he first attended the old Bridge Meadow at 16, catching the bus in from Hayscastle.
 
Even when he was in the RAF he watched them when on leave and kept a close check on results, and as well as preparing an excellent programme for many years he’s been the match-day announcer for almost two decades.
“That’s because he’s the only Welsh speaker,” says Kenny Roberts with a cheeky grin!”
 
“I can remember the 3-3 draw with Cardiff City as if it were yesterday, said John, and other favourites were winning the Brains Cup and a 3-0 win at Aberystwyth when they were front runners for the title – now that kept their noisy supporters quiet for a while!
 
“I can remember so many great players on the pitch and characters off it and one of the best things about travelling to away games are the walks down ‘Memory Lane’ which make the journeys just fly by!”